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Show bred ewes then made up John K's entire herd, He had been able to substantially reduce his mortgage after selling his grade ewes, also with money from the sale of his first purebred yearling rams. When wool and lamb prices had reached a new low point in 1911, he was forced again to mortgage his holdings (for eleven thousand dollars) in order to keep operating. That was a lot of money at the time and it required tight planning and greater economies and effort for a few years in order to pull out of his indebtedness. Those were the years of improvements in his house as well as in the expanding business, and there were times when the struggle was so great that John K wasn't at all sure his business would be able to survive. His faith in himself was tested many times-but fortunately he remained optimistic. ANOTHER MARRIAGE When his business was well established and he was financially more solvent, John K and Virginia concluded it was time that they marry. It was a natural consequence of working so close together in founding his purebred sheep business, during which time they had learned to appreciate the true worth of each other. They both enjoyed their planning and work, and love and respect for each other resulted. Virginia had contributed a stability to home life, and she, John K and the girls were happy. 116 |