 |
Posey in his famous army jacket, during the Indian War of 1915. "In his later years, Posey typically wore a dark vest with an army belt buckle as a badge." The badge was perhaps seen by him as an emblem of his military leadership. Posey often referred to himself as General Posey. (Utah State Historical Society photo.) |
Posey was one of the great Indian leaders of the San Juan frontier in Southeastern Utah. He was perceived by his people to be a trustworthy, brave, and loyal protector. His influence was strongly felt among his tribe. Posey was seen by them as a great warrior who loved his people very much.
Interviews and research over the past five years find the Avikan (Allen Canyon) Ute version of Posey's life to be different in many respects from the traditional stories told by white settlers in San Juan County. A great deal of information has recently been released for the first time in Ute history from interviews with Posey's relatives and people.
In approximately 1863, Posey was born at Navajo Mountain. This area of San Juan County, even today, is one of the most remote and isolated. It was here that Navajo bands were able to hide and escape Kit Carson's Indian roundup and the Long Walk of 1864. For many years Navajo Mountain, which was known by the Utes as "Mountain That Sits," provided protection and a good life for Utes, Paiutes, and Navajos who inhabited it.
By bloodline Posey was considered to be a Paiute Indian. His father was Old Chee who had two wives, one of whom bore him a son named Mapua, also called Sagwageri ("green hair"), later to be known as Posey. (Bronson, interview 1-2) It was suspected that the name Posey was taken from Andrew "Posey" Porter, a blacksmith with the Hoskaninni Mining company, who worked on a Colorado River gold dredging project in the late 1800s. It is said that the young Indians idolized Posey Porter, and that he would often allow them to use his black smithing tools to make jewelry out of silver coins. (Utah State Historical Society Newsletter 5-6)
 |
| Perhaps the most isolated place in the United States is still Navajo Mountain, located in a remote corner of western San Juan County. It was here that Posey grew up. (San Juan Historical Commission photo.) |
When Posey was a boy, the unsettled region around Navajo Mountain had "grass which would grow up to the belly of the ponies....There was lots of grass, lots of deer, and good hunting." (McPherson 245) During his childhood Posey lived in an extended family at Navajo Mountain, which consisted of his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was here that Posey along with other young Indian boys, learned to shoot the bow and arrow, stalk game, and do all the things necessary to become a man. (Bronson, interview 2) Posey learned to hunt and became skillful in all the Indian crafts. (Eubanks)
Indian children of this time wore the type of skirt and long shirt of cloth which was traditional throughout most of Native American tribes. The children ran free, with few restraints, doing what they pleased until they became adults.
Some people referred to Posey as part Spanish, Navajo, and Witapunuche (Weeminuche) Ute. But both Indians and whites in San Juan County thought of him as a Paiute, or at least part Paiute, from Navajo Mountain. (Bronson, interview 2) Billy Mike, one of the oldest men of the White Mesa Utes today, stated, "Posey was a Paiute. He was of middle height and of a slender build." (Mike, Billy) Posey's granddaughter recalls that Posey was of a small build and wore braids. (Posey, Frances) Photographs taken of Posey between 1918-1923 always show him wearing the buckle-badge. It was likely a symbol of victory taken from a dead soldier. Posey often referred to himself as General Posey.
As a young man, Posey married into a band of Witapunuche Utes called the Avikan Utes who lived in the Allen Canyon area. He married Turah, daughter of a prominent Ute, named Poco Narraguinnep. Turah's brother was known as Poke. Poke became one of the most respected "patriarchal leaders" among Mancos Jim's Avikan Utes. The Avikan Utes (Avikanache) were a Witapunuche band which lived mainly in the San Juan County, Utah area. By marrying into this family, Posey gained himself a place of stature among the Ute people. But marriage alone was not enough to make him a Ute chief. "His courage, loyalty, tenacity, together with his ability to win friends, were the traits that eventually notched him a place in the heart of his people." (Bronson, interview 3)
 |
Jody Wood was an important mid-wife in Bluff who had many experiences with Posey. She tried to save Turah's life when she was shot. (San Juan Historical Commission photo.) |
Posey and Turah had three sons, Jess, Anson, and another who died in infancy. (Posey, Frances) After living happily for about eight years, Posey accidentally shot his wife, Turah, with a gun--a gun he believed was unloaded, but which sent a bullet through his wife's hip. Even though he immediately ran to Bluff to bring the midwife, their frantic attempt to save Turah's life was futile. She died three days later and left Posey a heartbroken man. (Bronson, interview 6)
Even though the relationship between Posey and the Bluff Mormons was shaky at times, it was a Mormon midwife that Posey turned to for help when Turah was shot. Jody Wood ran with Posey to his wickiup, where she saw how the bullet had torn its way through Turah's body just above her hips. "She knew she was beyond medical help and could only shake her head sadly, and mingle her tears with Posey's and their two little boys. Posey continued to be Sammy Wood's squaw's friend." (Wood 33)
Posey later married Turah's sister, Mary Hatch, whose Ute name was Kahdia. They had two daughters, one of whom was Nancy Posey, the other one died at birth. (Posey, Frances) So the ties with the Ute leader Poke were reinforced again through marriage. Posey had married into a family that was greatly respected by other member of the Ute band, and thus he became a leader of some prominence.
Return to Posey's Table of Contents
Return to San Juan Sampler index