OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 297 



secured the majority of his early Anoka stock, but he obtained 

 some in the Genesee Valley in New York, and a particularly 

 good lot of Young Marys and Roses of Sharon from W. A. Sat- 

 TERWHITE of Illinois. His first Scotch Shorthorn was the bull 

 Strathearn, secured from John Miller, (114) Brougham, Ont. 



He entered the showring about 1875, and remained in it 

 annually for a period of twenty-eight years when he turned his 

 responsibilities over to his son, Frank W. Harding (108). In 

 the contests of the early 80's he occupied a conspicuous position 

 in the leading western shows, Strathearn being a good forerunner 

 of Cupbearer and Young Abbotsburn. Scotch females were 

 secured by direct purchase abroad or from the stocks of CoL. 

 Harris, (109) John Miller (114) and Luther Adams. 

 His greatest years in the showring were his later ones, his 

 achievements of one year being the foundation on which he 

 builded better for the succeeding years. The grand champion at 

 the first American Royal in 1900 was Viscount of Anoka, cham- 

 pion at most American shows for a period of two years, while 

 Best of Archers not only did yeoman service in the ring, but 

 begot the 1903 International champion, Ceremonious Archer, out 

 of his veteran Lady-in-Waiting. 



Toward the close of his career, Mr. Harding served as a dis- 

 tributor of numerous lots of cattle of other than his own breed- 

 ing, and in 1901, despite the desperate drouth that enthralled 

 the entire Mississippi Valley, he held an exceptionally successful 

 sale at the Dexter Park Pavilion in Chicago, making $657 average 

 on 43 head. Throughout the 1900 and 1901 show season the 

 Anoka herd won first more times than any herd with which it 

 competed, except that of J. G. RoBBiNS & Sons. At the 1901 

 Royal, Anoka's Golden Victor won the Armour trophy for the 

 best bull of the breed. In 1903, Mr. Harding planned the dis- 

 persion of his Anoka herd in order to effect a settlement of his 

 interests with his son and to permit his retirement. Eleven bulls 



