C. STALEY DOUB An American Beagler
BY NIVEK BEAGLES

This gentleman of Beagling fame, was born on the 8^th June 1853, Son of William H and Marietta Staley Doub. He was born in the family home, a large red brick mansion house on the Southeast corner of Market and Fourth Streets, Frederick County, Maryland. He died in this same house on the 14^th August 1933 following a heart attack, he never married and outlived his sister with whom he lived.

Staley worked as a clerk in Buzzy Winebrener’s Wholesale Dry Goods and Grocery Store. He also owned a farm some miles out of town for which he had a tenant. With respect to the tenant he did not hunt on the farm. Not a rich man, he was only able to retire and hunt his Beagles in peace after WW I

Staley hunted his open marked pack three times a week, he would hunt all day. The hounds traveled to the hunt site in his Datyon Wagon pulled by old Joe, his favourite horse, steady but slow, the dogs in one crate and bitches in another. He used to carry a notebook and make occasional notes of how each dog was hunting, whilst continually smoking his corncob pipe. Although owning a rifle Staley was never known to shoot a rabbit.

There is an amusing tale about ‘Old Joe’. It seems he was owned by Buzzy Winebrener, from the store, Staley took a liking to Joe and asked to buy him. It was agreed that Staley would take the horse on a trial and if found suitable he would buy him. This situation of Staley trying out the horse went on for 10 years, then he phoned Buzzy to say he wasn’t happy with Joe, would he come and collect him. “What is it you do not like about the horse” asked Buzzy “just one thing……" replied Staley ".he died last night” at which both men laughed and it remained a great joke between them
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Amongst Staley's precious possessions were two horns he used in hunting for calling back the hounds. A cow/steer horn and a much loved English ram’s horn. Nimrod Owings originally owned the ram’s horn, he was an early colonial beagle and foxhound man, who carved the date 1774 on it, this being the date he received the horn at a hunt dinner as a souvenir of the hunt. Staley carved his name, address and the date he received it, 1895, on the opposite side when he received it.

Staley Doub was one of the great early Beagle breeders, he and Pottenger Dorsey, also of Frederick, Maryland, took on the mantle of the Rowett Beagles, after General Richard Rowett died in 1887. Staley never charged a stud fee or sold a dog, they were for his pleasure, occasionally giving one as a gift to a friend. The hounds were kept in the yard at his house, there never being more than 25 – 30 hounds at any time. He bred many great hounds Triumph, Hooker and Scorcher to name but a few, whose names are ingrained in Beagle history. Staley was a Beagle authority who was often asked to judge at a bench show or field trial.

Staley kept a Beagle scrapbook, full of records, data and pictures of the breed, this resource was quite sought after by prominent writers. HW Prentice used it in his book ‘The Beagle in America and England’
It was with sadness in his old age that Staley’s stock depleted, many were stolen by thieves who lifted boys over the fence to steal the best small dogs. On his death the remainder passed to a Frederick resident. A grand Gentleman and true sportsman through and through.

With thanks to HW Prentice, Hounds and Hunting and Charles B. Trail.