G.W. Gumper (1875-1966), Hermann, Missouri

G.W. Gumper was an early day, widely recognized, Milking Shorthorn breeder. He was born in Germany in 1875 and migrated, at an early age, to Hermann where he farmed and bred Milking Shorthorns.

He bought his first Milking Shorthorn in 1905 from Professor C.H. Eckles, Dairy Department, University of Missouri, Columbia. W. Arthur Simpson, writing for the Milking Shorthorn Journal in 1963 says “Reference to Volume I of the Year Book brings many recollections of the past. It was published in 1915 and contained most of the records made in prior years, going back to before 1900. It is interesting to note there are butterfat records on only 33. Among these are Lula and Panama Lady purchased in Chautauqua, New York by Prof. C.H. Eckles, University of Missouri.” Mr. Gumper’s herd descends from these cows.

Mr. Gumper continued to maintain a Milking Shorthorn herd until he died in 1966. His son Milton says “Back in the early 1900’s Dad saw a need for improvement of the farmer’s cow so as to have more milk and butterfat and greater salvage value.” He bought the best bulls he could find and continually improved his herd. He bought bulls from the May herd in Ohio; Hollandale Farm in Iowa; Duallyn Farm in Kansas and Lilydale Farms in Missouri. His last bull came from the Orville Williams herd, Odessa. Mr. Williams had bought several females from Mr. Gumper when he (Williams) started his herd in the 1920’s.

Mr. Gumper sold breeding stock throughout Missouri and neighboring states. The sales were mostly calves shipped, by Railway Express, but they resulted in the establishment of many herds in the Midwest.

Mr. Gumper was considered an authority on Milking Shorthorns. Before the days of 4-H clubs some farm organizations decided to bring better dairy cattle into the community and Mr. Gumper was sent to Wisconsin to select them.

Mr. Gumper was respected and appreciated by the Milking Shorthorn leaders of some years back as well as present breeders.