180 



HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



his country. He did everything in his power, 

 while obtaining a huge fortune, for its benefit; 

 though not a speech-maker, while Senator of 

 liis own State, and at Wasliington, his sound 

 judgment was the foundation of many that were 

 made. Many who were popular for their best 

 speeches based them on the foundation of his 

 soundness. This I know ocularly and demon- 

 stratively, having been present at such consulta- 

 tions many times to witness his superiority. Un- 

 fortunately for the Herefords, he was a strong 

 politician and, although he delighted in im- 



T. B. MILLER, BEECHER. ILL. 



(First Secretary American Hereford Cattle Breeders' 



Association.) 



provements, he had but little judgment in cat- 

 tle. 



When I first went to England for Herefords 

 I had very limited capital, but great faith in 

 them as being the best breed for this country. 

 T felt that I understood their true merit when 

 in England, and some of their best breeders 

 were my most intimate friends. Having but 

 little capital, I felt that it was impossible for 

 me to get any from mv mother country. 



The'fall of 1839 I had just finished buying 

 nearly 4,000 head of cattle in droves for Mr. 

 Ebenezer Wilson, as they were making their 

 way from the West to Albany. I paid a portion 

 down on each drove to be then delivered at the 

 price stated per hundred at his slaughter house 

 for barreling purposes. After contracting for 



many droves I returned to Albany, and as the 

 droves came in we selected some of the best and 

 (H 86) I took them to the Bull's Head (N. Y.) 

 for market. Mr. -Wilson barreled a little over 

 six thousand head that season ; he sold his hides 

 for cash, his tallow for cash, his feet, horns, 

 and bones also. His beef as soon as in the bar- 

 rel was sent to New York to his factor and ship- 

 per, of whom he drew at sight for the propor- 

 tion per barrel agreed upon, he holding the beef 

 as security. The whole of his capital was in- 

 vested in his beef, and the prospect being favor- 

 able for higher prices he held on to it. 



I had frequently spoken of the Herefords in 

 high praise to Mr. Wilson and he, being highly 

 pleased with my description, proposed that if I 

 would go to England and get credit for a good 

 lot that when I arrived in New York he would 

 meet me there with money enough to pay the 

 whole investment, in which he said he should 

 have ample means from his returns in the 

 spring. I told him that I would do this, if I 

 could do it with safety. He assured me that I 

 could, and with this promise I started. 



I purchased twenty-two head, paid what little 

 money I had of my own, and promised to pay 

 all on my return to New York. Among them 

 were those I have above stated. When I arrived 

 I found that barreled beef had gone down and 

 much depressed, that much of his had soured 

 and was unsalable, as he had involved himself 

 so much that he was compelled to fail ; but he 

 went to the Hon. Erastus Corning, told him in 

 what way he was situated with me, that he knew 

 my judgment was good and that the cattle 

 would be superior. 



On this information Mr. Corning sent Mr. 

 Watts Sherman, then cashier of the Albany C'itv 

 Bank, of which Mr. C. was president, to ex- 

 amine the cattle on board. This gentleman was 

 highly pleased with them, examined my bills 

 and prices for them, and drew a draft on Mr. 

 Corning for the whole amount. I took them' 

 to his farm and, they being about the first Here- 

 fords ever imported, they raised considerable 

 excitement; but their true merii was but little 

 known. , 



The Shorthorns had full sway, were owned 

 by rich men who determined to support them 

 at all hazards and who had the controlling 

 power over the executive committee of the N. Y. 

 State Agricultural Society, and when they (the 

 Herefords) came to Jje shown in the fair bv 

 their side (the Shorthorns), could not avoid 

 seeing the Hereford superiority for beef-mak- 

 ing, hence became jealous and full of prejudice, 

 put on Shorthorn men as judges, who would not 

 report anything in their favor, but tried to make 



