Pulaskifield (Bricefield)

Cover to Pulaskifield book

Pulaskifield from Early Barry County

Pulaskifield Settlement, once called Bricefield, located southeast of Monett and about the same distance from Pierce City. Catholics make up a considerable part of this settlement. Irish, Germans, and Polish came in the order named. The first Polish child born in the settlement, Francis Grabousku, was baptized Feb. 1880. Catholics attended St. John's (later St. Patrick's) in Pierce City. In 1883 another church was built for those whose tongue was not English. Accordingly in that year Rt. Rev. J. J. Hogan of Kansas City Diocese established St. Mary's parish for the Germans and Poles. Nearly nine years later the Polish people requested Bishop Hogan to let them have a church for themselves, Sts. Peter and Paul's parish was established. In Sept., 1909 a new school building west of the church was erected. Mr. Hugh McGinis came to this settlement about 1892. Other early Irish settlers were: Pat O'Dywer, Mike Flaherty, Leah Flannigan, a Mr. Kehliher, Kelly, Feeny, Donavan, Fitzgerald, Pat McGuire, McKenna, Bayne Holland, Calahan, Kennedy and others. Bricefield built the first store and soon the little community petitioned for a post office. Brice Hudson served as postmaster. Later rural mail routes were established and the post office was discontinued and the name was changed to Pulaskifield.

Pulaskifield (aka Bricefield or Brassfield) from Past and Present
The United States census taken in 1900 shows a large number of Polish families living in Capps Creek township. Elijah Andrew Frost, a 51 year old Christian Church minister, farmer, teacher, and sometimes government employee took the census in the month of June, 1900. Frost, a resident of the Cassville community had gone to Pierce City to teach in the school system in the late 1890's. Frost and his first wife lived in the Pierce City area. During his stay in Pierce City he conducted classes for the Polish immigrants in teaching them to speak English.
After the Frisco Railway came into Southwest Missouri cheap land was offered for sale to immigrants. Of those who settled into the south part of Lawrence County and the north part of Barry County, Catholics made up a considerable part. These were Irish, German, and Polish and came in the order named. When the Poles came, they could be accommodated with the others in St. John's (later St. Patrick’s) church in Pierce City, Missouri which already had a resident pastor. The first child born was Francis Grabowski, who was baptized in February 1880. The Polish people requested Bishop J. J. Hogan to let them have a church for themselves; therefore, Sts. Peter and Paul was established in 1892 at Bricefield, Missouri. The parish was covered on the north by Highway 60, then went on a line south to and including Fairview and Wheaton, then east about to Purdy and highway 37, and back north to the vicinity of Monett.
From there it went west on highway 60 to about Center Point. This is a general area where Polish people lived on their farms and belonged to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish church. Property was acquired in April 1892 from Brice Hudson and consisted of the northeast corner of Section 20, Township 25, Range 28. The following map of 49 square miles, the approximate center of which is "Brassfield" was sent to the committee by Senator Emory Melton. The map shows the ownership of the farms in the year 1909. That, according to the Gregorian calendar and best estimate, is eighty years ago, which is about thirty years or possibly a little more after the first folks of Polish descent settled in what is now known as the Pulaskifield community.

Emory called to our attention that in 1930 his father campaigned successfully for the Presiding Judge of the county court post in Barry County, and he would go with his father and remembered going into the store at "Bricefield." It has been told that "Bricefield" came as the result of a man operating the store whose name was "Brice Hudson." Emory tells us that "Brassfield" is possibly a corruption of "Bricefield" which is shown only (so far as he knew) on road maps, and maps such as follows. At the bottom of the map is the name "Casper Schad" but it does not show the Casper family farms. Caspers shortened the family name of Casperoski to Casper.

Link to St. Peter & Paul cemetery