Zulu, AKA Zulu Stockade, Texas, Hansford County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Although it was never a community, Zulu Station deserves inclusion for being the first non-native �foothold� in what would become Hansford County.

The area was grazing land for the huge herds of buffalo that roamed these vast expanses. In 1873 when the area was still under Comanche �occupation� James and Robert Cator arrived. The English brothers had been sent by their father to start a farm in Kansas, but buffalo hunting was a faster way to make a living � without depending on cooperating weather.

As the buffalo were slaughtered, and the Red River Wars* removed the Comanche into Indian Territory, the brothers and their sister Clara decided to try ranching. They settled in along North Palo Duro Creek and built a house. They were soon joined by others who replaced the dead buffalo herds with domestic cattle.

They named their house and store the Zulu Stockade � perhaps for the prairies resemblance to the Zulu-lands of South Africa (which would soon erupt in the 1879 Zulu War).

When Hansford County was organized in1876, there were so few people that the county had to be administered by Wheeler County. The first census taken was in 1880 when only 18 people were counted.

Descendants of the Cators and Billy Dixon of Adobe Walls fame, continue to live in the region.

Historical Marker: 4 miiles N of Morse on SH 136, then 1 mile W on FM 520

Site of Old Zulu Stockade

In 1875, a large, two-room pole building furnished with staple groceries and ammunition became the first trading post in Texas above the Canadian River. The stockade, located in Indian-infested country, was fittingly named for the fierce Zulu tribe of Africa. It began as a buffalo camp which crack hunters Jim and Bob Cator (from England) had made the first permanent Panhandle residence at Christmas, 1873. In 1876 Zulu became a major depot on the Ft. Dodge-Ft. Bascom military road, and it eventually received a post office contract. It was finally abandoned, 1912.
(1968)

Cover canceled with 1912 Zulu postmark.
Note name of sender - James H. Cator.
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection
Click on postcard for large image

ZULU, TEXAS

Zulu
who knew you
were once
quite a lulu,
but no one came
to your rescue
so adios
to you
Zulu!

©

d.knape
6-1-2021

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