OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 253 
A SHORTHORN SOLON 
98. The romance of the early Kentuckians and Ohioans who 
courageously risked their lives and fortunes to build up the 
blooded cattle industry of America can never be adequately told. 
The names of RentcK (92) and Van METER, WarRFIELD and 
ALEXANDER (82), CUNNINGHAM and ComBs, are now memories; 
the strains they fought so earnestly to perpetuate are now over- 
shadowed by the soggy rent-payers from the Northland, and the 
manors that cradled their triumphs are now given over to the 
most diversified of agricultural production. 
Almost alone of those mighty intellects survives Mr. BENJAMIN 
F. Van METER, now of Lexington, who during his active years 
lived on the parental estate in Clark Co., about four miles from 
the town of Winchester. Mr. Van METER was born January 30, 
1834, the fifth son in a family of fifteen. It was in this year that 
FeLix RENIcK (92) crossed the waters to import the first pedi- 
greed cattle to come west of the Allegheny mountains. Both 
Isaac Van METER and Capt. Isaac CUNNINGHAM, father and 
grandfather of Ben Van METER, were heavy stockholders in this 
venture. Born thus into an atmosphere of pedigreed stock, it was 
not surprising that in 1853 he chose to go to England with his 
brother SOLOMon and CHARLEs T. GARRARD rather than complete 
his college course. On this trip he first made the acquaintance 
of Ropert A. ALEXANDER (82) and was fortunate to have the 
opportunity of returning aboard ship as sole Kentuckian in the 
company of this early master. 
The friendship here commenced, ripened into a permanent 
asset for Mr. Van METER. Due to the sharp practice of a neigh- 
bor, Sgurre Duncan, he was cheated out of the service of the 
bull Lord John, of Woodburn breeding, for which he had bartered. 
So firm was Mr. ALEXANDER’S interest, however, that he permitted 
the young VAN METER to use for four months, the undefeated 
Second Duke of Airdrie, then billed for shipment to Scotland. 
