OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 25 



But the Scottish heritage stirred in his blood, and the love of 

 livestock led him to supplemental fields. In 1867 he made his 

 first shipment of Clydesdales from Canada to Wisconsin and 

 entered the showring for the first time that year. As yet he had 

 no land and his animals were stabled in town. In the early 

 seventies his equine interests had developed to such a degree that 

 he deemed it best to secure a farm, and enter the draft horse 

 game in a more permanent manner. He was very fortunate in 

 obtaining Courtney Hall, lying five miles east from Madison. 

 Courtney Hall had been founded by an English nobleman, and 

 had a most pretentious castle and fine outbuildings. Here he 

 expanded his Clydesdale interests and for a short period engaged 

 in the breeding of Shorthorns, long enough to develop a herd 

 of really top rank, as far as showyard honors were concerned. 

 In 1883 an opportunity came to dispose of Courtney Hall at a 

 profit, and he secured Blairgowrie in the township of Vienna in 

 Dane County. 



The female stock that ultimately founded his greatest successes 

 was obtained very shortly after Blairgowrie was established. 

 Robert Bruce had selected for James J. Hill the finest bred and 

 highest priced importation of Clydesdale mares ever sent to Amer- 

 ica. Thirteen head were included in the lot and the prices ranged 

 from 500 to 800 guineas in Scotland. The original price quoted did 

 not meet Mr. Ogilvie's purse, and it was not until he had made 

 four trips to North Oaks, that a satisfactory bargain was struck. 

 Mr. Hill had had an ambition to become a second Sir Wm. Ster- 

 ling-Maxwell, breeder of Damley, and wished North Oaks to be 

 an American Keir. However, he was unfortunate in the groom 

 selected to come to America with them, and after ineffectual 

 attempts to replace him, decided to abandon the project and sold 

 his entire importation to Mr. Ogilvie. The possession of such a 

 fine mare stock necessitated a suitable stallion, and this 

 animal Mr. Ogilvie found in the "Matchless" MacQueen, 



