Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-04-08
HAS MADE A SUCCESS.
Len Lewis Has Made a Fortune In
the Sheep Raising Business.

the Sheep Raising Business.
The following sketch was publish
ed in a recent issue of the Sheep
Breeder and Wool Grower, published
In Chicago:
Mr.. Len Lewis, of Lewis, Mont, re-
Gently came into the Union Stock
Yards with the last of the 5000 sheep
which he fed at the South st. Paul
yards this winter, and, as usual, call
ed at sheepman's headquarters, and
though a modest man, not at all given
to parading his private business az
fairs, yielded in this instance to a
familiar recital of his eventful life in
Montana. MI. Lewis went to Meagh-
er county, Mont, as early as 1866,
and for the first four years followed
general farming as pursued in the
territory at that early day. He was
clear sighted enough to see that the
easiest and surest avenue to worldly
success lay in the direction of graz.
ing and in 1870 he bought a few cat.
tie. Having established a reputation
for steadiness Of purpose, honesty and
good management. he had no difficulty
in 1875 in securing a flock of 1900
sheep on shares. Sheep handling ap-
pealed to his tastes and business judg.
ment and in 1880 he sold off his cat
tie, bought sheep, going into the win
ter with 5000 head. The winter prov
ed a hard one and when spring came
he had but 1900 left. The problem
of sheep keeping under purely range
conditions presented SO many uncer.
tainties to the young ranchman that
he decided it was not wisdom to pur.
sue this method further and take the
risk of having the focks and herds
accumulated in half a dozen success.
full years swept away in a single hard
| winter.
Mr.. Lewis, with flock swept away
and obligations maturing that he
could not meet, If he quit at this
stage, and disliking the idea Of hav'
ing it said "he went broke" resolved
to stay in the business and conduct
it along safe and conservative lines
And so he began buying and improv
ing hay land, planting alfalfa anc
making provision for carrying his
sheep and cattle over the hard storms
The adoption of this plan was the
turning point in Len Lewis fortune
His hocks and herds prospered, hi
pastoral and cultivated domain grew
apace and the r~esolute. persistent
level-headed ranchman has come Il
be one of the ranking, commanding
influential men of his county ant
state. His meadows annually yielt
1000 tons of hay and alfalfa. his deed
ed lands cover 10000 acres. and hi
leases 10000 acres more, the latte
all under fence, of which he has ~
miles.
Mr.. Lewis is wintering 3S, 1000 rang,
sheep, and has also 1926 head of rec
istered sheep, 500 head of horses an
600 head of cattle. He believes Il
progressive stock raising and hi
fiocks and herds are all led by sire
of purest blood and approved breed
ing. OF his more select eve stoc
1000 head are regularly bred to hig
class Cotswold rams, and the nal
offspring, some 900 Or more, sold a
ram lambs for service In range fockI
Len Lewis ideal ram for range SCI
vice in Montana. is the offspring OF
Spanish Merino W and a Ramboui
let ram. This cross gives a larg'
strong, rustling sheep, with fine, dens
fleece, good constitution, great endu
ance and the best flocking qualities
in a word. the hardest, longest-live'
ard most profitable sheep for the MOI
tana range. He believes in the Nj
rino blood as the true basis for a
large sheep raising and wool CROWN
enterprises. He does not favor mu
ton breed crosses on Merino flock
as good range policy, regarding thel
as deteriorating both in fleece produ
ton and constitutional yigor. tn
Downs, CotswOlds and Lincolns Il
the blue grass pastures. but the NJ
rino for the range, is Mr.. Lewis mo
TO. To him the Merino is the hustle
of all the sheep tribes. and being slo
of growth has the lasting qualiti'
denied to the quicker maturing mu
!. ton breeds. The British breeds al