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Host Alison Davis heads to Petersburg in Menard County, where one of the country’s most influential quarter horses, Peter McCue, was foaled on Samuel Watkin’s farm in 1895. Peter McCue can be found in the lineage of 75 percent of all American quarter horses today, said Davis. “He had a good, but short career as a race horse and then went on to be a stud horse. While in Illinois, he sired three of his most famous sons: Harmon Baker, Hickory Bill and John Wilkins,” she said.
Peter McCue became the first horse ever to be honored with a marker by the American Quarter Horse Association. The marker was erected at the Menard County Fairgrounds in 1995.
Segment duration: 07:01
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Folklore • Illinois Culture/History • Livestock/Animals/Zoology • Sports
Hi, I just recently started a family tree on Ancestry.com and I became very interested in knowing exactly how I come to be. Well after I found that father Paul K. Gayton Sr. (was born as Brown in Peoria) his mother grandma Mabel Brown (born in Petersburg; father Wiley Brown and mother Mary Kirby Brown) born and raised there. She had an affair with my grandfather Andrew Wilson (whom I like to find the news article that told the story of him being the first black man to build the sangamon bridge, and also did a lot of wood work at New Salem State Park; son of Salvonia ‘Bud’ Wilson and Sallie Hardrick Wilson. I went to Petersburg with my cousin Olivia ‘Libby’ (Hart) Akers (whom also was born and raised there) to Oakland cemetery where great-grandfather ‘Bud’ Wilson was buried and my grandfather and several other relatives. I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Mr. Raymond H. Montgomery there at the cemetery and recorded the untold story about Peter McCue’s start. As I recorded the story he said that my Great-grandfather Salvonia ‘Bud’ Wilson is believed now to have been a trainer that had actually broke the Great Quarter Horse Peter McCue. Here went on in detail of possible why and that maybe the full story could be told in a new addition of his current book. It would bring some great pride and further connection to my roots of the past in the Legends of Petersburg. Iam finding that my linage here runs very deep including my cousin William ‘Billy’ Craig that Mr. Montgomery is hoping to erect a monument to his deeds of the city/town of Petersburg, Il. I hope that I can find the some evidence that such a great horse could be part of my family heritage and legacy. I review the video and maybe we have to change to story here so that accurately shows the contributions of African Americans of the day.
Sincerely,
Amos B. Gayton
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