OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 25 
But the Scottish heritage stirred in his blood, and the love of 
livestock led him to supplemental fields. In 1867 he made his 
first shipment of Clydesdales from Canada to Wisconsin and 
entered the showring for the first time that year. As yet he had 
no land and his animals were stabled in town. In the early 
seventies his equine interests had developed to such a degree that 
he deemed it best to secure a farm, and enter the draft horse 
game in a more permanent manner. He was very fortunate in 
obtaining Courtney Hall, lying five miles east from Madison. 
Courtney Hall had been founded by an English nobleman, and 
had a most pretentious castle and fine outbuildings. Here he 
expanded his Clydesdale interests and for a short period engaged 
in the breeding of Shorthorns, long enough to develop a herd 
of really top rank, as far as showyard honors were concerned. 
In 1883 an opportunity came to dispose of Courtney Hall at a 
profit, and he secured Blairgowrie in the township of Vienna in 
Dane County. 
The female stock that ultimately founded his greatest successes 
was obtained very shortly after Blairgowrie was established. 
Rosert Bruce had selected for JaMEs J. HILt the finest bred and 
highest priced importation of Clydesdale mares ever sent to Amer- 
ica. Thirteen head were included in the lot and the prices ranged 
from 500 to 800 guineas in Scotland. The original price quoted did 
not meet Mr. OciLvie’s purse, and it was not until he had made 
four trips to North Oaks, that a satisfactory bargain was struck. 
Mr. Hitt had had an ambition to become a second Sir WM. STER- 
LING-MAXWELL, breeder of Darnley, and wished North Oaks to be 
an American Keir. However, he was unfortunate in the groom 
selected to come to America with them, and after ineffectual 
attempts to replace him, decided to abandon the project and sold 
his entire importation to Mr. Ocitvie. The possession of such a 
fine mare stock necessitated a suitable stallion, and_ this 
animal Mr. Ocitvie found in the “Matchless” MacQueen, 
