pay $1,250. From the Bedford hiring re- 

 sulted nearly fifty calves. While in Mr. 

 Bedford's care Duke of Airdrie was also 

 bred to several cows owned by Abram 

 Renick and Major Jere Duncan. • 



This bull was red and white in color, 

 and, while a superior individual, was not 

 a distinctly show animal. His sire, the 

 Duke of Gloster, is referred to as a 

 closer built, better type of bull. A. B. 

 Allen, who was very familiar with Short- 

 horns in England and this country, re- 

 garded the Duke of Gloster as the most 

 perfect type he had ever seen imiported, 

 he being brought to New York by Mor- 

 ris & Becar. Duke of Airdrie inherited 

 from his sire very superior quality of 

 skin and hair, as well as his prominent 

 hips and long, level, high-class rumps. 

 His flanks were deep and his back very 

 level and straight. His head was 'Short 

 and with strong horns and was carried 

 with much dignity on a short neck that 

 had a prominent crest. His shoulders 

 were quite smooth and better than his 

 sire's. He stood somewhat higher from 

 the ground than most breeders of to-day 

 desire, but his carriage was of a very 

 imposing nature. It is said that his off- 

 spring were remarkable for their deep 

 color, straight backs, deep ilanks and 

 fine carriage. Some six months before 

 the bull died John R. Page, the well- 

 known live stock artist, painted a por- 

 trait of him, from which a copy was 

 reproduced in Sanders' "History of 

 Shorthorn Cattle." 



This Duke of Airdrie became the an- 

 cestor of many animals of high merit, 

 and without doubt he may be regarded 

 as the most important sire living in 

 America during the middle of the nine- 

 teenth century. In the American herd- 

 book he is referred to as "the original 

 progenitor of the American Dukes of 

 Airdrie, called in Kentucky 'The Old 

 Duke.' " 



This bull is regarded as the most im- 

 portant factor in bringing fame to 

 Messrs. Alexander, Bedford and Renick. 

 Bred to Nannie Williams, a great show 

 cow owned by Jere Duncan, he produced 

 Duke of Airdrie 2743, an animal that 

 proved not only a great show bull, but 

 also a great breeder. He was a cham- 

 pion at local fairs in Kentucky, as well 

 as the state fairs of Kentucky and 

 Ohio. In 1866, at 8 years of age, he won 

 first prize as best aged bull at the Bour- 

 bon county fair. A son of his, Duncan's 



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