348-^ THE MORGAN HORSE 



trainings some one would ride him. He was a regular-built Morgan. I 

 began to drive stage when nineteen. I think this horse was here before 1840, 

 or about that time. He was about here for a number of years. In those 

 days this country was full of Morgan horses." 



Mr. Howard of Springfield, Mass., born about 1816, said: "I came 

 herein 1841. I worked for Frink of Northampton, driving stage from 

 Greenfield to Deerfield, in the spring of 1836. The Morgan Cock of the 

 Rock was not at Frink's stable then, but I saw him that season at South 

 Hadley. Frink went to Peoria, 111., in 1837, I think, and afterwards to 

 Chicago. 



"Stockbridge, who kept the hotel at South Hadley, had a horse of same 

 color, but smaller, that I think was a son of Cock of the Rock. He was 

 not a fast horse, but a dreadful pretty, nice, pleasant horse. I think he had 

 him about 1836. The old horse was a splendid horse to look at, but most 

 too leggy for the farmers. He could look a little better than any horse I 

 about ever saw in my life. A little leggy ; did not have belly enough to suit 

 all the farmers". 



John A. Abbey of Springfield, Mass., born 1817, said : "I saw Cock of 

 the Rock first at South Hadley Falls, about 1840, handled by John . 



He stood there and up and down the river. He was a Morgan. The Mor- 

 gans carry their heads up and tails out and have a delicate kind of way of 

 moving ; everything seems to all go together. I do not think Cock of the 

 Rock weighed over 1000 pounds". 



Mrs. James S. Quick, Brooklyn, daughter of Ira Coburn, in answer to 

 question whether Cock of the Rock, owned by her father, had any white on 

 him, and, if so, where, said : " Yes, he had white on his neck [silver mane] 

 and on his nose. He was a splendid looking horse. My father had him 

 and American Star together Oh ! the American Star was a beauty, and the 

 Cock of the Rock was beautiful. They were handsome animals. I can see 

 them to-day before my face, they were so beautiful. It seems as if my father 

 must have had Cock of the Rock a year or more, but he sold him before he 

 sold American Star. We lived in i3th street, New York, when we owned 

 these horses. I can remember them in the spring." To question : "Yes, 

 my father often went to New Hampshire, where he had relatives living. 

 The horses may have come from there for aught I know. My father was 

 very fond of animals and at the time he owned these horses he was rich and 

 had carriage horses, but he lost heavily at the great fire at New York. I 

 remember he got a good price for these horses ; my mother said he made 

 money on them. I, with two of my sisters and oldest brother, was^born in 

 Boston." 



In the New York directory the name of Ira Coburn. carpenter, appears 

 first in 1832, again in 1833, '35 and '36. It does not appear in 1834 or '37 

 or after 1837. It appears first at i3th street in 1835. 



Mrs. C. C. Bradford, 43 Chelsea street, East Boston, said : " I can re- 

 member American Star and Cock of the Rock ; it was the talk of the town 

 how beautiful these horses were, and every one came to see them from far and 



