Murdo

In 1904, Mr. Murdo MacKenzie, head of the Matador brand, who had herds from Mexico to Canada, shipped train load after train load of Texas steers to the Standing Rock Reservation so they could graze on the Dakota grass. A grateful railroad named a town for Murdo and the town was recognized when a lot sales was held on July 12, 1906. In this last position he attracted the attention of the Edinburgh syndicate, whose governing board, appointed him manager of the Prairie Cattle Company, Limited, ""the mother of British cattle companies"". The Prairie Cattle Company, Limited had extensive range holdings in southeastern Colorado, northeastern New Mexico and the panhandle of Texas. Offered several business opportunities, he chose management of the Matador. Thus, began a relationship between the company and the MacKenzie family which was to endure for more than threescore years. At about 3 o'clock, C.A. Padley opened the sale with a few remarks on the future of the town. He spoke on her chances for a county seat and railroad division and promised to interceed with the railroad company in our behalf as well. After his remarks, the bidding started off at $100 and moved lively from the start to finish. Murdo was literally a city on wheels, and after the lot sales, there was a race to see who could reach his lot first. The original buildings were located east of the present Murdo site. Over 40 businesses and serveral residences had been erected prior to the lot sale as fast as lumber arrived. This is how the town got its nickname, The Magic City. (Taken in part from the Dictionary of American Biography, XXII, 416-17 and from the Murdo Coyote, May 25, 1906.)