314 A HISTORY OF THE PEECHERON HORSE 



Before 1890 951 stallions and 123 mares were im- 

 ported directly to Iowa, and Iowa farmers proved 

 to be liberal buyers of tlie best horses brought over 

 by importers located in other states. As a conse-' 

 quence, Percheron breeding was so increased that 

 132 stallions and 160 mares, bred in Iowa, were 

 raised by 1890, and the distribution of both mares 

 and stallions was more general in this state than in 

 any other except Illinois. 



Mr. Cook's purchases were made in France and 

 from Degen Bros, and B. H. Campbell of Illinois. 

 W. W. & Al Power of Pulaski, la., who were, next 

 to Cook, the earliest Percheron breeders in the state, 

 obtained their foundation stock from the Dillons of 

 Normal, 111. 



Iowa Breeders of the '80's. — Altogether there were 

 66 breeders of Percherons in Iowa during this time, 

 but nearly all owned only a few head. The leading 

 breeders in the state, so far as number of animals 

 bred is concerned, were Singmaster & Sons, J. H. 

 Barnett, John Lenhart, D. M. Baughman, D. Brown- 

 son & Sons, P. P. & L. H. Htimbert and M. L. Ayres, 

 but there were men of real metal among the smaller 

 breeders whose stock has since come into prominence. 



Maplehurst Stock Farm. — On the fertile prairies 

 near Keota, la., Samuel Singmaster had located in 

 1843. His sons, William and Charles P., grew into 

 the business with him and by 1874 the family was 

 possessed of extensive holdings of good Iowa land. 

 William, a bachelor, was the most keenly interested 

 in horses and prevailed upon his father to finance 



