THE NEW CENTURY DAWNS AUSPICIOUSLY 447 



chased were high grade Percherons, and it was de- 

 cided to exhibit a six-horse team. In 1904 a six- 

 horse team bearing the Pabst colors won the cham- 

 pionship at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and 

 at the International. The exhibition of this great 

 team at leading shows was another factor in popu- 

 larizing Percheron breeding. Much credit is due 

 the Pabst establishment for showing the geldings 

 at leading shows and for the exhibits of this firm 

 at the Wisconsin State Pair. Every effort was 

 made to encourage and assist small breeders in 

 obtaining a start in Percheron horses, and a large 

 share of the credit for Percheron improvement in 

 "Wisconsin must go to the Pabsts, father and son. 



Gr. N. Mihills, lumberman, had begun breeding 

 Percherons in the '90 's and continued throughout 

 this period. He made a number of purchases from 

 the Pabst Stock Farm and reserved many of the 

 females which he himself had bred. In spite of 

 his Percherons being a side issue, Mr. Mihills pro- 

 duced 100 of his own breeding during this period 

 and made numerous sales throughout Wisconsin, 

 assisting materially in the' upbuilding the state's 

 Percheron interests. Brentt 24062 and Ripon 22299 

 were the chief sires used in the early part of the 

 decade. Both were valuable-^steek horses. Brentt 

 was more freely used than Ripon. 



The Richland County Horse Co. was composed 

 of a number of farmers at Richland Center, Wis., 

 who purchased a band of mares in 1905. J. W. 

 Martin and R. C. Lybrand were the leading spirits 



