Happy Friday! Here is your Friday Flashback, written by founding club member Nancy C. Plimpton:
Jenny C 01108
Foaled in 1899, Jenny C. was a chestnut, 14 hands, 890 pounds. She was bred by J.C. Brunk, Rochester, Illinois. She was sired by Chetco, 4513, he by Ben Franklin 1508, by Daniel Lambert 62. Chetco’s dam was Nelly B. 01970, chestnut, 15 hands, 1040 pounds; she was by Harry Allen Jr., by Harry Allen, by Daniel Lambert 62, and bred by J.L. Fogg, Burke, Vermont. Her 2d dam was bred by Selim Hobbs, and she was by the Streeter Horse 674 (Morgan Loin/Greenley Horse), by Billy Root 9. Her 3d dam was black by Royal Morgan 11, by Sherman Morgan 5.
Jenny C.’s dam was Jenny Lind, chestnut, and she was by Mountaineer (Chase’s) 676, by the Streeter Horse 674 by Billy Root 9. Mountaineer’s dam was the George Drew Mare, bay, and she was by Ethan Allen 2d., by the Putnam Horse 33, by Woodbury Morgan 7. Her 2d dam was by the Dr. Richmond colt, by Royal Morgan 11. Jenny Lind’s dam was a chestnut bred by David Silsby, Lyndon, Vermont and she was by the Streeter Horse 674, by Billy Root 9. Her 2d dam was black, bred by Alanson Farr, Littleton, New Hampshire, and she was by the Folsom Horse 677, by the Streeter Horse 674, by Billy Root 9. There is not much known about this mare other than her pedigree and show record at the Vermont Fair.
In Sept. of 1909, J.C. Brunk of Rochester, Illinois, brought Jenny C. to Vermont and entered her in the Vermont State Fair, which was held in White River Junction. (In the write-ups written in The Vermonter magazine, on the Morgan Classes held at the Vermont Fair, her name was spelled “Jennie C.”)
On the arrival of the 14 hand, chestnut, 8 year old mare, it was soon said that she should be seen by every student of the Morgan breed. Her short back, short flat but very nimble legs, proudly carried head and neck were typically Morgan. She was a good actor, well mannered, fleet and thought to be fairly well bred. It was said to be a sorry shame that Mr. Brunk had seen fit to crop her foretop.
Mr. Brunk thought her too small for a brood mare, and on the first day of her arrival, she was sold to Mr. E.A. Darling, to be added to his breeding program at his Mountain View Farm in Burke, Vermont. It is believed that Mr. Brunk soon learned that at White River Junction, her size was a good Morgan height, especially when a 14 hand mare carried her head and neck high and proudly as Jenny C. did.
Mr. Darling’s brown mare Carrie was good for first place in almost any mare class. She had been a great winner at other Vermont State Fairs and usually with perfect ease, but though in excellent form and admirably shown, she had nothing to spare this year over Jenny C. Carrie placed second and Lucy third.
The “Trotting class for Morgans bred outside of Vermont” was held in an outside ring and a considerable crowd were interested to go see that class of 12 entries. The chief attraction was the compact and sprightly Jenny C., driven by Mr. Brunk himself and showing perfect manners and plenty of life. She was clearly the head of the class, winning over Knox Morgan.
One of the best events of the fair was in the class for the “Morgan Trophy,” a driving class to a four wheeled vehicle. In this class, Bobby B. met Jenny C. Through the purchase of Jenny C., Mr. Darling owned both competitors for the cup. After careful consideration, Mr. Farnsworth, the judge, seemed to feel no doubt as to the choice between these two brilliant specimens of the breed. Both were close to the Hale’s Green Mountain Morgan pattern, having the short legs and the proud and alert carriage of neck and head. Jenny C. was almost as gay in her postures as a stallion. As Bobby B. would stand in his tracks, one could almost trace a vertical line down his front from the angle between neck and jowl to his front hooves. Jenny C.’s advantage lay in a slightly shorter back and barrel, a slightly flatter set of legs, a little greater proportionate breadth in the hindquarters. In head and front, it was inclined to favor Bobby B. While it would have pleased the spectators to have the Vermont-bred horse win the trophy, there was a generous burst of applause as Mr. Brunk, driving the little mare, received the trophy from Mr. Wardner.
At the Vermont Fair in1910, in the class of “Morgan Herd,” a class consisting of a stallion and four mares judged for conformation to the ancient Morgan type, it was a well-fitted class. Judge Dr. Barrett could have hardly done otherwise than give first for conformation to the remarkably well-shaped, all chestnut herd shown by Mountain View Farm and consisting of Lyndon, Hazel, Jenny C. and Tomah. The capital show-ring condition in which manager F.C.H. Davis exhibits Mr. Darling’s horses was never more obvious than in this string.
In the “Four Wheel Vehicle Driving Class,” open to mares and geldings, Jenny C. was awarded the cup. She showed as well as the year before, full of accomplishment as a show ring performer. Her short but very active legs, her ambition, her appearance of being thoroughly awake and in the game at every moment, made her one of the most striking figures. She was considered a typical Morgan.
Not as many Lamberts appeared as in the past and not as many as was expected. Of this strain, it was not recalled that any ere ever seen that came closer to the old Morgan type than the remarkable fourteen-hand granddaughter of Ben Franklin, Jenny C.
The Vermont Fair in 1911, in the “Driving Class” open to mares and geldings, there were upwards of a dozen entries and was the first appearance of a marked departure from the blocky Morgan type, but there were also in that class the most typical Morgans on the grounds. Bell Marea, with excellent head and beautiful Morgan “countenance,” was an active performer and showed quality, she won the blue as she had the year before. Jenny C. performed well and with her excellent Morgan build took second and Mink took third.
In the “Morgan Herd Class,” ten herds entered, but only eight competed. This made a total of forty horses in the ring, and it seemed at first to present the judge Mr. Lynes of Plainfield, Iowa a formidable task. Soon, however, one helpful fact presented itself: Mountain View Farm’s herd consisting of Lyndon with the mares Hazel, Lucy, Jenny C. and Tomah, all of them matured, conditioned, typical and approximating each in the same chestnut shades, was entitled to first place.
One of the really pretty classes was “The Morgan Horse Club Class,” for mares and geldings not exceeding 14.2 hands, in harness. They were judged for manners, action, quality, and conformation to the ancient Morgan type. A class so limited tended to bring out the real article. In the run were Bell Marea, Mink, Jenny C. and Belle Fellows along with six other entries, but none equal to those four mentioned. It was a pleasure for many to see such a typical quartet. All showed good manners. Bell Marea showed rather the best action. In quality, she led Mink, very even. The cup was given to Bell Marea. There was scarcely anything on the grounds more attractive than that compact but very graceful mare.
At the Vermont Fair in 1912, Jenny C. was shown as a brood mare. In the “Mare and Foal Class,” she places fourth; her stud colt Rocket by Bob B. was obviously bruised at the knee. There is no record of him with the A.M.H.A., and it is believed that he was never registered. In the “Brood Mare Without Foal Class,” Jenny C. placed second. In the “Morgan Herd Class,” as in the past, the Mountain View Farm group won, consisting of Lyndon, Jenny C., Lucy, Hazel and Nancy B. In type and conformation it was a very difficult combination to beat. There was a large “Mare Class” of nearly thirty: Bell Marea won first, Molly Rosebrooks took second, and Jenny C., being in brood mare condition, ranked only third.
Jenny C. had six recorded registered foals, two fillies and four colts and Rocket the unregistered colt.
1912 Rocket, chestnut, by Bob B 5282
1914 Billy Bell 6928, chestnut, by Bell Boy 6241
1915 Jenniver 03256, chestnut/bay, by Oliver Direct un-reg
1917 Jenny Woodbury 03258, chestnut, by Ethan Woodbury (Orcutt’s) 6823
1919 Ethan J. 7082, chestnut, by Sir Ethan Allen 6537
1921 Jenebob 7269, brown, by Bob B. 5282
1922 Allen J.A. 7414, chestnut, by Sir Ethan Allen 6537
(Published in Lippitt Lore II, pp. 114-116.)
