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Show the grade sheep herd he had been operating. Then in the fall of 1909, he learned of the pending sale of the purebred ewes belonging to Jim Fiske, in settlement of his estate. And how John K wanted those ewes. Every long-range goal of which he had ever dreamed was hinged on a sheep improvement program, and such a program called for purebred stock. He knew that even though the sale of the ewes was to be a forced sale, prices would still be beyond his grasp, and what would he use for money? Reaching a decision on this matter would have been more simple had he been completely free of financial obligations. Never had life been easy during his thirty-seven years. Continuous struggle had geared him to an acceptance of days as they came, bringing their problems. And perhaps that characteristic in him teased his mind to accept the chance of bidding on the ewes as a new challenge, even if it meant increasing his indebtedness in case his bid were accepted. His aversion to debt weighted his deliberations, however Since John K was unusually conservative he spent some time analyzing all facets of his life situation, hoping to find a solution enabling him to reach a decision in the process of his review. HIS BEGINNING Mt. Pleasant was still a raw settlement struggling for survival near the close of its thirteenth year when John Krause Madsen (John K) made his entrance into this world. 28 |