260 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



quarter century of farming he possessed 12,000 acres of land 

 and a herd of 3,000 high grade Shorthorn cattle from which 

 he annually marketed 300 steers of his own raising, weighing 

 1800 to 2400 pounds. At his death in 1888 he possessed 18,000 

 acres, with his innate spirit of expansion still unsatisfied. On 

 his .death bed one of his friends who had called to express his 

 farewell grief was astonished to have Mr. Gillett state in 

 regretful tones that he had made a big mistake in his life. The 

 friend responded that he could not see how a man whose years 

 had been packed with constructive endeavor, such as Mr. Gil- 

 LETt's, could have had time to make a mistake. But the old 

 gentleman insisted, and thinking to learn something, perhaps 

 of a gossipy nature, his friend pressed him for an explanation. 

 The old gentleman hesitated, then in a sudden burst of confi- 

 dence said, "I should have bought more land." 



In 1872 he sent 86 head of three-year-olds to Albany, averag- 

 ing there 1891 pounds per head, and the next year 90 head that 

 averaged 1780 pounds. In December, 1873, he had 75 three- 

 year-olds on the Buffalo market that averaged above a ton, their 

 home weight being 2250 pounds. During that year he marketed 

 at Chicago, Buffalo, Albany and New York, 800 three-year-olds 

 averaging 1531 pounds. 



The early American Fat Stock Shows saw his keenest triumphs. 

 At the very first show in 1878, his Shorthorn steer, John Sher- 

 man, weighing approximately 2200 pounds at three years seven 

 months, won the championship. Again in 1880, he was promi- 

 nent as an exhibitor, but since his cattle came direct from the 

 pastures, the necessary finish for ultimate triumph was lacking. 

 This so stirred his pride that in 1881 he came back with the 

 celebrated red bullock McMullen at 2100 pounds and defeated 

 Miller's grade Hereford steer. Conqueror, for the championship. 

 In 1882 McMullen again won for him, after making a total gain 

 for the year of 470 pounds. He was probably the finest type 



