Chapter LXVII. 



CHESHIRES. 



At our request, Mr. R. D. Button, a leading breeder of Cheshires, 

 Cottons, N. Y., very carefully prepared an outline of history and char- 

 acteristics of the breed, and the article so nearly expresses our own 

 opinion that, with some minor changes, and with Mr. -Button's permis- 

 sion, we publish in full: 



"Jefferson county, N Y., is without doubt, the birthplace of this breed of swine, 

 and to A. C. Clark is universally conceded the honor of having given them a name and 

 character. The sires he used were Yorkshires, belonging to that family of English hogs 

 known as the ' Large White' breed. Breeders are not all agreed as to what dams were 

 used, many believing that the first dam was a large white sow imported from Cheshire, Eng. , 

 to Albany, N. Y. She was taken to Jefferson county by Mr. A. C. Clark, and used as 

 the leading factor in making up his herd. Mr. Clark was a breeder with sound judgment 

 and good sense, and he early perceived the docility and motherly qualities of this dam 

 and her progeny, and by judicious crosses and careful selections he in time produced a herd 

 of swine that were uniform in size and characteristics. His herd was shown at many of 

 the leading fairs of New York, and nothwithstanding the fierce rivalries of other breeders 

 Mr. Clark carried away many of the honors for large white breeds. 



"There are breeders who profess to believe that the imported sow was a myth, and 

 assert that Mr. Clark used only the best white sows of his neighborhood, and when he 

 found a better sow than his, he bought and used her, if she proved a satisfactory breeder. 

 We are, however, of the belief that the Albany sow was a truth and verity, and found 

 that belief on repeated statements of Ezra J. Clark (son-in-law of A. C. Clark, and after- 

 ward owner of his herd), with whom we were intimately associated for a number of years 

 in breeding, selling and exhibiting Cheshire swine. Mr. Ezra J. Clark always main- 

 tained that A. C. Clark bought and used the Albany sow as his prime factor, and all re- 

 ports of buying and using only native sows had their origin in the fertile brains of rival 

 breeders and exhibitors. Between 1850 and 1865 Mr. Clark was a leading breeder and 

 exhibitor in New York, and fought both wordy and legal battles for his favorites. Busi- 

 ness complications arising, he sold his interest and good-will to Ezra J. Clark, who asso- 

 ciated with him Mr. McLean, and afterward Daniel Green, under the firm name Clark & 

 Green. In 1870 this firm made an exhibit at the leading western fairs, ending with the 

 great St. Louis Fair, where they won the $500 offered by the pork packers for the best 

 herd for packers' uses. This breed had been widely disseminated during these exhibitions, 

 but the low price for pork during the following years was so discouraging that many sold 

 or butchered their stock, and engaged in more remunerative pursuits. The old Clark 

 herd was still retained in its purity, although greatly reduced in numbers. 



"About 1875 several parties in Madison Co., N. Y., were engaged in breeding Che- 

 shires ; and, with different ideas of what a Cheshire should be, bred for early maturity, 

 and a shorter body and head. About 1882 a few of the prominent breeders began to 

 talk of forming a register, and in January, 1883, a call was issued for breeders to meet at 

 Syracuse, N. Y. But little was accomplished, however, owing to jealousies between 



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