A flock of 200 turkeys were driven into Mountain Grove by G. W. Pool and one or two helpers. They were raised on Mr. Pool’s place near Manes, 23 or 24 miles away. A few of them were said to seem sore-footed from their long tramp, which occupied almost two days. Two of them were belled. They were sold to the Ellis Live Stock Company, at 15 cents a pound. Mr. Pool says that in former years, he had marketed as many as 300 in the same manner. This writer cannot understand how they managed to do this! Read more about this in Tales from Missouri and the Heartland.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.