A HISTORY OP SHORTHORNS IN KANSAS 113 



was dispersed. Most of the cattle sold locally at 

 a low pi'ice to people who did not realize their 

 value. Sevei'al good herds iii central Kansas, 

 however, descend from the Rntledge hei'd. 



Herds of Minor Importance. — During the 

 years covered l)y the preceding sketches many 

 herds wei'e founded over the state that were of 

 considei'alde imjiortance locally. Only a few 

 of these herds left any impress on the cattle of 

 this time yet they are well worthy of mention. It 

 has l)een i)ossil)le to ohtain data on many of these 

 breeding establishments while pi'obai)ly many 

 othei'S e(iual]y worthy of recognitir)n are omitted. 

 These liei'ds are grouped largely by counties and 

 localities rather than according to the period of 

 time in which they existed. 



J. Clarence Norton of Allen county was one 

 of the earlit-r breeders. Mr. Norton was a bril- 

 liant man who was very much given to accepting 

 statements as positive facts and coming to con- 

 clusions without thorough investigation. One of 

 his hobbies to which he gave much publicity 

 was that cattle would thrive as well or better 

 without salt as with it. He was a frequent 

 contributor to the farm press and a very willing 

 speaker at farmers' institutes. His Shorthorn 

 herd, which was maintained for a good many 

 years, was of medium quality and of local im- 

 portance only. 



Of somewhat more recent origin than the 



