Gun Dog Forum

I am American Kennel Club Judge Richard LeBeau of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, author of "Count Noble: The Greatest Dog That Ever Lived". I only learned yesterday of the passing of Bill Brink, last November, 2011. I had a return call from Rebecca, a lady who worked with Bill for his landscaping company ...

Hello, could anyone please give a source for the unverified report that Count Noble was dead and buried some days before he was exhumed and mounted? Thank you!

Gentlemen: Can anyone please verify the date and location of the death of Count Noble's importer and original owner, David C. Sanborn [listed in a previous post as occurring at Alamo, Tennessee in 1883]? I believed this to have happened in late 1881 or even in 1882, but cannot discover the date of M...

Hello Forum! I apologize for asking again for your help, but I am running out time and of places to turn. The hot topic for today is a Wilson family portrait of an unidentfied man belonging to the 91 year-old great-granddaughter of B F Wilson, born in 1919. She was named as a beneficiary in her grea...

I apologize, but I need to post a correction to my previous post: Walter J. Wilson was born Aug. 25, 1875 and died March 25, 1941, NOT in 1940, as posted above. He is buried in Sewickley Cemetery, with his wife Mary Clear Wilson [b. Sept. 16, 1876, Washington, DC; d. Nov. 17,1955] and with their onl...

Gentlemen, I would like to clarify that I only shared the photo of B F Wilson, and some biographical info about him, and did not supply any historical information or personal opinions of Count Noble, other than to claim he was "the Man-o-War of English Setters" to the Post-Gazette writer for the art...

Happy New Year GDF friends and Count Noble admirers! Plans for the Count Noble Historic Marker are proceeding with growing interest and increased local enthusiasm here in the Pittsburgh area. The marker will be placed as near to the former site of the B. F. Wilson home in Glen Osborne Borough as pos...

Bill, I am aware of Count Noble's origins and will try to add some wording about the Llewellin strain or perhap mention his breeder by name, at least; unfortunately space is very limited and I cannot give as much history as the dog and BF Wilson deserve. I would like to mention Sanborn as well but i...

Bill, Thank you so much for checking your copy! THAT IS WONDERFUL NEWS! I have searched for well over a year now for a photo of B F Wilson. I will contact Mr. Mathys and Lucy at the Tennessee museum a.s.a.p. The 90 year-old great-grandson of B F Wilson will also be thrilled. He has enjoyed my resear...

The Count Noble commemorative marker proposal was approved unanimously by the Glen Osborne Borough Council on Nov. 16, 2010. I hope to have the fundraising completed early next year and the marker dedicated in a ceremony around Labor Day, 2011. Contributions for the marker should be mailed to the Se...

Hello Gunner and thank you for the reply! I immediately searched on-line and reviewed Maj.Taylor's book. I did not find a photo or biograhy of B.F. Wilson in that copy. There were good photos of the Major and Edmund Henry Osthaus, the artist who painted the great portrait of Count Noble which I get ...

Hello Gunner and all, I have been working hard on my research and have additional info to share, as well as a request for assistance. B.F. Wilson was born BENJAMIN FREDERICK WILSON in 1830 in Ellesmere, England. He became a prosperous man of business and is known to the sport as the owner of Count N...

Correction needed to post/history of Count Noble by "gunner" of Wed. June 18, 2008: All available information (i.e.: AKC Complete Book of Dogs; Death of Count Noble [New York Times, Jan. 22. 1891]) identify the owner of the famous setter Count Noble, following the death of his original owner and imp...