Looking Back: Harris Potts Road

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


This week, we are Looking “Way” Back; as far back as the early 1800's, probably before Jackson County was even established. It was 1844 when Mary Jane Slaughter (1827-1894) married Fleming Saunders Harris (1822-1885). In 1852, her sister, Sinia Emily Slaughter (1832-1904) married Levi Potts (1828–1913) and thus, we have Harris Potts Road, just south and east of Grain Valley.

While I am not quite that old, I do recall members of both families. Birdie Leellen (Potts) Davidson was a well-known stalwart of our community until her death in 1999 at age 98. Her granddaughter still lives in the family home on Harris Potts Road. And while Ruth Harris Fristoe (1884-1960) was actually my cousin’s grandmother, my brother and I always called her Grandma Fristoe. (Of course, Fristoe Road is just the next road south of Harris Potts Road off Buckner Tarsney). Fleming Harris was Grandma Fristoe’s great uncle, her grandfather’s brother.

The Missouri State Legislature authorized a six-man board to reorganize school districts in Jackson County Missouri. On March 22, 1949, the voters of Jackson County approved the plan and on August 9, 1949, 83 mostly rural schools were divided into 15 districts. At that time, the larger districts grabbed up as much land as possible and Lee’s Summit came all the way to Grain Valley; well, practically. While Harris Potts Road is just over three miles south of Grain Valley, it has been in the Lee’s Summit School District for nearly 75 years.

However, the names of many of these roads and the rich history of the people who lived there is all Grain Valley. No doubt, you will recognize some of these names today; the Kogers (cemetery), the Adams (cemetery), the Dealys, the Purdees (cemetery), the Cooks, the Alleys, the Wyatts, the Shippys, the McAlexanders, and on and on.

Scenic Drive Along Harris Potts Road today. In most spots barely two cars can pass one another.
 
While I am able to find most of these old families on Ancestry.com, there is one I haven’t found. HELP!

Was Enoch Mills a person? Was a lumber mill located on Mr. Enoch’s property? I have no idea and I haven’t found a signal clue. The name Enoch, both first and last, occurs on several old Jackson County plat maps. The name Mills also occurs, but neither is within two or three miles of Enoch Mills Road. It is a short road, but it had to get its name from someone! If any reader knows anything about Enoch Mills Road, please share!
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