208 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
the shambles. In 1852, the Scioto Valley Importing 
Company was organized. This company, through its 
agents, George W. Renick and Arthur Watts, imported 
ten bulls and seventeen females, which were sold at auction 
at the very high average of $1351.85. This sale proved 
a stimulus to Shorthorn-cattle-breeding interests, and 
other importing companies were quickly organized, 
among which were the Madison County, Ohio, the North- 
ern Kentucky, and the Scott County Importing Com- 
panies, the Clinton County, Ohio, and Clark County, 
Ohio, Associations. 
In 1852 and 1853, A. J. Alexander of Kentucky, who was 
visiting in Great Britain, laid the foundation of the Wood- 
burn herd of Shorthorns. The first shipment of cattle 
to the Alexander farm was made in 1853; subsequently 
other importations were made, which included Duchess 
Airdrie, Duchess Athol, Pearlette, Victoria 20th, Filigree, 
Lady Gulnare, Minna, Constance, Rosabella and other 
cows. Three of the leading bulls imported were Duke 
of Airdrie, Second Duke of Athol and Dr. Buckingham. 
At the Northern Kentucky and Scott County Companies’ 
sales, Alexander made important purchases in the cows 
Mazurka, Maid of Melrose and Equity. The Wood- 
burn herd took a prominent place in Shorthorn affairs and 
was at one time probably one of the largest and best Short- 
horn herds in America, if not in the world. The Duke 
of Airdrie (12730) was used a year by George M. Bedford 
and to some extent by Abram Renick and Jere Duncan, 
as well as by Alexander. Bell Duke of Airdrie (2552), 
Duncan’s Duke of Airdrie (2743) and Airdrie (2478) are 
considered among this great bull’s most famous sons. 
Among the most prominent breeders of Shorthorns 
in the United States at this early period should be men- 
