EAST OF THE ^MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 589 



over the prairies with a shepherd. They were penned at night, yet 50 

 had just been destroyed by the wolves. The number is evidently an 

 exaggeration as to Mr. Flower's flock, though it may be true as to the 

 number of sheep of all krnds in the English settlement, of which Mr. 

 Flower's formed a part. '" 



A Mr. Woods, writing in 1822, speaking particularly of southern 

 Illinois, says: 



The sheep of this country, and indeed of the whole of America, as far as I have 

 seen, are mean, when compared with those of England. They are of different sorts, 

 but much mixed. If I can judge of their origin, I think the Lincolnshire and Welsh 

 sheep are nearest the original breed, hut many of them have had a little Merino 

 blood mixed in with them of late years. I have seen no sign of the Southdown 

 sheep. There are but few sheep at the prairies, and the greater part of them are 

 very mean ones. But there are a few good Merinos and a few others tolerable, but 

 in general they are coarse, with very hollow, coarse wool, and there are some that 

 have a hairy kind of wool. * * Few of the American flocks exceed 20, but 



most of those who keep a few shut them up at night to protect them from the 

 wolves. * * * The Americans keep sheep for the sake of their wool, which is 

 manufactured into various articles of clothing, and at most of their cabins you may 

 see carding, spinning, and weaving going forward, for, to give the American women 

 their due, many of them are truly industrious, as they manufacture most parts of 

 their dress, and as they grow the cotton, flax, and wool, it comes reasonable. * * * 

 These Americans hold mutton in the utmost contempt, and I have heard them say 

 people who eat it belong to the family of wolves. Wool sells, on a small 



scale, for half a dollar a pound, without much regard to its fineness. 



Mr. J. M. Peck, in 1831, writes: 



Sheep do very well in this country, especially in the older settlements, where the 

 grass has become short, and they are less molested by wolves. But few are kept. 

 The people of the South are more accustomed to cotton for clothing than wool. This 

 article, when manufactured into rolls, sells for 50 cents per pound. Common wool 

 is worth 37^ cents in the fleece. Little is said or done to improve the breed of sheep 

 or introduce the Merino or Saxony breed. 



Of a later date was the flock of a Mr. Bowers and Mr. Eno, Island 

 Grove, Sangamou County. In 1 844 these gentlemen took into the State 

 80 rains and 3,500 ewes. They were assisted by Mr. George Flower, 

 who bought from the finest flocks in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Some 

 were selected from the flock of Adam Hildenbrand, of Stark County, 

 Ohio. Some were common, coarse sheep, selected, however, from good 

 small flocks. The great movement of sheep to the West at that time 

 may be judged from the remark of Mr. Flower that many flocks were 

 moving in that direction, and that immediately preceding him was a 

 flock of over 50,000, destined for Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin. 

 Sangamon County was the center of the wool-growing industry in 

 Illinois, and at one time clipped more wool than any one county out- 

 side of California, and more wool, taking the average, than any other 

 county in the United States. In one family there were 30,000 Merino 

 sheep. 



A flock brought into the State about 1845 was that of Daniel Kelley, 

 of Wheaton. This flock was formed in Vermont, and the foundation 



