Sol Floersheim began working for the Charles Ilfeld Company in Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1880. It was through his association with Ilfeld that he developed a passion for ranching. In 1884 he toured the territory collecting wool and sheep from ranchers raising ewes for Ilfeld.

As noted on the ketubbah in this exhibit, he married Emma Blumenthal in 1884, and by 1889 they had four children. Floersheim opened stores in northern New Mexico Territory in 1889 on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line -- first in Watrous, then at Ocaté, and finally in Springer.

Using reserve capital, Sol and partner Harold C. Abbott bought a ranch near Springer in 1897 and began sheep ranching. By 1912 the Floersheim's were sole owners of the ranch, which had 63,000 fenced and well-watered acres. In a peak year, the ranch produced 88,000 sheep.

Sol Floersheim was a colorful character in his own right. Although he was only five feet tall and 110 pounds, he could easily hold his own. One story tells of how, at nearly 60 years old, a customer threatened him with a knife. Floersheim disarmed the man, gave him a beating, and collected what he was due. He was self-taught frontier physician and is reported to have delivered three hundred babies, as well as conducting some surgical procedures. [PJ:73-74]

Volume 2, number 2, of the Southwest Jewish History includes an article on Sol Floersheim entitled "The Fearless Sheepherder on the New Mexico Frontier."

After the article on Sol Floersheim appeared in Southwest Jewish History, former University of Arizona President Manuel T. Pacheco wrote the following: "I read the article in Southwest Jewish History about Sol Floersheim with great interest and nostalgia. My grandfather, father and I knew the Floersheim family well. In fact, during my early years I often delivered hay from my father's farm to the Jaritas Ranch east of Springer, New Mexico where my parents now live.

"It is said that alfalfa from my father's and grandfather's farms was the best in the state for sheep. With the Floersheims' scores of thousands of sheep, we were kept busy supplying their winter supply of food.

"The Floersheims I know are less feisty than Sol apparently was, but continue to be honest and stalwart contributors to community activities."