Chapter LXI. 



DUROC-JERSEYS. 



In the following history of their origin, we are largely indebted to 

 the report of Col. F. D. Curtis, Vol. I. of the American Duroc-Jersey 

 Record, compiled by the able secretary of the Association, Chas. H. 

 Holmes, now of Beatrice, Nebraska. 



At the first meeting of the National Swine Breeders' Association at 

 Indianapolis, Indiana, 1872, a committee was appointed on "Jersey 

 Red Swine," from whose report, as adopted by the convention, we clip 

 the following : 



" The positive origin of this family of swine is unknown. They have been bred in 

 portions of New Jersey for upwards of 50 years, and with many farmers are considered 

 to be a valuable variety. They are of large size, and capable of making a heavy growth, 

 500 and 600 pounds weight being common. Mr. David Pettit, Salem, Salem county, 

 N. J., has known of these hogs for 30 years, and Mr. D. M. Brown, of Windsor, for 50 

 years. They are now extensively bred in the middle and southern portions of New 

 Jersey. In neighborhoods they were bred quite uniform, being of a dark red color ; 

 while in other sections they were more sandy, and often patched with white. They are 

 probably descended from the old importations of Berkshires, as there is no record of the 

 Tamworth the red hog of England ever having been brought to this country ; nor is it 

 likely, as the Tamworths were not considered valuable swine, and were confined to a 

 limited breeding." 



The name "Jersey-Red" was first used about 1870 by the late 

 Joseph R. Lyman, at that time agricultural editor of the New York 

 Tribune ; and a Mr. Lippincott, of New Jersey, was probably the first 

 breeder to advertise under the name thus given. 



In the meantime, another strain of red hogs was finding favor in 

 New York under the name "Duroc;" they were so called by Isaac 

 Frink, a farmer living near Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y. Mr. Frink 

 secured a pair of pigs in 1823 from Mr. Kelsey the then owner of the 

 famous stallion Duroc who stated that the pigs were "imported;" as 

 to what was meant by the expression used, we can only infer, but it is 

 probable that if "imported" from England, a name would have been 

 imported with them; and since Mr. Kelsey called them simply "Red 

 Pigs," we are justified in believing them brought from a distance 

 probably Queens county, N. Y., where Mr. Kelsey formerly resided 

 but not imported from Europe. Mr. Frink could as well have named 

 them "Kelsey" as Duroc, but the fame of the horse so overshadowed 



301 



