OTHER PROMINENT FIGURES OF THE PERIOD 279 



breeding condition. He was foaled in 1868 and im- 

 ported in 1874. He was white at the time of his im- 

 portation, and a symmetrical, stylish horse of great 

 quality and finish, with extraordinary action. As a 

 sire he was one of the best and undoubtedly ranks 

 as one of the greatest sons of Favori 1st (711), the 

 foundation sire of the Favori strain. 



It was Mr. Johnson 's keen judgment and integrity 

 that led to his employment by Mr. Dunham as his 

 buyer in France. While thus engaged he from time 

 to time selected some of the horses that especially 

 suited his ideas, and by arrangement with Mr. Dun- 

 ham he shipped these to Maple Point Farm. Owing 

 to his limited means Mr. Johnson's first selections 

 were stallions, which were soon sold; but he also se- 

 lected a few mares, which he retained. The first 

 Percheron of his own breeding was foaled in 1881, 

 and the number gradually increased until by 1890 he 

 had raised 26 stallions and an equal number of 

 mares. 



Leading Sires Used.— It is doubtful whether any 

 stud in America ever had such a group of really 

 great sires as was owned at Maple Point in the '80 's. 

 Unfortunately, Mr. Johnson did not have a large 

 band of mares, nor did he have the means to retain 

 his great stock horses. These stallions were sold 

 after he had used them for a short time and many, 

 like Brilliant 1899, went into communities in which 

 they were lost to the breed, though they did do won- 

 ders in improving the grade stock. 



Brilliant 1899, whose history has already been 



