A HISTORY OF SHORTHORNS IN KANSAS 61 



Many leading American breeders had refused 

 to be stampeded or to worship at the shrine of 

 ancient ancestry. Among these were William 

 Warf ield who through sane and sensible methods 

 produced real cattle; J. H. Pickrell, later sec- 

 retary of The American Shorthorn Breeders 

 Association; James N. Brown & Sons; J. H. 

 Potts & Son of Duke of Richmond fame ; J. H. 

 Kissenger, associate of Mr. Pickrell ; and C. E. 

 Leonard who made the name of Ravenswood fa- 

 miliar. These level-headed men failed to stem the 

 tide, but they saved the breed for America. 



The Hamiltons of Kentucky virtually invaded 

 Kansas at the close of the seventies and with the 

 cry of "Flat Creek Marys" created a demand for 

 Young Mary bulls. Flat Creek Mary was de- 

 scended from imp. Young Mary, a cow probably 

 without a peer among imported Shorthorns. The 

 year 1880 found good Shorthorn herds here and 

 there and also herds of badly battered and in- 

 jured cattle whose owners were trying to main- 

 tain the prestige of the breed against Heref ords 

 and Angus, then being brought into the West in 

 large numbers. Although Kansas had to some ex- 

 tent been made the dumping ground for inferior 

 specimens yet there were many good Shorthorns 

 in the state, a considerable proportion of which 

 would be called good even now. 



The time was ripe for a change from the old 

 system of selection by pedigree to the sensible 



