710 A HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



of United States cavalry. Their efforts for the first 

 few years were expended in acquiring the necessary 

 land, herding back the buffalo and bringing in cattle 

 with which to stock the new ranch. The lands were 

 largely acquired from the firm of Gunther & Munson, 

 who had "located" a large territory under the then 

 very liberal land laws of the state of Texas. The 

 greater part of the cattle, as above stated, were 

 originally brought from Colorado and the north 

 and were grade Shorthorns. 



From the beginning the active management of the 

 property was in Mr. Goodnight 's hands, and the 

 new firm soon began to buy cattle in large numbers. 

 Out of the herds purchased Mr. Goodnight selected 

 the best for breeding purposes, thereby starting 

 what was known as the JJ herd. These he bred first 

 to purebred Shorthorn, or " Durham " bulls, as he 

 still prefers to call them, and as far as possible 

 raised therefrom the bulls for the main range or 

 JA herd. 



0. H. Nelson Brings in Herefords. In the spring 

 of 1883 Mr. 0. H. Nelson, representing the firm of 

 Finch, Lord & Nelson, cattle dealers of Burlingame, 

 Kans., bought in Kansas, Iowa and Missouri be- 

 tween 500 and 600 head of as good young breeding 

 cows as could be secured without buying registered 

 animals. He brought them into the Panhandle of 

 Texas, locating them on a part of the Adair & Good- 

 night range south of Eed Eiver on Tule Creek. 

 This was in Swisher county, near where the thrifty 

 town of Tulia is now located. At that date this 



