290 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



crossed over to Quebec, and went into service at George Rob- 

 son's Spring Grove farm north of London. Here he rooted 

 out the fundamentals of Canadian agriculture, and forthwith 

 took charge of a fifteen hundred acre estate on Long Island, 

 belonging to a New York ship builder. Finding that his tastes 

 and activities had insufficient rein, he undertook the handling 

 of the fourteen hundred acre farm near Utica, New York, owned 

 by Walcock and Campbell of the New York Sheeting Mills, 

 cotton manufacturers. Mr. Gibson induced the proprietors to 

 enter into purebred livestock, and after a short experience with 

 Ayrshires on the suggestion of Mr. Campbell, he succeeded in 

 getting Shorthorns introduced. 



While America had early given allegiance to the Bates fam- 

 ilies, England retained predominantly the Booth tribes. In 

 the hope of popularizing the Warlaby stock, Mr. Gibson made 

 a visit to Thomas C. Booth, (85) then at the pinnacle of his 

 showyard career with the Royal champions Commander-in-Chief 

 and Lady Fragrant. It had been a set policy of Warlaby never 

 to sell females, and it was only when Mr. Gibson promised to 

 take the animals out of Britain that a price was quoted. Among 

 the ten head selected was the $5,000 show heifer Bride of the 

 Vale. Two years i later a like number of BooTH-bred animals 

 were again imported by him. Fearing the inroads of the War- 

 laby animals, Mr. Sheldon, owner of all the Thomdale 

 Duchesses, offered to sell a half of his herd. After some dis- 

 cussion between Mr. Gibson and Mr. Campbell, the division 

 was made, the Duchesses costing $5,500 apiece, and the Oxfords 

 $2,800. A year later the remainder of the herd was taken over. 



About this time it was discovered that the only Duchesses of 

 pure Bates descent were those owned at New York Mills, and 

 in 1873, Britain and America matched pounds against dollars 

 to secure possession of this noted collection. The astounding 

 total of $381,999 was reached for 109 head, the top price being 



