612 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



the southeastern part of the State. In 1841, Detroit exported 20,000 

 pounds; in 1844, 230,000 pounds, and in 1847, 1,000,000 pounds, and 

 the wool-growers of the East felt the growing competition of the great 

 West. In 1848 H. K. Fritz, of Jackson, purchased of the Gnadaloupe 

 flock of J. N. Sawyer, Salisbury, N. H., 25 rams and 100 ewes, and 

 bred them pure until 1854, when he crossed them with the French 

 Merino, and the average weight of the fleece was increased thereby to 

 5 pounds. In other cases a cross half Spanish and half French Merino 

 was very successful. About 1848 Ansel Nichols established a flock 

 by the purchase of 10 pure-bred ewes, bred by K. J. Jones, of Corn- 

 wall, Vt., to which was added 2 more ewes in 1864 from the flock of 

 O. 0. Bascom, of Yergennes, Vt. From this flock came the foundation 

 of the flock of T. M. Southworth, Allen, Mich., who, in 1871, purchased 

 30 of the Nichols flock, and has bred pure sheep to the present day, 

 using Vermont rams and those bred in the flock. Among other flocks 

 started at this period were those of George Gale, of Superior, Thomas 

 Spafford, of Manchester, and W. S. Crafts, of Sharon, who did much 

 with their flocks and influence to maintain and increase the demand 

 for fine Merino sheep. Judge Compton, of Ypsilanti, also formed a 

 flock, which he crossed soon after with one of the Taintor importation 

 of French rams. 



A part of the celebrated Eich flock was taken into La.peer County in 

 1848. In that year John W. Bich purchased a few ewes and two or 

 three rams from the flocks of J. T. and V. Bich, T. Stickuey, and D. and 

 G. Cutting, of Vermont. The ewes were bred to the rams taken to 

 Lapeer until 1851, when a ram was purchased of J. T. and V. Eich and 

 used a number of years. In 1853 10 ewes purchased of Tyler Stickney 

 were added to the flock, and about the same time Thomas Slay ton, of 

 Lapeer, purchased a few ewes and a ram of T. Stickney. The Slayton 

 sheep were bred pure until 1859, when the entire flock was purchased 

 and incorporated in the Eich flock. This excellent flock is still in 

 existence, the property of John T. Eich, Elba, Mich. 



Michigan had a great advantage in forming her wool-growing flocks, 

 in the fact that they were formed almost directly from thoroughbred 

 sheep of the best kind, which were taken into the State in great num- 

 bers, and in 1850 the larger portion of the sheep were pure Merinos or 

 high grades. In some localities, however, the sheep were mostly of 

 the coarse-wool varieties, with some small proportion of Saxon and 

 Merino blood. This was the case in Lenawee County, but imported 

 breeds were fast being introduced from Vermont and western New 

 York, and other Eastern States. A large amount of wool was raised, 

 much of it retained for home manufacture. This county carried more 

 sheep in proportion to its population than any county in the State. 

 Washtenaw County found wool-growing very profitable, and next to 

 wheat-growing it was the chief business of the farmers. It cost 15 

 cents to grow common wool, 18 cents to grow Spanish Merino, and 25 



