MID-WEST PIONEERS 161 



only the principal importer, but oasily the leading 

 breeder of his time, both in point of numbers and in 

 the excellence of animals produced. Between 1872 

 and 1900 385 mares and 353 stallions (a total of 738 

 Perch erons) were bred at Oaklawn, more than in 

 any five other breeding establishments operating dur- 

 ing the '70 's, '80 's and '90 's. Aside from this, the 

 character of the animals produced was such that 

 Oaklawn took the premier position at the outset, and 

 its leadership was never seriously disputed during 

 the lifetime of its founder. 



Born in 1842 of New England parentage Mark "VV. 

 Dunham succeeded in 1865 to the farm which his 

 father had purchased from the government in 1833. 

 His education was obtained in the local schools and 

 on the farm, under the guidance of a father who 

 was a good farmer and a raiser of livestock of more 

 than average merit. The father died when Mark 

 was only 23, and he at once assumed the management 

 of the place which then comprised but about 300 

 acres, located near Wayne, 111., where the buildings 

 now stand. 



Mr. Dunham as a practical farmer had bred good 

 livestock from the outset, and as has already been 

 briefly mentioned he had entered upon his career as 

 a horseman by becoming a member of the Fletcher 

 Horse Co., headed by his uncle, M. W. Fletcher. • 

 This was the company that had bought Success and 

 French Emperor in 1868, shortly after their im- 

 portation by "W. J. Edwards. A few years later 

 Mr. Dunham bought Success from the company for 



