CHAPTER 



JOHN L. HERVEY ("VOLUNTEER") 



THE ANCESTRY OF CRESCEUS 



MR. KETCHAM was led to buy Mabel, the 

 dam of Cresceus, through seeing Nightin- 

 gale, as a four-year-old, step a mile in 2 127, 

 which was then considered a very wonderful perform- 

 ance. Shortly after seeing this fast young mare per- 

 form, Mr. James Dority, owner of Mabel, died, and his 

 horses were sold at public auction in Toledo, in 1892. 

 Mr. Ketcham expected to pay at least $1,500 for the 

 mare, but, through a misunderstanding, he was for- 

 tunate enough to secure her at a much lower figure. 

 The competing bidder was Dr. J. V. Newton, of 

 Toledo, who, with his partner, Mr. Rundall, of Genoa, 

 Ohio, was bidding jointly for the mare ; through some 

 confusion on their part, one thinking the other was 

 doing the bidding, and neither seeing Mr. Ketcham 



