philip.marshall Wrote:
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> Yes, I had exactly the same thought, that it might
> be a sheepherder's wagon or caravan.
>
> In addition to the Azoreans in CA I understand
> there were Basque shepherds in many Western
> states, and in eastern Oregon a lot of shepherds
> were from Ireland. (In fact, my Irish grandfather
> worked as a shepherd in Oregon for a few years in
> the 1920s, prior to marrying my grandmother.)
Northern Nevada has a significant Basque community due to the shepherds. The University of Nevada at Reno has a Center for Basque Studies and the University Press has published a number of books about the Basque history and culture. Also in Nevada it is necessary to note the Laxalt brothers whose parents were Basque immigrants -- Robert Laxalt who was an author and a professor at UN-R and Paul Laxalt who served as Nevada governor (1967–1971) and U.S. Senator (1974–1987).
Brian Norden