The Scioto Valley being settled by many Kentucky and Virginia families, cattle-growing became the leading form of agriculture; hence we find, as early as 1832, that there was formed the Scioto Stock Importing Company, and which imported some of the best strains of Short Horn cattle to be found in the valley at the present day. In the fall of 1852, a meeting was held in London by some leading stock men, to consider the project of importing thoroughbred stock from Europe. An organization was effected January 1, 1853, and the association was named the Madison County Stock Importing Company. A constitution for the government of the company was adopted, and the following officers elected: Jesse Watson, President; Maj. Richard Cowling, Vice President; Jacob Chrisman, Treasurer; J. T. Lacy, Secretary; James Fullington, Joseph Chrisman, William H. Creighton and Robert Reed, Directors.
The company was organized in shares of $100; about $10,000 was the capital stock. Messrs. Jonathan Farrar and Charles Phellis, of Madison County, and Benjamin Browning, of Clark, were appointed as the Purchase Committee, and sailed for England in the spring of 1853. The stock came in a sailing vessel, and arrived in very fine condition. The whole lot was kept for some time at the Brown farm, east of London, and sold September 27, 1853, which was the day preceding the opening of the first fair held by the Madison County Agricultural Society. The following is an exact copy of the report of that sale
Thornberry—F. W. & II. Renick, Pickaway County $ 875
Sheffelder—J. W. Robinson, Madison County 1,800
Mario—Robert Reed, Madison County 1,550
Marquis—James Fullington, Union County 3,000
Starlight—Charles Phellis, Madison County 3,000
Beau Clerc—D. M. Creighton, Madison County 750
Symmetry—W. A. Dun, .Madison County 1,150
Fanner's Boy—Joseph Rayburn, Madison County 925
Prince Albert—J. F. Chenoweth, Madison County 300
Colonel—"W. A. Dun, Madison County 1,350
Sportsman—James Foster, Madison County 700
Prince Edward— M. B. Wright, Fayette County 475
Rocket—David Watson, Union County 425
Splendor—F. A. Focum, Madison County 500
Duke- of Liverpool—George G-. McDonald, Madison County 555
_____
$17,355
| Victoria—J. Q. Minshall, Madison County | 600 |
| Picotee —Jesse Watson, Madison County | 1,275 |
| Stapleton Lass—Jessie Watson, Madison County | 1,350 |
| Princess and Calf—William Watson, Clark County | 690 |
| Miss Hilton— David Watson. Union County | 875 |
| Alexandrina—David Watson, Union County | 560 |
| Blossom—David Watson, Union County | 650 |
| Yorkshire Dairy Cow—Joseph Negley, Clark County | 425 |
| Monson —Joseph Rayburn, Madison County | 295 |
| _____ | |
| $6,720 |
| No. 1.—Levi Oldham, Fayette County | $ 200 | ||
| No. 2.—Michael Sullivant, Franklin County | 80 | ||
| No. 3.—J. T. McKey, Franklin County | 75 | ||
| No. 4.—J. T. McKey, Franklin County | 35 | ||
| No. 5.—J. G. Gest, Greene County | 41 | ||
| No. 6.—John Hadley, Clinton County | 42 | ||
| No. 7.—John Hadley, Clinton County | 26 | ||
| No. 8.—Henry Rule, Clinton County | 16 | ||
| No. 9.—W. A. Dun, Madison County | 20 | ||
| No. 10.—Jesse Hegler, Fayette County | 61 | ||
| No. 11.—John Hadley, Clinton County | 200 | ||
| No. 12.—J. Q. Minshall, Madison County | 120 | _____ | |
| $916 |
| No. 1.—Richard Cowling, Madison County | $ 110 |
| No. 2.—W. H. Creighton, Madison County | 45 |
| No. 3.—Chandler Mitchell, Madison County | 45 |
| No. 4.—Jesse Watson, Madison County | 60 |
| No. 5.—Cyrus Larkin, Fayette County | 56 |
| No. 6.—Robert Reed, Madison County | 45 |
| NO. 7.—T. Mathews, Licking County | 100 |
| No. 8.—T. Mathews, Licking County | 50 |
| No. 9.—C. Fullington, Union County | 75 |
| No. 10.—John Hadley, Clinton County | 85 |
| No. 11.—G. Howard, Champaign County | 40 |
| No. 12.—D. M. Creighton, Madison County | 75 |
| No. 13.—E. P. O'Neil | 60 |
| No. 14.—Richard Cowling, Madison County | 100 |
| No. 15.—John Hadley, Clinton County | 55 |
| No. 16.—C. Fullington, Union County | 55 |
| No. 17.—Levi Lapham, Union County | 35 |
| No. 18.—D. M. Creighton, Madison County | 115 |
| No. 19.—C. Fullington, Union County | 55 |
| No. 20.—C. Fullington, Union County | 105 |
| _____ | |
| Sheep | $ 1,266 |
| Hogs | 916 |
| Cows | 6,720 |
| Bulls | 17,355 |
| _____ | |
| Total | $26,257 |
Jacob Chrisman was the Cashier of the company, and, after paying all expenses of importing, keeping, sale, etc., disbursed to the shareholders something over $240 for each $100 originally put in. The selling was done by Benjamin Porter, the first auctioneer of the monthly stock sales, for which he received the insignificant sum of $50. Other companies and individuals of the Scioto Valley besides those mentioned have made importations from Europe of the choicest strains of thoroughbred stock, the descendants of which are to be found not only in this valley, but distributed throughout the entire West, as well as other portions of the United States.
Among the breeders and dealers in thoroughbred stock, David Selsor and the Dun brothers deserve special mention. The former possessed the finest herd of Short-Horns in Ohio, and one of the finest on the continent. His animals always won the blue ribbon at the leading fairs of the country, and the fame of David Selsor, the cattle king, has spread wherever the breeding of fine stock was made a specialty. The biggest prices wore paid for his animals, and the stock man who was fortunate enough to obtain a descendant of this choice herd was indeed lucky. Mr. Selsor spared no pains nor expense to keep his herd in the front rank with the finest in the world. Truly, Madison County should honor the memory of this man, who, during a long life of business activity, did so much toward establishing and maintaining her reputation as the great stock mart of Ohio. Mr. Selsor died January 12, 1882, and his valuable herd was subsequently sold and scattered all over this land.
Robert G. and John G. Dun held their first annual sale of Short-Horns May 6, 1868, and sold thirty-two animals, nearly all one and two years old. We find that nine bulls and five heifers were bought by Madison County men. The purchasers were Robert Boyd, W. A. Dun, F. M. Chenoweth, Benjamin Linson, Harford Toland, J. A. Pringle, James Rankin, William A. Neil, Jr., Addison Watson, William Cryder, Benjamin Custer, Robert G. Dun, R. B. Cowling and Bell Bros. Of the remaining eighteen, seven went to Clark County, four to Union, two to Champaign, two to Pickaway, one to Delaware and one to Fairfield County. The average price all round was $178.44; the lowest price, $75: and the highest, $365. On the 4th of May, 1869, Robert G. Dun held his second sale, his brother, John G., having previously disposed of his surplus at private sale. Twenty-three animals, mostly one-year-olds, were sold at public auction, nine of which were retained in Madison County. The purchasers were William B. Franklin, William Hall, Jerry Rea, Alfred Pringle, William A. Neil, Jr., George Linson and A. W. Thurman. The remaining fourteen head were distributed as follows: Four to Greene County, one to Licking, one to Hardin, one to Columbiana and one to Franklin County, Ohio; three to Parke County, Ind., and two to Syracuse, N. Y. The lowest price paid was $185, and the highest $365, making an average all round of nearly $221. These sales were followed by others, which attracted a large number of stock men from every portion of Ohio, and quite a respectable attendance from other Staffs. Becoming familiar with the fine stock breeders of this county, they soon began to draw regular installments from the splendid herds of "Old Madison," with which to improve and cross upon other herds, and as a nucleus of future herds in other sections. Thus does Madison occupy a proud position in the galaxy of counties, the first in quality and second to few in numbers.