250 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 
second volume. In the autumn of 1855 the book appeared with 
approximately 3,000 pedigrees. In many cases the information 
was fragmentary and more than once errors and even forgeries 
were discovered. But the proper foundation had been laid and 
Mr. ALLEN was recognized throughout the Shorthorn fraternity 
as the authorized custodian of the records. 
The growth of the breed interests was most pronounced in the 
Mississippi valley in the 70’s, and gradually the geographic limits 
led to dissensions among the breeders. The western and southern 
men soon felt that the location of pedigree autocracy in New York 
gave numerous possibilities of minority control, and in the early 
70’s two new registers appeared, the American Shorthorn Record 
in Kentucky and the Ohio Shorthorn Record in that state. The 
only solution guaranteeing a strong and permanent future was the 
unification of the three interests, so in the autumn of 1882 the first 
step was taken through the acquirement of Mr. ALLEN’s records 
for $25,000, by the newly organized American Shorthorn 
Breeders’ Association. Immediately thereafter the other two 
registers were purchased and since 1883 there has been but one 
book. Headquarters of the records were removed to Chicago, 
and have remained either there or at Springfield ever since. 
One very great service which Mr. ALLEN rendered was in the 
publication of his volume on “American Cattle.” This first 
appeared in 1868, and summarized the knowledge at that time 
available on the improved cattle in America, as well as giving 
considerable of the early lore on feeding and breeding. His 
death, less than a decade after relinquishing his position of author- 
ity in the breed, removed one of the most notable servants of 
improved stock of the early days. 
