MID-WEST PIONEERS 165 



obtainable in France for use in his own breeding 

 operations at Oaklawn set a higb standard for other 

 American breeders to follow; last but not least, his 

 aggressive advertising through the agricultural 

 press and at fairs and expositions, together with 

 well-planned circular and catalog distribution, did 

 more to bring Percherons to the front in these early 

 days than any other factor. In his advertising Mr. 

 Dunham placed emphasis on the greater value of the 

 colts begotten by Percheron sires, and repeatedly 

 scored by pointing out that the colts sired by his 

 Percheron stallions were selling for twice as much 

 at the same age as the colts sired by the common 

 grade or mixed-bred sires then in general use. The 

 utility value of the draft horse was Tiis theme, 

 whether for work or sale, and he drove this point 

 home so aggressively that his sales of Percherons 

 in 1875 and 76 aggregated almost $200,000— elo- 

 quent testimony, even at so early a date, as to the 

 high character of his selections. 



The Dillons. — Ellis Dillon and his nephews, Levi 

 and Isaiah Dillon, operating under the name of E. 

 Dillon & Co., were first located in Tazewell, and later 

 in Mcjjean county in Illinois. The Dillons were the 

 first family to locate in Tazewell county, and came 

 there from Ohio in 1823. They brought with them 

 horses larger than the average descended from 

 English draft stock. Subsequently they had the 

 services of old Samson, an imported English draft 

 stallion, probably a Shire, brought over by Col. Oak- 

 ley in 1843. They continued the use of this blood 



