Posey’s story still of interest

By Janet Wilcox
Contributing writer
Multiple people have written about the White Mesa Ute Posey. 
Stan Bronson’s song about him is possibly the most memorable.  It begins: “Out on Navajo Mountain lived a rebel Paiute chief.  Old Chee Poot’s squaw gave him two sons.  He called one of them Sowagerie…” 
It goes on to tell his story and sad ending.  Since then, various writers have written Posey’s story from their perspective.                                                                              
One of the most successful people to write about Posey was San Juan High student Tonya Morris, from White Mesa.
In 1988, after doing extensive research and interviews, her paper won Utah’s grand prize which was an expense-paid trip to Washington DC in 1988 for her and her advisor (which was my role). 
It was an eye-opening experience for both of us traveling to a gigantic city and we got lost multiple times, but friendly people were always close by to help. 
Participation in both history and science fairs require “Authentic Assessment” where research and documentation are useful to others and students do original investigation.
Tonya discovered many differences in the Ute stories versus traditional stories told by white settlers in San Juan and those were included in her paper.
The following is taken from her research:
Posey: A Leader of the Witapunnuche Utes    
In approximately 1863, Posey was born at Navajo Mountain, one of the most remote and isolated areas in San Juan County. 
It was there that Navajo bands (along with Utes and Paiutes) were able to hide and escape Kit Carson’s Indian roundup and the Long Walk of 1864.
By bloodline Posey was Paiute. Posey’s name 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 1800’s.
It was said that the young Indians idolized Posey Porter and that he often allowed them to use his blacksmithing tools to make jewelry out of silver coins.
The white men referred to Posey’s father by his Ute name Chee Poots or Old Chee.
When Posey was a boy, the unsettled region around Navajo Mountain had “grass which would grow up to the belly of the ponies.  Because of that there were lots of animals they could hunt with a bow and arrows. 
In later years, Posey typically wore a dark vest with an army belt buckle as a badge, perhaps seen by him as an emblem of his military leadership. 
He often referred to himself as General Posey.  As a young man, Posey married Turah who was part of the Witapunuche Utes (often called the Avikan Utes) who lived in Allen Canyon in San Juan County.
By marrying into this family, Posey gained a place of stature among the Ute people. That along with his courage, loyalty, tenacity, and his ability to win friends were the traits that eventually earned him a place in the hearts of his people. 
By 1923, Posey was about 60 years old and had been involved in most of the Avikan-Ute conflicts with Anglo cowboys and soldiers.
One of these was the Pinhook Battle of 1881 near La Sal Mountains where 13 cowboys who tried to exterminate the entire Ute band were killed. 
Another battle was the Soldier’s Crossing Battle of 1884 where a similar “extermination” mission ended in the death of a US soldier and Colorado cowboy. 
For his role in these battles, Posey received news coverage nationally. In 1918 when Indians all over the Unites States were resisting laws requiring them to register for the military, Posey, Poke and Mancos Jim’s names repeatedly surfaced. 
The war of 1923 actually had roots in 1868, when Colorado chiefs gave away the Avikan Ute’s Utah territory through a treaty.  The Avikan Utes were unhappy about this and did everything to maintain their homes in San Juan County.
A number of different battles between Utes and Anglo soldiers and cowboys took place over the next 55 years and eventually ended in what is known as the Posey War. 
One month prior to the actual battle in 1923, Mancos Jim, Posey and other Ute leaders met with representatives of the US government once again to appeal for the right to remain in their homeland. Posey knew they were close to being granted this request as Indian Agent E.A. McKen had made that recommendation to Washington.   
Shortly after this meeting, Posey caught Joe Bishop’s boy and Sanup’s boy whipping an unarmed Anglo rancher, Corey Perkins.
Posey ordered the boys to leave the man alone.  The boys rode on towards Blanding and on the way spitefully killed some cattle belonging to a Mormon settler. 
The boys were arrested by Sheriff William Oliver and a trial was conducted in Blanding in the basement of the old schoolhouse.  Albert R. Lyman was the defense attorney and Fred Keller the prosecuting attorney.  Posey came to the trial to try and help the Ute boys. 
George A. Hurst recalled the events leading to the escape: “Joe Bishop’s boy was walking with a large stick as though he were crippled. After hearing evidence presented, Joe Bishop’s boy was found guilty and at noon he was given to Sheriff Oliver.
“From there things got worse: the boy wouldn’t cooperate and began jerking the reins of the sheriff’s horse. The sheriffs whipped out his gun, but it misfired. The boy grabbed the horn of the saddle with one hand and seized Oliver’s gun with the other and fired, shooting the sheriff’s horse in the neck. 
Posey ran on foot to try and alert his people of possible trouble who were camped west of town. 
In the meantime, the sheriff deputized a posse of men and went after the Utes.  The posse eventually found Posey, Joe Bishop’s boy and others at Comb Ridge, a rocky barrier reef approximately 20 miles west of Blanding.
Posey remained behind his people believing that he would be able to negotiate with the posse, but for the first time in his experience with them, the Mormons were actually shooting at him. 
He was angry with Joe Bishop’s boy and an argument ensued, guns were drawn and Posey shot and killed Joe Bishop’s boy. 
At the same time, men women and children were hurrying down over the rocky Comb Ridge cliffs, running for their lives.
Posey stayed behind hoping to stall the posse.  His efforts had disastrous results and a bullet from one of the posse members hit him in the hip. He then rode along Comb Ridge and found his way down over the cliff. (Now called Posey’s Trail.)
According to Myers Cantsee, a nephew of Posey, he ordered his people not to kill the posse members but instead to surrender knowing the Mormons had always been friends of the Utes. 
They were taken to a temporary stockade in Blanding, not knowing of Posey’s hiding place. 
Posey’s mother, however, left food for him each evening. However, one evening when she came the food left the day before was still there.  His 30-day hide-out was over. Some believe that poison was put in the flour used to make biscuits for him.
Posey’s heritage began with pride in learning about his Indian culture, skills, and traditions.  Throughout his life he was looked upon as leader of the Utes. 
He not only received the respect of his people but gave respect and support to his people.
Tonya ended her paper: “I am proud to say that Posey was my great-great-grandfather.  He was an honorable and great warrior. He had a tremendous amount of power and influence and used that to defend his people and their lands.”