286 A l.lSTO.tY OF THE PERCHERON HORSE 



Leonard Johnson's was the most potent influence 

 of the '80 's in the development of Percheron inter- 

 ests in the northwestern states. His high character 

 and agreeable personality made him liked by all who 

 knew him, and his remarkable judgment of Perche- 

 rons made his fair winnings of the utmost value as 

 object lessons to less well-informed breeders and 

 farmers. He would not handle inferior stock, and 

 was always willing to pay a long price for horses 

 which he considered "true gold." 



Minnesota Percheron Horse Company. — Controlled 

 by the Payne Lumber Company of the Twin Cities, 

 the Minnesota Percheron Horse Company became 

 one of the important Percheron establishments of 

 the state. T^he stud was founded in 1886 by the pur- 

 chase of a carload of W. L. Ellwood's best mares. 

 Later purchases were made from the Ellwood stud 

 in 1888 and '89. The firm had extensive land inter- 

 ests at Cazenovia and was wealthy. The best were 

 none too good, and its purchases were high-class as 

 to individuality. 



Exact data as to the number of mares owned are 

 not obtainable, but the firm owned at least 30 mares 

 by 1888 and about 50 mares by 1890. Twenty-five 

 stallions and 21 mares of the company's breeding, 

 foaled from 1887 to 1890, are on record, and none of 

 the dams was to be classed as a regular breeder. 



Niger 4986 (2951) was the chief sire. He was 

 imported in 1886 by Mr. Ellwood and was in the 

 first lot bought by the Paynes. Picador 3d 5078 

 (4815), imported in 1886, was also taken to Cazen- 



