138 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



A PREACHER OF PORK 



50. The pre-eminent producer of barrows at the International 

 Livestock Exposition has been the firm of John Francis & Son, 

 New Lenox, 111. Their record in the showyard has never been 

 equalled by other breeder, and as a measure of their ability, both 

 in the selection of breeding animals and in the fitting and finish- 

 ing of showyard types, the International grand championship 

 on single barrows has fallen to their herd four times. The 

 honors came at as widely separated intervals as 1909, 1912, 

 1913 and 1916, while many ribbons within the Poland-China 

 breed show were won in intervening years. Four purples were 

 also secured on groups of three barrows, the 1910, 1912, 1913 

 and 1916 Internationals furnishing the occasions. Champion- 

 ship on carcasses was captured at the 1906, 1908, 1909 and 1912 

 Internationals. 



Mr. John R. Francis, the founder of the firm, was born Jan- 

 uary 8, 1843, near New Lenox, 111. His education was received 

 in the rural schools of Illinois, and he began the breeding of 

 Poland-China swine in 1872. In 1894 he was elected sheriff 

 of Will Co., and succeeded during this period in obtaining title 

 to much land, due to the foreclosure of mortgages resultant 

 from the business reverses of those years. He managed to reap 

 a very tidy profit, and to become quite a financial influence in 

 his county. In 1898 he retired from political office and spent 

 his remaining years in improving his Poland-China stocks. Mr. 

 Francis was equally successful with the small, middle and large 

 types of Poland-China, and won honors in the showring ■ with 

 each kind. Most of his winnings were obtained upon the so- 



