 Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M. June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 |
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017), including his wife Jody (1938-2021).
Only important items graced the Milliron Clinic walls. One of Jody's favorites was Pontiac, The Pride of Cutler, O. Jody saw a photo and read an article about Pontiac in the local equine news. She loved the photo so much, she hung the print at the clinic. First, the publication printed the above photo of Pontiac as a "Mystery Horse." The editor had no clue about the beautiful horse in the photo. Then the editor asked readers to help solve the mystery. In a following edition, they ran this story...
Mystery Solved
Unusual horse identified
In last week's special "Horse Lover's" edition of the Washington County News we published an old photograph of an unusual horse, dubbed "Pontiac." It was noted that we didn't have much information to go with the photograph, and asked for reader input - which, thank you, we received. The most information came from Kathy Parker of Belpre, who even supplied us with an old Parkersburg News article about Pontiac, and Betty Hendrickson who interviewed Margaret Goddard Place of Cutler. Hester McGraw of Beverly also supplied us with a good deal of information. Here's what we learned from these helpful people:
The horse, which received quite a bit of fame as a result of its phenomenal mane and tail, was born on the Horace Greeley Underwood farm in Wesley Township (Cutler, Ohio), in 1889.
Pontiac was of predominantly Percheron stock from an imported sire. It is not known why the unusually fine and more silken hair of Pontiac's mane and tail grew to such great lengths. The mane was measured at over eleven feet and the tail, which more than reached the ground, was at least nine feet long. The owners always contended that no artificial means were used to induce growth.
Mr. Underwood was somewhat of an entrepreneur and with his amazing horse and one of the first Edison gramophones in Washington County charged the public ten cents admission at local fairs and shows.
In an article written by the Parkersburg News (exact date unknown) by reporter Helen M. White, the horse was described this way by a blacksmith who serviced the animal: "Pontiac was gentle, playful, and somewhat spoiled as he had been raised a great pet of the family, but nonetheless, he could be ridden or would work hard on the farm like any ordinary horse." Typical of Percheron's, Pontiac was a large horse, weighing 1300 pounds and standing sixteen hands high (about 5'4"). "Pont" as he was nicknamed, was eventually sold to New York owners for about $1600. For a while the horse was exhibited in New York and other large eastern cities. He was later sold a second time, but survived only a couple of years with his third owner. When he died, Pontiac was stuffed and mounted and continued to be exhibited.
According to White's article, the Underwoods "never forgave themselves for selling Pontiac feeling that if they had kept him down on the Ohio farm he would have lived to a ripe old age."
Have a great week ahead.
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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