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��HISTORY OF OHIO.
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��endurance, were, chiefly used. They were impractic- able in hauhng the immense emigrant wagons over the mountains, and hence were comparatively unknown in Ohio. Until 1828, draft liorses were chiefly used here, the best strains being brought by the -'Tunkers," "Mennouites," and Ormish," — three religious sects, whose members were invariably agriculturists. In Stark, Wayne, Holmes, and Kichlaud Counties, as a general thing, they congregated in communities, where the neat- ness of their farms, the excellent condition of their stock, and the primitive simplicity of their UKumers, made them conspicuous.
In 1S28, the French began to settle in Stark Ciiunty, where they introduced the stock of horses known as '• Selim," "Florizel,"' '•Fo.stBoy" and 'Timolen." These, crossed upon the descents of the Norman and Conestoga, produced an excellent stock of farm horses, now largely used.
In the Western Reserve, blooded horses were in- troduced as early as 1825. John I. Van Meter brought fine horses into the Scioto Valley in 1815, or thereabouts. Soon after, fine horses were brought to Steuben ville from ^^irginia and Penn- sylvania. In Northern Oliio the stock was more miscellaneous, until the introduction of improved breeds from 1815 to 1835. By the latter date the strains of horses had greatly improved. The same could be said of other parts of the State. Until after 1825, only farm and road horses were re(juired. That year a race-course — the first in the State — was established in Cincinnati, shortly followed by others at Chillicothe, Dayton and Ham- ilton. From that date the race-horse steadily im- proved. Until 1838, however, all race-courses were rather irregular, and, of those named, it is difficult to determine which one lias priority of date over the others. To Cincinnati, the prece- dence is, however, generally given. In 1838, the Buckeye Course was established in Cincinnati, and before a year had elapsed, it is stated, there were fifteen regular race-courses in Ohio. The effect of these courses was to greatly stimulate the stock of racers, and rather detract from draft and road horses. The organization of companies to import blooded horses has again revived the interest in this class, and now, at annual stock sales, these strains of horses are eagerly sought after by those having occa.sion to use them.
Cattle were brought over the mountains, and, for several years, were kept entirely for domestic uses. By 1805, the country had so far settled that the surplus stock was fattened on corn and
��fodder, and a drove was driven to Baltimore. The drove was owned by Greorge lienick, of Chillicothe, and the feat was looked upon as one of great im- portance. The drove arrived in Baltimore in ex- cellent condition. The impetus given by this movement of Mr. Renick stimulated greatly the feeding of cattle, and led to the improvement of the breed, heretofore only of an ordinary kind.
Until the advent of railroads and the shipment of cattle thereon, the number of cattle driven to eastern markets from Ohio alone, was estimated at over fifteen thousand annually, whose value was placed at $600,000. Besides this, large numbers were driven from Indiana and Illinois, whose boundless prairies gave free scope to the herding of cattle. Improved breeds, '-Short Horns," '-Long Horns" and others, were introduced into Ohio ;,s early as 1810 and 1815. Since then the stock has been gradually improved and acclimated, until now Ohio produces as fine cattle as any State in the Union. In some localities, especially in the Western Reserve, cheesemaking and dairy interests are the chief occupations of whole neighborhoods, where may be found men who have grown wealthy in this business.
Sheep were kept by almost every family, in pio- neer times, in order to be supplied with wool for clothing. The wool was carded by hand, spun in the cabin, and frequently dyed and woven as well as shaped into garments there, too. All emigrants brought the best household and fiirming imple- ments their limited means would allow, so also did they bring the best strains of horses, cattle and sheep they could obtain. About the year 1809, Mr. Thomas Rotch, a Quaker, emigrated to Stark County, and brought with him a small flock of Merino sheep. They were good, and a part of them were from the original flock brought over from Spain, in 1801, by Col. Humphrey, United States IMinister to that country. He had brought 200 of these sheep, and hoped, in time, to see every part of the United States stocked with Me- rinos. In this he partially succeeded only, owing to the prejudice against them. In 1816, IMessrs. Wells & Dickenson, who were, for the day, exten- sive woolen manufacturers in Steubenville, drove their fine flocks out on the Stark County Plains for the summer, and brought them back for the winter. This course was pursued for several years, until farms were prepared, when they were per- manently kept in Stark County. This flock was originally derived from the Humphrey importation. The failure of Wells & Dickenson, in 1824, placed
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