in a Pecan Shell
If you thought that by having the same name as the county in which
it once was, would guarantee county seat status, you would be wrong.
The future ghost town was established back in the 1880s by J.H. (“Huff”)
Wright. The post office was granted in 1887 and after an 1889 fight
with Farwell for county seat, Hansford
emerged the winner. It held that coveted title until it was bypassed
(in favor of Spearman)
by the railroad in the 1920s.
The community’s first newspaper, the Hansford Herald, had its
office destroyed by a tornado in 1890 and was replaced by the Investigator
which soon folded. A third newspaper, the Hansford Headlight
met the same fate.
English Businessman James H. Cator served as president of Hansford’s
first bank in 1907 and the future looked bright until the arrival
of the railroad.
In this case it was the North Texas and Santa Fe.
Losing it’s status and not having a railroad connection doomed poor
Hansford. The post office moved to Spearman
as did residents. After WWII,
there was no population to report and the only thing appearing on
the county map was the Hansford cemetery.
County postal map showing Hansford, Mulock
Spearman has yet to
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
Modification of Texas General Land Office 1920s map
in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas,
asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos, please contact