306 A HISTORY OF THE PERCHERON HOKSE 



the richest farming sections in Illinois. General 

 live stock farming was followed from the outset and 

 the Percheron mares always had to earn their way 

 in harness. The firm owned more than 40 mares 

 in 1885, but only 14 or 15 of these were Percherons. 

 PeAv Percheron colts were foaled at first, but 3 were 

 raised in 1885, and the number gradually increased 

 each year, until by 1890 21 stallions and 19 mares 

 of their own breeding had been produced. 



French Victor 6088 (6125), a gray, was the great- 

 est of the early sires used by the Hodgsons and 

 one of the best they ever owned. He was bought 

 as a suckling colt in France by E. Hodgson, who, 

 with other American buyers, considered the dam 

 Rapide (6124), by Brilliant 1899, one of the greatest 

 Percheron mares in France. French Victor was by 

 Philibert (760) and was consequently close akin in 

 breeding to La Ferte 5144 (452), one of the most 

 noted show horses and sires ever brought to this 

 country. They were sired by the same stallion and 

 both were out of daughters of Brilliant 1899. Hodg- 

 son exhibited French Victor at the Illinois State 

 Fair in 1885 and won first in the four-year-old class. 

 French Victor was not shown to any extent subse- 

 quently, but was freely used in the stud and was 

 just coming into general notice as a sire when his 

 death occurred in 1889 from colic. His daughters 

 were considered to be among the best ever bred by 

 the firm. 



Bernard 10570 and Loran B. 10567, foaled in 1886 

 and 1887 respectively, both sired by French Victor 



