Merino Sheep
Source: Pioneer Days by Mary Donaldson Sinclair Page 79
GREAT SHEEP FLOCK ONCE ROAMED OVER THE DISTRICT
GREAT SHEEP FLOCK ONCE ROAMED OVER THE DISTRICT
(In several of the family histories, I found that they were engaged in the sheep business. Perhaps this would be of interest to you.)
The first blooded Merino sheep ever brought to America came to Steubenville. While William Jarvis as minister to Spain two members of the Spanish nobility came to him and stated that they had become involved in an insurrection and they entrusted to him the care of several blooded Marino sheep to prevent their confiscation by the government. These nobleman were not heard of again and it is supposed that they were killed.
When the term of Mr. Jarvis as Spanish Consul had expired, he brought the sheep to his farm in Vermont. About the year 1814 Bazaleel Wells who was then engaged in building a woolen mill in Steubenville, heard of them and went at one to Vermont, brought them and brought them home with him. They were bred here for a number of years and were the parents of all the fine sheep in this regions. They increased until the flock numbered from four to five thousand.
The main sheep fold was where the present Wheeling Steel Corporation Mills are located. Here they were kept through the winter months and in summer they were driven over the hill and dale to what was called the "Canton Plains". The care and selection of grazing places for this considerable number of animals was not a small task and the head shepherd, one "Billy Oram" with his great Crook, was quite a character in his day.
In 1824 the flock numbered several thousand and their clip was made into the beautiful broadcloth for which this mill was noted.
In order to make the superior quality of woolens for which this factory was acquiring such a reputation, Bazaleel Wells and those associated with him, became the victims of their own enterprise. A judgment for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars was obtained against them in the United States Court and all their affects went under the hammer including the woolen mill and the four thousand sheep which they had brought from such a distance and kept so carefully.
The first blooded Merino sheep ever brought to America came to Steubenville. While William Jarvis as minister to Spain two members of the Spanish nobility came to him and stated that they had become involved in an insurrection and they entrusted to him the care of several blooded Marino sheep to prevent their confiscation by the government. These nobleman were not heard of again and it is supposed that they were killed.
When the term of Mr. Jarvis as Spanish Consul had expired, he brought the sheep to his farm in Vermont. About the year 1814 Bazaleel Wells who was then engaged in building a woolen mill in Steubenville, heard of them and went at one to Vermont, brought them and brought them home with him. They were bred here for a number of years and were the parents of all the fine sheep in this regions. They increased until the flock numbered from four to five thousand.
The main sheep fold was where the present Wheeling Steel Corporation Mills are located. Here they were kept through the winter months and in summer they were driven over the hill and dale to what was called the "Canton Plains". The care and selection of grazing places for this considerable number of animals was not a small task and the head shepherd, one "Billy Oram" with his great Crook, was quite a character in his day.
In 1824 the flock numbered several thousand and their clip was made into the beautiful broadcloth for which this mill was noted.
In order to make the superior quality of woolens for which this factory was acquiring such a reputation, Bazaleel Wells and those associated with him, became the victims of their own enterprise. A judgment for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars was obtained against them in the United States Court and all their affects went under the hammer including the woolen mill and the four thousand sheep which they had brought from such a distance and kept so carefully.
