Historical Shorthorns 1890-1910
Agricultural Advancements 1890-1910
The two decades of the late 19th and early 20th centuries continued to represent significant changes in agriculture even though a severe economic depression occurred in 1893. Many of the Land Grant Universities had already been established and their influences on technology in agriculture were being felt. Increased industrialization was occurring as the internal combustion engine in tractors and automobiles started to transform farm power and travel uses. Increased mobility allowed people to gather, exchange ideas and move crops and livestock. Centralized markets were expanded, and refrigerated rail cars allowed the movement of fresh meat products. The American Fat Stock Show brought livestock together for comparisons and although it ended a seventeen-year run in 1894, it laid the ground work for the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago to be initiated in 1900. This event grew to be the largest livestock exhibit in the world. It attracted international audiences, was accompanied by many educational activities, and made significant contributions to the advancement of the livestock industry.
This section includes: Young Abbotsburn, Gay Monarch, Cumberland, St. Valentine, Lavender Viscount, The Lad for Me, Choice Goods, Whitehall Sultan, Ceremonious Archer, British Glory, Orange Monarch, Whitehall Marshal, Cumberland’s Last, Avondale, Villager, Matchless Dale, King Cumberland, Ringmaster, Diamond Goods, Gainford Marquis, and Sultan Stamp
YOUNG ABBOTSBURN 110679
Born: March 2, 1885
Sire: ABBOTSBURN 106090
Dam: VILLAGE BLOSSOM v28 p1136
Dominant show bull of the early 1890s, and Grand Champion (over all breeds) at the Chicago Columbian Exposition World Fair in 1893. He weighed 2800 pounds but “his legacy to the breed aside from his show-yard triumphs was not large.”
GAY MONARCH 92411
Born: Jan. 26, 1887
Sire: WILLIAM OF ORANGE 95736 (50694)
Dam: ALEXANDRINA 17TH (v34 p456E)
He was the foundation sire of the J.G. Robbins and Sons herd, Horace, IN, and a prominent show winner weighing 2600 pounds in show ring form. He had the ability to transmit his quality to his progeny, many of which had successes in the show ring. “He was of the typical low-down, deep bodied, short legged, thick fleshed sort with a superior amount of quality.”
CUMBERLAND 118578
Born: Oct. 1, 1894
Sire: KING JAMES 103902
Dam: CLOVER FLOWER v35 p627
He founded a line of Shorthorns in the herd of C.A. Saunders, Manilla, IA, Cumberland Stock Farm which were known as "Cumberland Shorthorns." The name was carried on for several generations through his sons, grandsons and beyond. The Cumberland Shorthorns figured prominently among International and other show winners and top breeding cattle.
ST. VALENTINE 121014
Born Feb. 14, 1894
Sire: GUARDSMAN 108200
Dam: VERBENA'S LADY v39 p682
He was bred by James Gardhouse & Son, Highfield, Ontario, Canada, and he was a top show and breeding bull in the J.G. Robbins & Sons herd. He elevated their herd to one that was considered one of the very best in the nation. Sire of The Lad for Me, first International Grand Champion bull in 1900 who was also an excellent sire.
LAVENDER VISCOUNT 124755
Born: March 16, 1896
Bred by S.F. Lockridge, Greencastle, IN, Owned & shown by C.E. Leonard, Ravenswood Farm, Bunceton, Cooper County, MO
Sire: BARON LAVENDER 3D 78854
Dam: GAYETY v34 p617
Winner of Grand Sweepstakes Over All Ages at the Kansas City National Show in 1900 & 1901 when he was commended for “his marvelous thickness and smoothness” and Champion at the International in 1901. In the discussion of his winning at Chicago in 1901 it was stated,” few bulls of such wealth of flesh have stepped into our show yards.”
THE LAD FOR ME 140618
Born: December 30, 1897
Bred, shown and used by J.G. Robbins & Sons, Horace, IN
Sire: ST. VALENTINE 121014
Dam: GAY LAVENDER v41 p725
A son of St. Valentine and out of a notable show cow, he was champion at the inaugural International Livestock Exposition held in Chicago in 1900. In good form he weighed 2200 pounds and he became a leading sire in the Robbins herd. In 1901 his service was advertised at “$100 each insuring a live calf.” Sire of the first prize get of sire groups at the 1904 and 1905 Internationals.
CHOICE GOODS 186802 (76350)
Born: April 21, 1899
Sire: REMUS 151790 (73402)
Dam: GERALDINE 5TH (v46 p450E)
He was bred in Scotland. He was Grand Champion at the 1902 International and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis in 1904. He proved to be "a remarkably good sire as well as a prizewinner."
WHITEHALL SULTAN 163573
Born: Oct. 11, 1900
Sire: BAPTON SULTAN 163570 (76083)
Dam: BAPTON PEARL v48 p368
His sire was from Bapton Manor in England. He was considered to be the greatest Shorthorn sire of his time. Sons and grandsons were influential sires of both Shorthorns and great improvers of Polled Shorthorns (Durhams). He was sire of first prize Get of Sire groups at the 1906, '07 and '08 International.
CEREMONIOUS ARCHER 171479
Born: February 12, 1901
Bred by Geo. Harding & Son, Anoka Herd, Waukesha, WI, Owned by Col. Frank O. Lowden, Sinnissippi Herd, Oregon, IL
Sire: BEST OF ARCHERS 141832 (69981)
Dam: LADY IN WAITING v44 p632 (v44 p543E)
Grand Champion at the 1903 International where he sold to Col. Frank O. Lowden’s Sinnissippi Herd for $5000. Described when first shown as a calf as “a furry, sappy youngster,” he became a distinguished sire. His dam was also the dam of several other notable herd sires. The Anoka Herd of the Harding family had a long history in the breeding and promotion of Shorthorns with Frank W. Harding serving as the Executive Secretary of the American Shorthorn Association.
BRITISH GLORY 180304 v52
Born: Mar. 20, 1901
Bred by George Walker, Tillygreig, Aberdeenshire, SCOTLAND, Imported by I.M. Forbes, Owned & used by Dean C.F. Curtiss, Rookwood Farm, Ames IA
Sire: PRIDE OF THE REALM 168298 (75251)
Dam: FANCY 13TH (v48 p892E)
British Glory amassed an impressive show record at fairs in central Illinois before he sold to head the Rookwood Herd, Ames IA owned by C. F. Curtiss. This widely known Shorthorn herd had show ring victories which included championships at the International. In the Rookwood herd British Glory proved to be a sire of exceptional merit. In addition to owning and exhibiting his own livestock herds Curtiss served as a faculty member, department chairman and dean of agriculture at Iowa State College in an academic career that spanned over 40 years. He was an internationally recognized livestock judge officiating numerous times at the International as well as in Great Britain where he also made livestock purchases and in South America. He essentially founded the Animal Husbandry Department at Iowa State, established outstanding teaching herds, promoted livestock judging team activities and “instilled in us the dignity of agriculture. He taught us to spell Agriculture with a capital 'A'.”
ORANGE MONARCH 190181 v.54
Born: November 2, 1901
Bred by Purdy Bros., Harris, MO
Sire: LORD LOVEL 130157 v43
Dam: SWEETHEART 2D v46 p682
He is pictured with his half-sister by the same sire Lord Lovel. He was a sire of consistent winners for Purdy Bros., Harris MO. The herd became well known for cattle that were of the “Purdy type.” Their idea of the ideal type was to have “a short broad head, good eye, well-filled neck vein, broad level back, heavy rear quarters, short legs, straight lines, wide front, deep fleshed, mellow hides covered with mossy coats, and the cows should be heavy milkers.” Several generations of the family were outstanding husbandmen, herd managers, judges and livestock industry leaders exerting their influences on other breeds throughout North America and other countries as well.
Whitehall Marshal 209776
Born: October 5, 1902
Bred by E.S. Kelly, Springfield, OH; Owned & shown by F.W. Harding, Waukesha, WI, also used in the Elmendorf Herd, Lexington, KY
Sire: WHITEHALL SULTAN 163573
Dam: MISSIE 167TH v48 p370
Grand Champion at the 1904 and 1905 International plus at many state fairs , he was the most successful prize winner of the sons of Whitehall Sultan.
Cumberland’s Last 229822
Born: March 13, 1904
Bred by C. A. Saunders, Manilla, IA
Sire: CUMBERLAND 118578
Dam: LADY DOUGLAS v45 p1100
The last son of the remarkable sire Cumberland. He was an International first prize winner in 1904 and junior champion in 1905. Sold for $5000 to F.O. Lowden for $5000 but later repurchased by Mr. Saunders’ for his Cumberland Stock Farm. He made a wonderful record as a sire. Among his get were King Cumberland, 1908 International Grand Champion and the first prize get of sire at the 1910 International. He continued the line of “Cumberland bred cattle.”
AVONDALE 245144
Avondale as a young bull.
Born: January 5, 1905
Bred by E.S. Kelly, Springfield, OH. Calved by, shown, & used by Carpenter & Ross, Maxwalton Farm, Mansfield, OH
Sire: WHITEHALL SULTAN 163573
Dam: AVALANCHE 2ND v60 p655
He was clearly the top breeding son of Whitehall Sultan and the leading sire of his time as a contributor to show ring winnings. Although his own show yard successes were lacking compared to some of his contemporaries, his success as a breeder surpassed those of any of his competitors. “Although never put in high flesh, he always weighed close up to 2500 pounds. He was called by some as being too long bodied and off the ground, but he had a phenomenal head, a perfectly arched neck, a lot of quality with tremendous spring of rib, width from end to end and a great spread of back and loin.” He sired first prize get of sire groups at the International in 1909, ’11, ’12, ’13 and ’16 (no shows in ’14 & ’15). His influence impacted the breed for a period that lasted decades.
VILLAGER 295884 (97556)
Born; March 1, 1906
Sire: VILLAGE BEAU 295883 (87631)
Dam: ROSY CLOUD (v50 p678E)
A champion in England and noted sire in the herds of D.R. Hanna, Ravenna, OH and Weaver and Garden, Wapello, IA. Established a line referred to as "Villager cattle" through his progeny.
MATCHLESS DALE 291609 v72
Born: December 12, 1906
Bred by Carpenter & Ross, Mansfield, OH, Owned & used by Kansas Agricultural College (Kansas State), Manhattan, KS
Sire: AVONDALE 245144
Dam: MATCHLESS MISS v61 p1005
Based on his birthdate he was a member of Avondale’s first calf crop. He was used in the herd of the Kansas Agricultural College (Kansas State) for over ten years. He was described “as an exceptionally smooth, thick bodied bull with an abundance of quality and extremely mellow pliable hide and was especially attractive because of the character and masculinity as shown in his head and crest.” While there he sired more first prize and champion steers than any other Shorthorn bull or bull of any other breed.
KING CUMBERLAND 288383
Born: January 22, 1907
Bred by F.O. Lowden, Oregon IL, shown by George H. White
Sire: CUMBERLAND'S LAST 229822
Dam: MISS WALPOLE v68 p807
He was bred at F. O. Lowden’s Sinnissippi Farm, Oregon IL, and was sold in dam with a group of cows for $130. The cow was then resold for $225 to Mr. H. H. Powell, Linn Grove, IA where King Cumberland was born. He was shown and won the Junior Championship at the Iowa State Fair, after which King Cumberland sold for $3000 to George H. White, Emerson, IA. He was Junior and Grand Champion at the 1908 American Royal and International, and then sold to Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, KY for $5000.
RINGMASTER 307894
Born: May 6, 1908
Bred by C.E. Clarke, St. Cloud, MN, shown by White & Smith
Sire: SNOWFLAKE 263207
Dam: LADY DORTHEA 3D v68 p602
He was the only Shorthorn bull to win Grand Championship honors at the International three times, in 1910, ’11 and ’13. Following his win in 1913 “his owner, Leslie Smith was hoisted on his back and held there by admiring friends while the bull was led from the arena amid great applause from the amphitheater.” Ironically this three-time champion had barely escaped “the knife” because when he was only a few weeks old his owner decided the calf was a very promising prospect for a champion steer and left instructions for him to be castrated. However his young son had become attached to the calf, countermanded the order and the greatest prize winner of his time remained a bull. Unfortunately, he left no progeny of significance for posterity, only memories of a stellar show-yard career.
DIAMOND GOODS 333014
Born: January 13, 1909
Bred by Bellows Bros., Maryville, MO
Sire: GOOD CHOICE 227852
Dam: SWEETHEART 13925
Diamond Goods was bred and used in the Bellow Bros’ Parkdale herd, Maryville, MO. When shown as an aged bull in 1912 he was undefeated in class including at the International and he amassed several state fair Grand Championships. The Parkdale herd was established in 1880 and started holding annual sales in 1902 which continued for nearly fifty years.
GAINFORD MARQUIS =83755= 370987 (108690)
Born: October 13, 1909
Bred by George Harrison, Gainford Hall, Darlington, ENGLAND
Sire: GAINFORD KNIGHT (95249)
Dam: DALMENY MARCHIONESS 8TH (v55 p763E)
Gainford Marquis was bred in Scotland and imported into Canada by J. A. “Jimmy” Watt, Salem Stock Farm whose family made their first purchases of Shorthorns in 1861. He was Junior Champion at the 1911 International and a winner at many Canadian shows. He passed through several herds in western Canada before returning to Salem Stock Farm. His success as a sire was demonstrated by the fact that his progeny won the get of sire class at the Canadian National Exposition for seven consecutive years from 1914-1920.
SULTAN STAMP 334974 v77
Born: November 8, 1909
Bred by Frank W. Harding, Anoka Farm, Wuakesha, WI
Sire: WHITEHALL SULTAN 163573
Dam: RACHEL'S DAUGHTER v62 p747 (v49 p460E)
Although he usually stood at or near the top end of his class in the show ring, his most notable win was when he was Grand Champion at the 1913 American Royal. He proved to be a valuable breeder siring the first prize get of sire at the 1917 International. Included in his progeny was the bull, Anoka Champion who sold for $17,000 in 1917.
