530 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



they could run like deer, were very prolific, and, for the attention which 

 was then given them, were perhaps better suited to the people at that 

 time than any other breed of sheep. When the country became more 

 thickly settled and farms were opened in the forests, the Dickinson 

 sheep came to the very doors of the farmers ; rains were purchased by 

 them to cross on the native ewes, constituting the first cross, and the 

 whole system of breeding since that time, with but few exceptions, has 

 been crossing and recrossing in every direction. First came the Saxon 

 mania, and the wool- growers added very much to the fineness, crimp, 

 beauty, and silky character of the wool, but found themselves deficient 

 in quality. This prepared the way for the reception of the heavy 

 fleeced French Merino, but only a few were led away, and the current 

 again flowed in the direction of the Spanish Merino. But by this time 

 the original blood of the Dickinson and Wells sheep had been practi- 

 cally obliterated from the whole country, and the disappearance of the 

 Saxony and the French Merino followed in order. The history of some 

 of the early flocks and the changes which they have undergone will be 

 given. 



In 1822 James Moores, of Jefferson County, purchased a few ewes from 

 either the Wells or Dickinson flock, which, says the Ohio Eegister, 

 proved to be a source of profit. His family spun and carded the wool by 

 hand, and wove the cloth from which the garments were made which 

 clothed them. In 1825 he sold his clip of wool at Steubenville for $1 

 per pound. In 1834 this flock numbered nearly 100 head, from which 

 time frequent additions were made. In 1843 the flock averaged 4 

 pounds of washed wool. Mr. Moores died in 1848, and his son, James 

 Moores, took about 40 head of the flock, adding by purchase, in 1850, 

 5 ewes descended from the W. E. Dickinson flock. In 1856 Mr. Moores 

 began shipping rams and ewes to Texas, and in 1860 the flock which 

 had been kept on the farm for thirty- eight years was shipped to Texas. 



In 1830 Robert Hervey, of Washington County, Pa., purchased at 

 the sale of either Wells or Dickinson, probably the latter, about 200 

 head of sheep, and in October, 1832, took in partnership with him his 

 nephew, Eobert Hervey, of Unionport, Jefferson County, Ohio. Their 

 business was that of buying and selling Merino sheep. This partner- 

 ship was dissolved in 1834, and Eobert Hervey, the nephew, received 

 as his share of the flock remaining 34 lambs. These lambs, with 32 

 ewes and a ram purchased from Eobert Hervey, and of the same blood, 

 were taken to the lands controlled by William H. Hervey, 1J miles 

 from Bloomfield, Jefferson County, Ohio. The flock was kept on these 

 lands for about fifteen years. In 1849 it numbered 500 head of round- 

 bodied, healthy sheep, having a dark, well-covered surface on the 

 fleece, a white crimpy wool, and good length of staple, the fleeces weigh- 

 ing from 3J to 5 pounds of washed wool. In 1854 French blood was 

 introduced into the flock, but the result was unsatisfactory, and Span- 

 ish ranis were thereafter used on the flock until 1864, when G. W. 



