Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/489



though there were only seven guns in the party they had to tight Indians every day until they crossed Rogue River; they lost twenty sheep crossing Klamath river, but that loss was made up by lamb increase on the way, requiring from four to eight pack horses to carry lambs along in panniers.

The first sheep brought across the plains to Oregon were driven over by Joshua Shaw and son in 1844. They were put into the cattle train to be used as mutton along the way, and those not so used reached Oregon in good shape, and proved a source of profit. The next flock from Missouri was driven over by Hugh Fields in 1847; and were a fine lot of all pnrjiose sheep, and was sold out to various parties in Marion, Benton and Yamhill counties. And as an inter- esting part of this history, it is to be recorded here, that St. Michael Fackler, the first Episcopalian minister to Oregon, drove this Fields' fiock of sheep all the way across the plains to distant Oregon, and literally complied with the Scrip- tural command, "to feed my sheep." Mr. Fackler has been commended by all histories of Oregon in the highest terms as a noble good man. The next sheep coming across the plains to Oregon was a flock of 330 head of fine wool sheep, brought across by Joseph Watt in 1848, some of them of Saxon, and others of Spanish Merino blood. Subsequent to the above importations of sheep, and for the purpose of improving these original flocks, the principal importers have been John Minto and Ralph C. Geer, of ilarion county, John Cogswell of Lane, Martin Jesse of Yamhill, and Jones & Rockwell, who imported from Vermont, American Merinos.

The first machinery for working wool was a carding mill brought to Oregon across the plains by Joseph Watt along with his sheep in 1848. And that was even a greater curiosity to the settlers than the sheep. It carded the wool ready for the farmei-s' wives to spin into yarn for stockings, and the domestic loom which could produce good flannel and the ' ' Kentucky Jeans ' ' ready for comfort- able clothing. And with this limited machinery the people got along until the first woolen mill was erected at Salem in 1857. The Woolen Mill Company was organized in 1856 by George H. Williams, Alfred Stanton, Joseph Watt, W. H. Rector, Joseph Holman, E. M. Barnum and L. F. Grover — Williams, president, J. G. Wilson, secretary, and John D. Boon, treasurer. They managed to scrape up $2,500 in cash and then sent Rector to the East to purchase the looms and other machinery, that would cost $12,000. And when Rector told the machinery men he had only $2,500, they were somewhat paralyzed, and wanted to know how he ex- pected them to send their goods away out to Oregon 20,000 miles around Cape Horn without security for their money. It is said "Uncle Billy" Rector re- plied to that stunner by saying: "Look into my face, gentlemen. If you cannot trust me when I say you shall have your pay, my trip is a failure." "Uncle Billy" got the machinery and the manufacturer got his mone.y; showing that the trust in mankind was nuich greater fifty-five years ago than it is in 1912.

Although the goat and mohair interest in live stock did not take root in Ore- gon in the same era with horses, cattle and sheep, yet it is so intimately con- nected with these interests that it may as well be noticed in this connection. The goat took an early start along with man and sheep in the tedious uplift from bar- barism to civilization. From its more timid and gentle nature it is probable that the sheep was domesticated b.v man liefore the goat. But as man increased in knowledge and wickedness it was concluded by the learned barbarian