 Local newspapers such as the "Arizona Silver Belt" reported that the feud was caused primarily by the Tewksburys' other occupation as sheepmen, which many cattlemen such as Stinson disliked due to the sheep's destructive eating habits in the open ranges.Historian Tim Ehrhardt suggested that this was not the case, contending the feud was primarily caused by the enmity that already existed between the families.Sheep were not brought into the valley until 1885, two years after the feuding between the Tewksbury and Graham factions began.