Following the American Revolution, two brothers named John Muse Sr. and Thomas Chattin Muse Sr. journeyed across Virginia from Westmoreland’s tidewater to the foothills of Pittsylvania County. They settled near Pigg River and raised large families with many descendants. The origins of Museville as an official location can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century. It is worth noting that as of the 1830 census, a handful of the Muse men enslaved more than fifteen people on their farms, many of whom adopted the Muse surname in future generations.

In 1850, a post office was established at “Oakes’ Shop” near Snow Creek under Joab Oakes Sr. Out of about sixteen children, his son Samuel ran a blacksmith shop. The position of postmaster at Oakes’s Shop was succeeded in 1854 by Henry L. Muse Jr. (1820-1886). In 1857, he changed the office name to “Museville” and retained the job through the duration of the Civil War before stepping down in 1866. 

The origins of the old Pullen’s Store community are closely intertwined with the Museville and Swansonville communities. There were about five marriages between the Muse and Swanson families in the early nineteenth century. Through John Muse Jr. and his wife Nancy Graves Swanson, their daughter Matilda Muse married a farmer in Franklin County named Tilghman A. Pullen (~1798-1858). Together they had about six children. The oldest son, John Muse Pullen, moved away and worked as a store clerk for merchant Philemon Smith by 1850. Soon after, he had his own store on a road located between Berger’s Store and Sandy Level. 

Detail from the 1860 census record at Museville

In the 1860 census, Tilghman’s teenaged son Bruce Pullen lived on the property of his first cousin Henry L. Muse Jr. at Museville and worked as a “mercantile clerk.” In addition, a “boot & shoe maker” from Ireland named Owen McCafferty lived with them. Lastly, another room on the property boarded Joseph P. Godfrey, a locally-renowned teacher who educated the Muse children. 

Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Bruce and John Muse Pullen enlisted in the Confederate Army. John served as a private in company E of the 31st Virginia Infantry and his brother Bruce served as a private in company E of the 6th Virginia Cavalry. They both survived the experience, however John died in December 1865 from the effects of pneumonia. John’s widow, Christiana Wright Pullen, was left to raise two young daughters, Nannie and Susan. Years later, Nannie Pullen married Henry Clay “Pomp” Berger and her sister Susan M. Pullen married Alison Berger. The husbands were first cousins to each other and their fathers served as postmasters at Berger’s Store, which was located about three miles away from Pullen’s Store. 

In 1877, a post office was formed at “Pullens” under postmaster Bruce Pullen, who held the position for about six years. Several postmasters later, the position was succeeded by Bruce’s son Isaac T. Pullen whose term began in 1897 and lasted until the office was discontinued in 1904. Mail was directed to the post office at Toshes, which was the successor to “Berger’s Store” under postmaster Reuben T. Ramsey. 

Signature of Bruce Pullen, 1877

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Map of Pullens drawn in 1878

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Through the descendants of African-American people enslaved by the Muse family, something of historical significance occurred out of the nearby Truevine community of Franklin County. Cabell Muse and Harriet Dickinson raised a tobacco farm with their two sons, George and Willie Muse. Both were born with albinism, which caught the wicked eyes of men in search of attractions for the circus. The brothers were made to exhibit themselves in the freakshow under the show names “Eko and Iko.” For years they were under the impression that their parents were no longer living, until their mother found them performing in Roanoke in 1927 and brought them home. Their legacies are thoroughly explored in the book “Truevine” by Beth Macy.

Through this very brief look at some of the history surrounding the Muse family, it is intriguing to see how the families connect and allow their stories to resurface. The Museville post office operated until 1935 when it closed and directed mail to Chatham. However, the community still exists and retains a feeling of long ago as one travels along the old roads scattered with barns and country architecture.