Thanks, Drew. Les was a ball player, and Walter Johnson, another average ball player, owned a farm in Germantown that I can see from my upper deck. Walter used to invite his buddies for bird hunts on his farm every year. I'm sure that the death of our hero Les German in Germantown was somehow related to a visit with Walter Johnson. What a piece of research lies before us. By the way, Germantown is about three towns or ten miles up the Frederick Pike from Bethesda where the other Les German lived next door to my Mother's aunt. I need help.

Now Bill...Walter Johnson was a bit more than an average ball player:rolleyes:But you knew that...right?

I'm very serious about the Walter Johnson, Les German connection. Up until my adulthood, Germantown, MD was nothing more than a feed store and a B&O station. I'm convinced that Les was there to visit Walter Johnson, or to stay the summer, as was common with Walter's friends. He was the great entertainer. I have read in the LA84foundation archives about the bird hunting at ballplayer Eddie Plank's place in Gettysburg, and the guest lists. The same sort of situation existed at Johnson's place in Germantown. Lots of hospitality, lots of birds and shotguns. My interest in Eddie Plank is a result of shooting his old PHE Trap, which is my go to crossover gun. I am almost convinced that the Les German that was my Aunt Agnes' neighbor was the son of our Parker shooter Les German. As much as I have read about Les German, I have never read anything about his family. Your turn, Drew.

April 23, 1910
ANOTHER proof of the wonderful and consistent shooting qualities of the PARKER GUN. At Cleveland, April 2, L. S. German shot at 50 pairs and broke 96 out of the 100 targets.
A splendid demonstration of the shooting ability of the man and the shooting qualities of the "OLD RELIABLE" PARKER GUN.

German won High Professional Average at the Penn. State Shoot in May, 1910 with 534/555.

Come on, Drew, you're a world class researcher. See if you can find out if the Les German who lived on Maple Ridge Road in Bethesda, Maryland in the early fifties was, in fact Lester S. German, who we may suspect is our Les German's son, our Les German who was also known as L.S. German. Thanks.

According to the HOF blurb, Les did not have a son named Les, but who knows how accurate all that information actually is?

http://www.aberdeenroom.com/archive.html
The Garretson Family Bible shows that Lester Stanley German and Alice Mary Garretson of Aberdeen were married in August 1895. They built the large Victorian home at 17 North Philadelphia Blvd. (Now Route 40) then known as Broadway. It is just across the street from Cecil Federal Bank. The house has been converted to modern use, by adding a store front. Les and Alice lived here happily, according to family, when Les was not traveling with a team - either New York or Washington of the National League. Alice went with Les on the road trips until she became a mother.
After the two boys were born, Alice remained at home Les made the rounds with his team. The little fellows died very early in their lives and are buried at Baker’s Cemetery, at the top of the hill, where Alice and Les are both at rest. Alice died at the age of 34 in 1908 and several years later Les married again to another member of an old Aberdeen family, Grace Evans. They had a daughter, Ruth, and a son, Crosby. Much of their time was spent in Florida, but they kept the home on Broadway in Aberdeen. Lester passed away in 1934.

Les was High General Average at the New Jersey State Shoot, Atlantic City, June 1-4, 1910 583/600.

1910 GAH Chicago
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5517024.pdf
1910 June 23, Chicago, Ill., 364 starters, Riley Thompson, 19yds. Broke 100.

Trade Reps
A. H. Fox Gun Co. -A. W. Connor, Ad. R. Roll.
Hunter Arms Co. - H. McMurchey, A. P. Curtis, E. A. W. Everett, J. T. Skelly, W. L. Stannard, Arthur Killam.
Parker Bros. - S. A. Tucker.

Riley Thompson (using a Parker) is from Cainesville, Missouri, and the fact that Harvey McMurchey had finished his 100 with only one down did not bother the "Show Me" at all. He took his place for the last round, and paying no attention to the large crowd which still remained for the finish, proceeded to smash target after target, until the referee called "dead” for the twentieth, when the shooters rushed, lifted him on their shoulders and carried him to the club house, where he was surrounded by those anxious to shake his hand.
Among the first to tender congratulations was Harvey McMurchey, who was runner-up with 99. J. Graham, Long Lake, Ill., and Geo. Volk, Toledo, O., were in third place with 98 each.

At the Post-Series Tournament Indianapolis, Ind., October 17-21, 1910
THE SPECIAL MATCH for the Ten High Professionals During 1910 was won by L. S. German, shooting the Parker gun. Score 234x250; 18 yds. rise.
HIGH GENERAL AVERAGE—All Programme Events, Including 100 Pairs. Second place was won by L. S. German, shooting his Parker gun. Score 960x1000 shot at; 96%.
HIGH GENERAL AVERAGE ON DOUBLES-Second, Fred Gilbert, 178x200; 89%. Third, L. S. German, 177x200; .885%.

At the Great Western Handicap, held at Kansas City, Mo., Friday, February 17, (1911) Mr. Fred Gilbert won the event by the magnificent score of 25 straight, and 5 straight in the shoot-off of the tie, standing at the extreme handicap mark of 33 yds. Mr. Fred Cockerel at 30 yds. and Mr. H. Dunnell at 31 yds., made scores of 25 straight. These three gentlemen were the only ones to tie and were all shooting the "OLD RELIABLE" PARKER GUN.
Mr. Gilbert at this tournament shot at 475 targets, losing but 21, thereby winning first average for the tournament.

On January 11-13, 1911, The "OLD RELIABLE" PARKER GUN, shot by Howard D. Bates, of of Ridgetown, Ont, again won the Grand Canadian Handicap at live birds killing 25 straight and 9 in the shoot-off, from the limit distance of 31 yards.
Mr. Bates shot at 54 birds during the tournament and killed them all. This is some shooting!

Brownsville, Pa., June 29. — The two-day registered tournament of the Brownsville Rod and Gun Club, on June 27 and 28, proved an attractive event, particularly to the crack shooters returning from the Grand American Handicap. As a result nearly a half hundred marksmen faced the, traps for the two days.
Lester German, the famous shooter from Aberdeen, Md., who won the professional single and doubles championship of America, at the Grand American, was the high gun over all for two days with 291 out of 300. H. H. Stevens, of New Rochelle, N. Y., was second professional with 288 broken, and Horace Kirkwood, of Wollaston, Mass.. third expert, with 282. The amateur honors for two days fell to Lon Fisher, of Columbus, who broke 290.

AT THE GRAND AMERICAN HANDICAP, Columbus, Ohio, June 23, 1911, Mr. Lester German, of Aberdeen, Md., won the Professional Championship from the 18 yard mark, with the remarkable score of 198 out of 200 targets, defeating the best shooters in the country. Ever since the inauguration of this high class event, it has been won by The Old Reliable Parker, and is conceded to be the severest test of man and gun. It also emphasizes the fact that The Parker Gun is the strongest shooting, and makes the most even pattern of any gun made. The Professional Championship is a scratch event—all shooters standing on the 18 yard mark.
Mr. German the same day again demonstrated the value of The Parker Gun in competition, by defeating a large field of the best shooters in the country in the Championship event at double targets, breaking 89 out of 100,from the 16yard mark.
In the Preliminary Handicap Mr. C. B. Eaton, an amateur of Fayette, Mo., shooting The Parker Gun, made the phenomenal score of 99 out of 100 targets, and tied with Mr. Buckwalter. In the shoot-off Mr. Eaton defeated his opponent with a straight run of 20, thus winning the event.
This remarkable shooting is only one of many reasons why you should shoot The Parker Gun

http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5718027.PDF

Image of Les
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5722029.PDF

AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL., JUNE 17-22, 1912 GAH
THE OLD RELIABLE Parker Gun Won the Following Important Events; More than Any Other Two Guns Combined
THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF AMERICA, by E. W. Varner, of Adams, Neb., from the 18-yard mark. Score 192x200.
THE PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT DOUBLES, by Fred Gilbert, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, from the 16-yard mark. Score 84x100.
THE PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT SINGLES, by W. R. Crosby, of O'Fallon, Ills., from the 18-yard mark. Score 198x200.
Gilbert and Crosby tied for High General Average for the four days' shooting, each breaking 550x600 targets shot at.
IT TAKES A GOOD MAN AND A GOOD GUN TO MAKE SUCH SCORES

1952x2000 or .976%
THIS score was made by the "OLD RELIABLE" PARKER GUN in the hands of Bill Crosby, again demonstrating to the shooters of the world that the PARKER GUN makes the highest scores.
The above mentioned score won for the PARKER GUN and Mr. Crosby the Professional Season's Average for the year 1912, and was completed at the Post Season Tournament, Cincinnati, 0., Oct. 15 to 18, 1912.

July 19, 1913
THE "OLD RELIABLE" AT DAYTON, OHIO, JUNE 17-21, gave a wonderful demonstration of its unsurpassed shooting powers.
In the G. A. H. Arthur Killam, at 20 yds., made a score of 96x100. W. R. Crosby, at 22 yds., made a similar score, and Walter Huff, at 21 yds., scored 97x100. Mr. Huff's score was high in the professional class, and won for him the special money prize and medal offered for the best professional score in this event.
The high general average for the entire week's tournament was made by Walter Huff, with score of 752x800. W. R. Crosby made second high score, 749x800. The above scores included the double target events.
Such splendid shooting from practically the extreme handicap distance amply demonstrates that for power of holding together shot at extreme ranges, and for, accuracy of shooting, the Parker Gun cannot be surpassed.

The PARKER GUN At the Grand American Handicap Tournament
DAYTON, OHIO, SEPTEMBER 8-11, 1914
Won FIRST, SECOND and THIRD Places in the National Amateur Championship at Double Targets; 90 x 100, Woolfolk Henderson: 89 x 100, Sam Huntley; 88 x 100, Wm. Wettleaf.
The National Amateur Championship at Single Targets, was won by the Parker Gun in the hands of Woolfolk Henderson, 99 x 100. Last but not least, Mr. Henderson and his Parker Gun won the peer of all American Trap Shooting events, the Grand American Handicap, 98x100, from the 22 yard mark. Never before has this event been won from such a distance

Wolfolk Henderson...
 

The distinguished Mr. Henderson of Lexington, KY with his high grade Parker...

Best, CSL
___________________________

http://www.webpak.net/~dslcslien/1WHenderson2.jpg

.

Great pic Chris-looks like he's wearing his 'white bucks.'

Woolfolk used a Parker as an amateur, but went Pro in 1910
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5420023.pdf
Mr. Woolfolk Henderson, of Lexington, Ky., who has been known as one of the leading amateur trapshooters of the country for two or three years past, on January 1st, joined the professional ranks, as a representative of The Peters Cartridge Company, shooting Peters shells, du Pont powder and a Lefever gun. Mr. Henderson’s scores during 1909 indicate very exceptional ability, and this with his consistent loyalty to Peters ammunition have their logical result in his employment by The Peters Company. He is sure to, add rapidly to the already long list of friends he has made far himself and the goods he will represent. In the year 1909 from April 29th to December 22d, Mr. Henderson shot at 9495 targets, breaking 9008, an average of .9487 per cent (using a Parker). Beginning with the Southern Handicap at Nashville, Tenn., May 4th, 5th and 6th, he shot at 8995 targets, breaking 8597, an average of .9557 per cent., a record which has never been exceeded or equaled by any amateur shooting at this number of targets.
Throughout the year he used Peters factory loaded Ideal shells with 3 1/8 drams du Pont smokeless powder, 1 1/4 oz. No. 7 1/2 Ch. shot.

I didn't find any mention as to when he went back to Amateur status, or started using his Parker again. Peters continued to advertise his using their shells however.
He had a big year in 1914. In addition to winning both the GAH Handicap and Doubles, he had the High Amateur Average, AND the High Amateur Average in 1915 at .9753.

1910 Chicago GAH won by Fred Shattuck (Parker), of Columbus, Ohio.
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL5319026.pdf
Score 116 x 120 in a shoot-off over John R. Livingston (Winchester pump), of Springville, Ala., (19 yds.), William Wettleaf, (Parker) of Nichols, Ia., (19 yds.) and George E. Burns (Winchester pump), of Cleveland, O., (16 yds.)

Fred Shattuck and his Parker

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../373890175.jpg

Fred Gilbert Professional Championship and his 32" Parker

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../373890173.jpg

W.R. Crosby won the Professional Average at the 1905 GAH on the 16 yard mark breaking 298 out of 300 with a run of 213 straight. He had the Longest Run on targets in 1905 at Canton, Ohio, June 14-15, when he broke 419 straight. At the Philadelphia Eastern Handicap July, 1906 he was using a Parker with 32" barrels for the first time, having switched from a L.C. Smith. He also won the Professional Championship at the 1907 GAH in Chicago representing DuPont and using Winchester Leader shells and his Parker with a score of 192/200.
June 17-22, 1912 GAH at Springfield, Ill., Crosby won the Professional Championship at Singles, from the 18-yard mark, with 198x200. Gilbert and Crosby tied for High General Average for the four days' shooting, each breaking 550x600 targets.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../312323600.jpg

"Throughout the year he used Peters factory loaded Ideal shells with 3 1/8 drams du Pont smokeless powder, 1 1/4 oz. No. 7 1/2 Ch. shot"

Ouch! 9000 targets with 1 1/4 oz loads. My teeth and shoulder hurt.

http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL3006018.pdf
Kansas City, Oct. 23 1897
A remarkable exhibition of live pigeon shooting was given at Exposition Park, this city, yesterday afternoon, when Fred Gilbert, of Spirit Lake, Ia., and J. A. R. Elliott, of this city, met in a match at 100 live birds for $100 a side and the DuPont trophy, which Elliott won from C. W. Budd a few weeks ago with the score of 99 out of 100. J. A. R. Elliott has been practically invincible on Kansas City grounds for years and not until Fred Gilbert came, like a meteor from the sky. has the local man found his equal. When Gilbert won the "Star" cup from Elliott, on Oct. 8, by the score of 95 to 94, he showed such form that there was much speculation as to the result of the race yesterday. "Jim" Elliott is a veteran at the traps while Fred Gilbert was unknown as a live bird shot until in
October 1895, when he won the DuPont trophy in Baltimore against a large field of crack shots. Since that time his rise has been rapid and his work in the last match with Elliott stamps him as one of the best pigeon shots in the country and one capable of holding the title of champion shot.
The match was for the DuPont trophy at 100 live birds each man, 30 yards rise. The birds were the best that could be procured which makes the scores quite remarkable. Gilbert and Elliott tied at 97, then Gilbert won 25 to 24 in the shoot-off.
Gilbert used an L. C. Smith hammerless gun, 3 3/4 drams DuPont smokeless powder, 1 1/4 oz. (!) No. 7 chilled shot in Winchester Leader shells.
J. A. R. Elliott used a Winchester repeating shotgun, 3 1/2 drams, E. C. powder, 1 1/4 No. 7 1/2 and 6 chilled shot; Leader shells, loaded by Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL3012023.pdf
Cast Iron Medal, emblematic of championship of America, and a purse of $200, was shot on Watson’s Shooting Grounds. R.O. Heikes (using a Winchester 1897 pump) won the match by killing 91 out of 100 birds, taking the Cast Iron Medal and the $200.
Grimm killed 87 out of the 100 birds, using an L. C. Smith gun, 3 1/4 drams Du Pont powder in a 3-inch U. M. C. Smokeless shell, for first barrel, and 3 1/2 drams Du Pont powder in a 3 1/4-inch U. M. C. Trap shell in second barrel, 1 1/4 ounces No. 7 chilled shot in both barrels.

Jan. 2 1897
http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL2815017.pdf
Charles Grimm defeats Doc Carver in Chicago for the “Cast Iron Metal”
Grimm used a 12-bore L. C. Smith gun, 7 3/4 pounds, 3 3/4 drams Schultze, 1 1/4 ounce No. 7 shot, in U. M. C. Trap shell.
Carver used a 12-bore Cashmore gun, 8 pounds weight, 4 drams of Carver powder, 1 1/4 No. 7 shot, in U. M. C. Trap shell.

Carver was a big guy, 6'4" and over 250# but wow :eek: