99 o THE MORGAN HORSE 



father got some time about 1855, and then she was about four years old. She was bay, 

 about 15 hands and was speedy. I think my father drove her in 2:38, without ever being 

 trained, and two in the wagon. He never sold the mare, but let a party by the name of 

 Ayers have her either in Plainfield or New Market, N. J. I do not recollect the party whom 

 my father got the mare from. 



I think if you would write to Mr. Wallace Vail, Plainfield, X. ]., he could give some 

 information. My father had a very promising mare, five years old when he died, in 1863, 

 which was sold to Jim McMann, who used to own Flora Temple; perhaps if he is still alive 

 he could give you some information. Anything I can do to assist you I will willingly. 



Yours respectfully, 



JOHN S. XOKKIS. 



Xo. 423 Wabash, Street. 



KANSAS CITY, Mo. Feb. 13, 1888. 

 MR. JOSEPH BATTKLL, 



Dear Sir : Yours of January 24th at hand and will endeaver to answer your questions 

 fully. In regard to Dolly I have stated he let Mr. Sim Ayers have her at Xew Market, N. 

 J. He did not sell her to him, but she was very old and he let him have her because she 

 would be properly taken care of. The only party I know by the name of Vermilia was 

 Isaac, and he used to be inspector of streets and lamps in Xew York and afterwards moved 

 to Plainfield. I was born May 7, 1837. Father was in the livery stable business twice; first 

 it was Powell and Xorris, Albert Powell; that must have been some time about 1840. I 

 think my father got Dolly about 1847. He was then in the custom house and had two or 

 three horses for his own use. I think he got the stable back about 1850, or, perhaps, earlier. 

 If you would like to know positively write to I. M. Quimby and Co., Xew Market, X T . J., and 

 they can give you the information, as he bought his carriages there. He kept Dolly for his 

 own use, and never allowed any one to drive her but himself and me. She was exactly the 

 mare you describe in your letter. Write to Sim Ayers at X T ew Market, X'. J., and, if he is 

 alive, you can get the desired information. Father had a mare he called the Abdallah mare, 

 but in my recollection he used to rent her to buggies, and sometimes put her to carriages for 

 short drives. I do not recollect Manning Vermeule in Plainfield, and it is very singular, as 

 I very often went there with father. If I can do anything further, all you have to do is to 

 ask. Yours truly, 



JOHN S. XORRLS. 



555 Walnut St., Room n. 



PLAIN-FIELD, Jan. 7, 1888. 

 MR. JOSEPH BATTKLL, 



Dear Sir: I received yours of Dec. 26, 1887, in regard to the dam of Goldsmith Maid. 

 I traded with Daniel X T orris myself and kept her some six months and then traded her to 

 John B. Decker, now of Deckertown, X. J.,and he raised five colts from her and the last was 

 out of Edsall's Hambletonian, son of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. As for the mare you ask 

 about, whether she is the Isaac Marsh mare I do not know. Mr. Butler, foreman at the Fashion 

 Stud Farm, said he was going over to Staten Island to see him. I told him that Marsh told 

 me at the X T ew York State fair that some one, I forget the name, used to drive her. I wrote 

 him twice, but got no answer. I knew the old mare for some eight or ten years when Dan 

 Xorris kept her for his own use. She was out of a full-blooded running mare, sire old 

 Abdallah, half brother to Rysdyk's Hambletonian at Chester, Orange county, X. Y. If I 

 get any word from Butler I will write. I gave him all the details of her colts and went 

 down and looked over his stock. Yours truly, 



MANNING VERMEULE. 



PLAIN-FIELD, X. J. Jan. 25, 1888. 

 MR. JOSEPH BATTELL, 



Dear Sir : You want to know what year I got the dam of Goldsmith Maid. That I could 



