10/17/2026
Julianna of Mulben, the dam whose 1939 importation brought Juryman of Wickwire, Wye's major foundation herd bull, is named here with her breeder and pedigree, in calf to Mulben Ephod at import.
Wickwire's 1939 Importation — Includes Bemaster of Dalmeny, Highland and Royal Champion
The majority of Aberdeen-Angus Journal readers know something about Mr. George K. Bailey, about his Wickwire Farm at Earleville, Maryland, and the herd of Aberdeen-Angus that has been built there. Many readers will recall reading about the founding of the herd, the past importations, the market topping steers, the show cattle at Eastern exhibitions, and the manner in which Wickwire cattle have been purchased at Maryland sales and at private treaty.
However, since January, 1939, more than one thousand new subscribers have been added to the Journals list of regular readers, and it is to acquaint them with the herd that we go back for a moment and give a few facts concerning Wickwire.
Wickwire is not an old herd when compared with many breeding establishments in this country, or abroad. Yet it isn't a new herd, in that it is just being established. The original herd was started in 1930 on American blood lines. It was at that time that Mr. Bailey decided to build a herd that would be outstanding, and his herd today shows constant culling, constant improvement. Along with his program of improvement have been hours of study. In fact, we are prone to think that no one other breeder, with whom we have become acquainted, uses more hours studying live stock breeding, good farming habits, blood lines, individuality, type and marketing possibilities than does Mr. Bailey. These hours of study have already enabled him to make strides in breeding Aberdeen-Angus. He has learned the type which he wants to produce at Wickwire, he knows the strains that are more prolific of good animals, and builds his herd with that kind.
Some years back, he decided to visit Scotland and buy a few cattle. In that first importation, back in 1934, I believe, was the great young bull, Prince Benson of Doonholm, male champion at the Great Yorkshire. Call it what you will, bad luck or misfortune, Prince Benson of Doonholm lived but a short time and Mr. Bailey had very little use of the bull. Had the same happened to the females that he imported at that time, we might never have written this story, but they turned out to the best advantage, and in the herd today are daughters and granddaughters of these first imported females. Among the four, was Elspeth of Doonholm, who has three good daughters in the herd, one of which, Elfin of Wickwire, made a very creditable record in the Eastern shows. The other three, equally good producers, are Behest Maid of Ballindalloch, a daughter of Romulum of Ballindalloch; Evetta of Ballindalloch, another daughter of the same sire; and Kiaoran of Ballindalloch, also sired by Romulum of Ballindalloch. Checking through the pedigrees in the 1939 Wickwire private herd catalog, we find the following listed, all sons or daughters of one or another of these cows: Elfin of Wickwire, Elspeth of Wickwire, Elfish of Wickwire, Evetta of Wickwire, Evanthe of Wickwire, Evening of Wickwire, Knight of Wickwire and Evolution of Wickwire, the latter two being bulls, each of which has seen some service in the Wickwire herd.
It might be wise to state that in this first importation, were three calves brought over in dam. The first, Elfin of Wickwire, was grand champion at both the Maryland State Fair and the Maryland Breeders' Show, the second, Beloved Maid of Wickwire was reserve champion to Elfin of Wickwire, and the third, Evolution of Wickwire was the sire of the "get" that won the Maryland Aberdeen-Angus Trophy permanently for Wickwire, it being the third time that Wickwire has showed the winning get of sire at the Maryland Breeders' Show. We think a very good record for three calves.
Mr. Bailey had purchased a bull, Evilesco of Page, sired by Revolution Blackcap by Revolution 7th and out of Early Verdict of Kinermony, an imported cow. The calves were coming along, with type that was sure to please. But, again, he wanted another bull, and an imported bull.
In the summer of 1936, Scotland was again visited and having once seen Koko of Dunira, then a stock bull at Doonholm, Mr. Bailey proceeded to buy him for Wickwire. Koko of Dunira was a great individual, having been the champion at the 1934 Highland. He was by Erman of Dunira and out of Kobe, and already, his get had been prominent in the British shows.
At the same time he selected at Doonholm, two daughters of Koko of Dunira, Manzanilla of Doonholm and Erithrena of Doonholm, both in calf to another Doonholm bull. Also imported in 1936 by Mr. Bailey were Rosa of Banks and Gammer Debenta, the former a daughter of Grierson of Ballindalloch and bred to Gaffer Grierson, a half brother; and the latter, sired by Elmore of Ballindalloch and bred to Grierson of Ballindalloch.
Again hard luck hit Wickwire, but in losing Koko of Dunira, Mr. Bailey had a season's use of him first and has several of his daughters in the herd. I know of but one son of Koko of Dunira, that being the very good calf, Robert the Bruce of Wickwire, purchased last summer by Colonel James B. Dillard, owner of Winton Farm at Amherst, Virginia, and procured to assist his senior herd sire, Enfileen's Bandolier 2d.
Does hard luck defeat the purpose of a real breeder? We think not, and surely not in the case of Mr. Bailey, for he still had the ambition and the persistence. Last summer with war clouds looking very menacing, he and Mrs. Bailey decided that if they wanted to import any more cattle for a few years, that the time was limited. They sailed and returned just at the outbreak of the war. During the time in Scotland, Mr. Bailey visited many herds, and has consented to write of his visits for future issues of the Journal. However, he accomplished what he traveled there for and purchased eight females and a bull for himself and a female for Colonel James B. Dillard, details of which will appear in the next issue of the Journal.
However, buying the cattle was one thing, getting them over here was another. For with war and its hazards to ocean traffic, importing cattle becomes a very trying business. Ask Mr. Bailey, for I recall talking to him when he stated that he didn't know whether the cattle were in Scotland, on the ocean, at the bottom of the ocean, or whether or not they had been insured. (Insurance rates skyrocketed as war started, and it wasn't known what the rate would be when the cattle were ready to be shipped). We should like to have seen Mr. Bailey's relieved expression when he met the S. S. Delilian at Quebec under convoy on Tuesday night, October 31st. The cattle were on boat nineteen days, being delayed while they waited for a convoy across the troubled waters.
Bulls, like Bemaster of Dalmeny are not imported every day. No other bull with a record equal to that of Bemaster of Dalmeny has ever been imported to this country. First, a supreme champion at the Perth Show and Sale, and both a Highland and Royal Champion. In fact, according to our records, only four Highland champions have come to this country, only two since 1902, and both of these, Koko of Dunira imported by Wickwire in 1936 and now Bemaster of Dalmeny. Just as a sidelight, and how the Scotchmen feel about Bemaster of Dalmeny, we offer the first account of the purchase as given in the September 1, 1939 issue of the North British Agriculturist.
"A group of pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle selected by Mr. G. K. Bailey, a noted breeder in Maryland, U. S. A., includes that beautiful show bull, Bemaster of Dalmeny, bred and owned by the Earl of Rosebery, and one of the stock bulls in his lordship's herd at Dalmeny. Bemaster of Dalmeny (89935) made a sensational start as a calf by winning in 1936 the championship at the Perth bull show and sale of that year. Returning to Dalmeny he proved a valuable stockgetter, and only this year he reasserted his claim to be regarded as one of the choicest show bulls in this country by winning the male championship at both the 'Highland' and 'Royal' shows. He is a bull of beautiful outline, being not only symmetrical in his frame but carrying a stylish head, and of that all over suggestion of true breed type which at once appeals to the expert breeder. Bemaster is full of choice Ballindalloch blood. He was sired by Elmore of Ballindalloch (73542), while his dam was the Miss Burgess cow, Bemusing Maid of Ballindalloch (81126), by the great breeding sire, Jorum of Ballindalloch. In passing over to the United States this stylish male representative of the Aberdeen-Angus breed should prove a valuable advertisement for the type of the Aberdeen-Angus breed which Scotland can produce. Mr. Bailey is also taking out to the U. S. A. a select group of heifers."
We haven't seen the cattle, and regret that such has not been possible to date. However, Mr. Bailey's remarks to me were interesting when he told me about buying the bull, Bemaster of Dalmeny. Both he and Mrs. Bailey after they first saw this great champion bull, could not get away from him. They discussed at some length the possibilities of buying him, knowing that should they ask for a price that it would be higher than the amount they would have to pay for a really top bull. "But, if you are a real breeder, interested in seeing the breed bettered, and intent on improving your own herd, you must buy the best bull that you see, regardless of price. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bailey decided that Bemaster of Dalmeny was far and away the best bull they had seen and sought a price on him. In talking prices of cattle, Mr. Bailey informed me that all the breeders in Scotland, or at least a large number of them who read the Aberdeen-Angus Journal, had their sights up after the great sale held last June by J. Garrett Tolan. He further stated that the Tolan sale did not make it any easier to buy cattle in Scotland. But, we are straying from the subject. Bemaster of Dalmeny was purchased, and is now at Wickwire. A letter from another breeder, who recently visited Wickwire stated that in his opinion, Bemaster was the greatest bull he had seen, including the last five or six International grand champions.
This breeder also stated that the bull "could walk." (A fault that has been noticeable in many outstanding bulls today, is that they cannot walk).
Since we have not seen the cattle, and cannot comment upon them individually, we are fortunate in giving the story as it appeared in the North British Agriculturalist (a part of which story is not given, but which we shall offer in the February issue in connection with the select purchase made by Mr. Bailey for Colonel James B. Dillard).
"Recently Mr. George K. Bailey, of Wickwire Farms, Earleville, Maryland, U. S. A., paid a hurried visit to this country during which he inspected a large number of Aberdeen-Angus herds. As a result of his visit there was shipped to him an exceedingly select consignment comprising as it did what the recent show season proclaimed to be the best bull of the breed in Britain and the best cow of the breed in Scotland.
"The bull was the four-year-old Bemaster of Dalmeny, a Miss Burgess of great breeding and with a noteworthy prize winning record. Bred by the Earl of Rosebery, Dalmeny, from whom he was acquired by Mr. Bailey, Bemaster is by Elmore of Ballindalloch, a son of Romulum of Ballindalloch and Elma of Ballindalloch, and out of Bemusing Maid of Ballindalloch by Jorum of Ballindalloch, while his grand dam is by Evilesco of Ballindalloch — quite a galaxy of well-known show yard names. As a calf, Bemaster, at the Perth show and sale in February, 1936, won the March class and passed on to gain the Breeders' Cup for the best bull under 2-1/2 years old, bred by exhibitor, the medal for the best bull, and the Guerrero Cup for the best animal, while he was also one of the best group of three which won the Auctioneers' Cup, and one of the best group of two which won the Estanguet Cup.
"At the Highland show the same year he was first in the class for junior yearling bulls, while last year both at the Highland and at the Royal Windsor Shows he put up a great record. At the former, at Edinburgh, he was first in the old bull class and won the Ballindalloch Cup as the best bull of any age, and he headed the group which won the Harviestoun Cup for the best group of three animals. At the Royal English show he was also first in his class, and won the Challenge Trophy and the Gold Medal as the best bull of the breed, gaining also the special Centenary Gold Medal.
"The sire, Elmore of Ballindalloch, was reserve champion at Perth show and sale in 1931, and at the Ballindalloch dispersion in 1934 he made 400 gns. Jorum of Ballindalloch amongst other successes won the reserve breed championship at the Highland in 1927, while the great breeding sire Evilesco of Ballindalloch, which makes several appearances in the extended pedigree of Bemaster, was also a first prize winner at the Highland. Other well-known names in the pedigree are those of Jeshurn, Delamere, Prince Ito and Iliad.
"What are described by Mr. Bailey as two of the 'breediest' heifers in the consignment were acquired from Mr. W. G. Macpherson, Mains of Mulben. One of them is the yearling Eccota 32d, tracing through the old Preston herd to the Ballindalloch Eisa Ericas. She is by the grand old stock sire Eugenexor, winner of male championships at Elgin and Keith shows, the only places where he was exhibited, and such names as those of Edict of Lethen, Evident of Ballindalloch, Boxer of Ballindalloch, Eclintus of Ballindalloch, Evenson of Ballindalloch and Behaviour of Ballindalloch appear among the sires in the pedigree, while she is in calf to Eldorado of Bruntstane by the grand breeding Pratia of Skillymarno. The other Mulben heifer, Julianna of Mulben, is also a yearling and is also by the Skillymarno-bred Eugenexor. She is out of Jabonista of Mulben, tracing through the Maisemore and Benton herds to Jilt, and by Ebonist of Bruntstane, twice champion at the Johannesburg show being now in the herd of Mr. H. Hillman, Transvaal. She is in calf to Mulben Ephod, which is of that other famous Mulben family, the Euthallas.
"From Mr. W. G. Macbeth of Dunira, Comrie, there was acquired the yearling heifer Pride 15th of Dunira, a Pride of Mulben by Portman of Dunira, which was a son of the well-known and grand breeding sire Erman of Dunira, a Royal English champion, while her dam was Pride 9th of Dunira by the Aberlour-bred Georgina sire Gratuitous, a son of the renowned Boxer of Ballindalloch. At the Highland show at Edinburgh last June, Pride 15th was second in her class and she was third in a class of fourteen at the Royal. She is in service to the Georgina bull Georkin of Dalmeny, the 1937 Perth champion.
"Two heifers were selected from the herd of Colonel Norman Kennedy, D.S.O., of Doonholm, Ayr. One was the two-year-old Perella of Doonholm a Pride of Aberdeen by Koko of Dunira, the Highland champion of 1934 previously exported to Mr. Bailey and sired by Erman of Dunira. On the side of the dam, Perola of Doonholm, she is a very choicely bred Pride of Mulben, the dam being by Prince Benson of Ballindalloch, an Aberdeen first prize winner and the highest priced bull of his year, which proved a great success in the Doonholm herd. The third top sire in the pedigree is the well-known Mondello, a first prize winner at the Highland and Royal shows. Perella is in service to Elegant of Stonefold by the great breeding sire Erland of Harviestoun. The other heifer is the yearling Eurotia of Doonholm, a Kildonan Erica by Bundemar of Doonholm, which was by Mohawk of Doonholm, whose sire was Bensign of Ballindalloch, champion at Perth show and sale in 1926. Mohawk's dam, Madeira of Doonholm, was first prize junior heifer at the Highland show in 1927, first prize cow and winner of the Ballindalloch Cup at the Highland show, 1930 and first prize cow and breed champion at the Royal show, 1930. The dam of Eurotia, Euphorbia of Doonholm, gained among other prizes first at the Highland in 1938, and reserve for the breed championship at the same show.
"Mr. Bailey's purchases at Banks included the heifer calf Gammer Ebel, which is closely related to the famous Gammer Ebenil, she being out of Gammer Ebla, a half-sister of that cow, while her sire is Eurus of Banks, whose first calf was first at Perth and was sold for export at 420 gns. Gammer Ebla is full sister to Gammer Ebena, a breed champion at the Royal Northern and Highland shows, while she is dam of Eblon, a Royal Dublin first prize winner.
"Two yearling heifers were also selected from the Banks herd — Romandel of Banks, out of the Ruth of Tillyfour dam Romandel and by Eurus of Banks, and Pride of Bendores, a Pride of Mulben by Elmo of Ballindalloch, which is a son of the grand breeding sire Romulum of Ballindalloch. Romandel was first as a yearling at the Royal Northern show, and her top sires include Grierson of Ballindalloch, the famous breeding bull, and Jorum of Ballindalloch, twice reserve champion at the Highland. Romandel of Banks has been mated to Gaffer Despot, first prize two-year-old and junior male champion at the Highland show in 1938, and breed champion the same year at the Royal Northern, while this year he was third at the Windsor Royal and first at the Royal Northern. Pride of Bendores has for sire a full brother of Elmore of Ballindalloch, which made 400 gns. at the Ballindalloch sale, while her dam is by Grierson. She also is in calf to Eurus of Banks."
The Journal congratulates Mr. Bailey on his purchases and wishes him the greatest success with Bemaster of Dalmeny and with the growing numbers of imported females that are today in the Wickwire herd.
-Gay Quammen,
'Wickwire's 1939
Importation,"
The Aberdeen-Angus
Journal, Vol. 21, No.
6 (January 15, 1940), cover and pp. 5-7.
