Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/232

222 In 1844 the first sheep were brought across the plains from Missouri by Joshua Shaw and son. They were for meat on the way, should the need arise, and soon fell into the daily movement with the loose cattle, occasioning little trouble, but gave profit and consideration to the family after their arrival in Oregon.

In 1847 sheep husbandry in Oregon received very important accessions. A Mr. Fields brought a flock, which, as all-purpose sheep, have never yet been surpassed, if equaled, in Oregon. He, however, and his wife, were both stricken with measles as they arrived, and died without attaining domicile. His estate was administered upon by Daniel Waldo, who wisely sold the sheep in small lots, and they thus became the foundation of many flocks. A Mr. Headerick, William Turpin, and Johnson Mulkey each brought a flock. E. Patton also brought a large flock, settling in Yamhill County, and Mulkey in Benton, so that this important pastoral interest spread widely over the valley.

In 1848 Joseph Watt—who crossed the plains in 1844 and went back in 1846—returned to Oregon with his father's family, bringing 330 head of sheep, some of them Saxon and some of Spanish Merino blood; and the machinery of a carding mill, this latter attracting even more attention than the sheep, which latter were now attracting less of public notice as this year began by calling many men to the fighting field against the Indians who had committed the Whitman massacre. This was followed soon by the discovery of gold in California, the rush to which and feverish labor and exposure there were more destructive to life than wars with the natives. It stopped home building development for a time, put