Now, where do you find Poosey?…Over the next hill?

Livingston County has the distinction of having a neighborhood which no one can definitely locate. They call it Poosey. It’s a name that tickles the fancy and stimulates the imagination. It is a state of mind; it’s boundaries are where one chooses to say they are. Such is the Kingdom of Poosey, often referred to as being "just a mile on down the road" or "over the next hill."

A little History

The first settlers to the north part of Livingston County came before 1838, before the land was eligible for entry, in wagon trains pulled by oxen. They were attracted to this area because of its bountiful supply of wild game, plenty of water and virgin timber.

Among the first settlers to come to this part of the country were George Dockery and his wife, Patsy Embry Dockery. They came by horseback from Garrett County, Kentucky, in 1835.

These Dockerys were ancestors to Alexander Monroe Dockery, a citizen of Gallatin, later elected as governor of the state.

Other families coming here about this time were John, Henry and Nathaniel Gee, Greenbury Harris, L. D. Thompson, Edward Smith, Nathaniel Maxey, George Elijah, Isaac Embry, Green and Presley Boon, B. F. Gibbs, James Blackburn, James Livingston, J. W. Moore, George Trout, William Ashbrook, Zella Conkling, George Dockery, W. P. Robison, George and Mart Goodrich, Menton House, J. L. Prothero and William Woolridge.

Lay of the Land

A small part of the land in the center of Poosey is very level and one of the highest points of elevation in north Missouri, nearly 1000 feet above sea level. On all four sides of this plateau the terrain of the land drops off sharply and the water shed flows in four different directions, the source of creeks which flow on into the Grand River at their respective points. On the west, Clear Creek starts; south flows Indian Creek; and on the east and north, the east and north forks of Gee’s Creek have their origin.

Communities

The early settlers no doubt traded at Navestown (later called Springhill) in the late 1830’s. This was created as an early trading post in 1836 and was the only government in the area.

Punkin Center was a large two room log house south of the county line. The Wingo brothers operated a blacksmith shop here in the early days. Later on Alex Irvin got his start in the mercantile business there. At that time Poosey boys would gather and match their strength at boxing and wrestling at this place.

Muddy Lane Post Office was where some of the Poosey people got their mail.

Down through the years Hickory probably was the most important little town or trading center for the people of Poosey. In an early day from stories handed down, Hickory was a "wild and wooly" town. One of the stories concerned a so called "gallon house" which was located in the center of the village. This was a one room log house with benches around the wall and a barrel of whiskey in the center and with available tin cups. Whiskey was purchased by the drink or by the gallon at 25 cents per gallon.

Several years ago one of the old timers was queried about this time. He said his brother ran the place until they got so hot on him and he left and went to Arizona. He then took his brother’s place. He said the women of the village ganged up and burned the place. He, the proprietor, went out through the window.

The Rock Island Railroad came through Hickory in 1871 and did much for the community for several decades. The railroad surveyor hired one of the old Embrys as a guide through the hills and hollows. In recognition for his services he received a lifetime pass to ride the trains. He rode one train from Hickory to Jamesport, walked back home and never rode a train from then on.

West of center lie the Jamesport prairies and the town of Jamesport. Red Brush is the name of the country east and south of Poosey, containing one of the first trading centers in the entire region, Spring Hill. All the territory south of Poosey clear to the west fork of Grand River is known by the pioneers as Indian creek township.

Legendary Places

There was a hide out in the early days in Poosey called "Feather Valley." This was near the "Big Cut" in the Rock Island Railroad. It was a place where some of the men of Poosey would meet to drink and gamble. They often remained until their food supply ran out and would raid neighboring chicken roosts for more provender. As a result chicken feathers became so plentiful it was referred to as "Feather Valley."

Another place was "Happy Holler." Young people would gather there and have musicals for which Poosey was famous, therefore the name "Happy Holler"

The "Big Cut" where the Rock Island Railroad made its way from Trenton toward the southwest was through limestone bluffs. This was where Poosey boys would hop a freight and ride to Jamesport or Gallatin. Some of the braver ones would go to St. Joseph.

Panther cave is located in the solid rock walls of a deep ravine.

The early pioneers told how a small child was playing near a vacant house and was attacked and killed by a panther. The animal was tracked to this cave and killed and was buried in the cave.

On the solid rock ledges around the cave hundreds of names have been carved and dates that still show go back over a century. Most of them are covered with a layer of moss clinging to the rocks; scrape away the moss and the carvings are easily observed. In the valley below the cave are the remains of an old sugar maple syrup plant.

Then there is another valley called Mushroom Gap named for the large quantities of sponge mushrooms which can be picked there in the spring, as they have been picked for a century.

Hogskin Holler, in the neighborhood of the old Scott Miller place, received its name from the myth that a man stole a hog and butchered him there — leaving only the skin.

Devil’s Backbone, a high ridge south of Poosey; Dog Town, a cluster of houses to the north.

Hell’s Half Acre, on the outskirts of Red Brush. There was a big argument over the location of a school building, which was moved back and forth so often, that folks started calling it — "Hell’s Half Acre."

Red Brush got its name, from the bright colors of the leaves on the oak trees and brush after the first frost.

Legendary People

All of this particular country lies between the forks of Grand River. As early as 1800, Daniel Boone was reported to have traveled up the Grand to a point about where Poosey is now located. He spent the winter trapping for beaver and otter, living off of the abundant supply of game present, such as elk, deer, wild turkey, prairie chicken and other species. Unfriendly Indians caused him to beat a hasty retreat down Grand as soon as the spring thaws permitted.

Joseph Robidoux, a noted early fur trader, also was known to have frequented this area, then a veritable hunter’s paradise, surrounded by dense woods. Many trees were hollow and loaded with honey, which could even be found in the grasses on the prairie to the west and north.

Civil War Stories

During the Civil War, a fort consisting of a block house and stockade was built here and called Fort Lumpkin. Minor engagements between Confederate and Union troops took place in the Poosey area. Most of the people were of Confederate sympathy and bushwhackers were very active at that time.

There is another story slightly humorous of one Poosey man who didn’t want to go to war. He had a wife named Sophrenia called "Phene" by everyone. This man laid his finger across the chopping block, handed his wife the hatchet and said, "Hack’er Phene." She refused and he had to give up the entire scheme. From that time on he was referred to by the community as "Hack’er Phene". He did, however, go to war and served out his time with honor.

Henry and Alex "Mink" Dockery were two of the sons of Bob Dockery. In the early part of the war, if one did not wish to go to the military, he could hire a substitute to go in his place. "Mink" deeded his brother, Henry, a tract of land to go in his stead. For added safety he built himself a refuge in "Sol Holler" which was a small cave in the hillside. With batching stuff and a feather bed he proceeded to spend at least part of the war in relative safety. The entrance was small enough that he crawled in and out on his knees.

Another brother named Merrill was also a soldier, probably in the local militia. One dark night Merrill came in riding a spirited white horse with good equipment, fine saddle, shiny boots and silver spurs. He joined his brother Mink in his hide out.

It turned out a captain’s horse and belongings had suddenly disappeared along with soldier, Merrill. Apparently the army never caught up with Merrill because the horse lived out his life in Poosey. A horse or a man was difficult to find in the many hills and valleys. All three brothers survived the war.

Indians in Poosey

This portion of the Grand River Valley was one of the last parts of Missouri yielded by the American Indians. In 1833, the last remnants of the Shawnee tribe left the area, opening the area to settlement by people of European extraction, who came here via Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. The name "Poosey", was derived from a tribe of Indians who lived in that part of Kentucky where the first settlers came from.

Several tribes of Indians, some from the Iowa clan, and other roving bands including Chippewas, Sacs, Foxes, and a tribe known as the "Missouris," were located along the several streams at that time. Indications of their camps can still be found around Poosey and Spring Hill.

Many graves have been found and collections made of the various pieces. One grave on Indian creek produced both a flint ax and a steel tomahawk. An old Indian cemetery is located right in the heart of Poosey.

Churches

One of the early churches in Poosey was the Free Will Baptist Church. Some of the local roughnecks took a delight in disturbing worship services. Instances happened such as horses being ridden into the church during services, shooting out lights and so forth. The Trenton sheriff had to put a stop to it.

Bethel Methodist Church South was organized in 1867 and the church building was erected in 1872. Then there was the Campbellite Church located in Grundy County. Calvary Church, located north of the county line. Dockery Chapel, north of Hickory on Highway "W" and Shelburn Church, also on highway "W".

In one sense, Poosey is just over the hill or across the holler. You may have to use your imagination to find it – but it’s a beautiful countryside to visit.

About the Authors

This story about Poosey was taken from excerpts of two main works: Kingdom of Poosey by Max C. Hamilton and A Place Called Poosey by Anna Dockery Burgess. If you want to read the complete works, visit http://www.livingstoncountylibrary.org/History/Community/Poosey/poosey1.htm.