Married Lydia Gushwa in Montgomery Co. OH 6-19-1825. They owned a farm 1/2 mile north of Abington IN on bank of Whitewater river.
History on Merriman/Meryman gained from online information:
Merriman Brumfiel (b. January 09, 1803, d. April 06, 1881)
Merriman Brumfiel (son of William Brumfiel and Mary Grow/Crow) was born January 09, 1803 in Germantown, Bracken County, Ky, and died April 06, 1881 in Abington, Wayne County, Indiana.He married Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) on June 19, 1825 in Montgomery County, Ohio, daughter of Isaiah Cushwa Jr. and Anna Margaret Lutz.
Includes NotesNotes for Merriman Brumfiel:
Camp Clements is located on Section 35, Township 13, Range 2, in Abington Township, Wayne County, Indiana, about one mile and a half north of Abington, Indiana.This section is hilly, but the bottom lands are rich, and the country around is settled by well-to-do farmers, many of them the direct descendants of the pioneer settlers of the township.
Abington Township was reportedly settled in 1805 but records indicate the first settlers did not arrive until 1806.The township was not officially organized until February 1837.In 1939 thirty-four and one half acres were purchased for the sight of Camp Clements.This is the land on which the buildings and swimming pool of the camp were built.Later thirteen hundredths acre and a tract of 50 acres were purchased and added to the original camp sight.The earliest deed on record at the Wayne County Court House, Richmond, Indiana, indicates that Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback jointly purchased the territory located in Section 35, Township 13, Range 2.This deed was executed the 13 day of September 1844, approximately seven and one half years after the township was organized.A portion of the deed is as follows:
This indenture made this day between George W., Julian of the first part and Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback of the second part witness-the that whereas therefore to wit, on the 13th day of September, 1844, at Wayne Circuit court upon a certain bill in chancery filed therein by the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback against Nathan Wilson and Daniel P. Wiggins and Fleming Wasoon, Administrators of Samuel Fleming deceased and Peter Fleming and all heirs at law of said Samuel and Peter for value received enter into an agreement to convey to the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback the following described real estate in Wayne County, Indiana to wit.Part of fractional section 35,township 13, Range 2, west and part of the north west of said fractional section.Beginning at a stone on the west bank of the east fork of Whitewater at a walnut tree 8 inches in diameter, bears north 42 degrees west 30 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 blinds thence south 12 degrees, west 6 chains thence south 15 degrees, west 2 chains 50 links, etc.This deed was entered on the 9th day of October 1844.
The boys who now roam the camp sight each summer might fine it an interesting project to trace the ground on which they are camping by the above description.If the trees are still standing they should be towering landmarks by now.David Railsback and Mary, his wife, conveyed their portion of this ground to Merriman Brumfiel byquit claim deed on June 10, 1851.Merriman Brumfiel was the son of William Brumfiel.William was of English descent and his wife Mary Crow was of German origin.They both resided in the State of Virgina and from there they emigrated to Germantown, Brach en County, Kentucky.Here they made their home for several years.Five children were born to them, four sons and a daughter, namely, Merriman, born January 9, 1803, John 1806, Jefferson, 1812, Robert, 1814 and Mary, date unknown.The father was supposed to have been drowned in trying to cross a swollen stream and the mother, a window with her five children, moved to a small town, Miamisburg, near Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio where the children grew up.The children married and settled in different counties in Indiana.Merriman after his marriage to Lydia Gushwa about 1825, moved to Abington, Wayne County, Indiana, where he operated a flour mill and also owned a farm on which he lived.He and his wife had 13 children, 12 of whom grew to adulthood.The family home was situated on the east side of the Whitewater river a couple of miles below the sight of Camp Clemants.Merriman Brumfiel operated a grist mill built about 1826, nearly a mile from the village of Abington, and built by Joseph Cox.Cox sold it to Rafe Shambourie, who put up a better one, having a run of burr stones, and sold it to Merriman Brumfiel, who built another one or near the same site, with a saw mill attached.The circumstances of the family were similar to those of their neighbors.They lived in a log cabin meagerly furnished.The iron cooking pot belonging to the family and the carding wheel are in the possession of Gail Smoker a great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel.The family raised their own grain, chickens, pigs, and cattle, in fact nearly all of their needs were supplied by their own industriousness.For food they raised potatoes, pumpkins, turnips, corn and other vegetables which they dried for winter use.Vegetables were also kept by being buried in the ground where they stayed frozen until needed.Many families had difficulty in the early days securing flour but this was one luxury the Brumfiel could enjoy.It was not difficult for them to grind their own grain into flour.Mr Brumfiel was known as a just and upright man throughout the community.An early map bears out his sense of fairness and his belief in the principles upon which America has thrived.In dividing his property he deeded each of his children an equal share and the map show many tracts of 341/2 acres deeded to each one of his children.A deed recorded April 17, 1867 conveyed the title of the land where the camp is located to John Brumfiel.It is interesting to note that the description of the land is given as being bounded on the south by the meandering of the river.The first cabin built on the tract stood in approximately the same place that the present dining room of the camp is located.It was similar to those occupied by others in the neighborhood.In building cabins the neighbors banded together and helped each family get settled.Trees of uniform size were selected, cut into pieces of the desired length, and carried or hauled to the spot, which was selected usually near a spring of water, regardless of other considerations.While the logs were being brought together, someone was selecting a board tree, usually an oak of large size.This was cut into pieces about four feet in length with a cross-cut saw, if one was available, These pieces were, with a fro and wooden maul, riven into boards, called clapboards.The cabin was in the meantime rapidly going up.At each corner was an expert hand with an ax to saddle and notch down the logs so low as to bring them near together.The usual height was one story.The gable was made with logs gradually shortened up to the top.The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from the gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the split clapboards after the manner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather.These clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called weight poles, reaching from one gable to the other; being kept apart and in their places by laying between them sticks, or pieces of timber, called knees.A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the building.For a window, a piece, two feet long, less or more, was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed with paper pasted over it.A door-way also was cut through one of the walls, and split pieces called door-checks, reaching from the bottom to the top of the opening, were pinned to the ends of the logs with wooden pins.A door was made of spit clapboards, battens being nailed on with wrought nails made by a Pioneer blacksmith, and was hung with wooden hinges.The interstices or cracks between the logs were closed with mud.The large cracks or chinks were partially closed with split sticks before the clay or mud was applied. The cabin was furnished with a table made from a wooden box and the chairs were round pieces of wood split and burned.The parents' bed was placed in one corner with atrundle bed under it for the younger children.The stove was in another corner and the table was in the middle of the room.Arranged on the wall close to the stove were hung the few cooking pots the family used.Above them a couple of clapboards places on wooden pins served as the cupboard where the cups, saucer and plates were kept.What became of this original cabin is not known by this writer.However, another such cabin was constructed at the foot of the hill a few years later and it was here that William Smoker, son of Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel Smoker, and nephew of John Brumfiel was born.The cabin was built near the location that is now occupied by the camp museum.The barn and other buildings were closer to john's creek, across what is now a road to the west.John Brumfiel married Susan Stevens and they had one son, Cyrum Brumfiel, born in 1869.He died as a young man in the year 1883.Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel married Amos Smoker.She had been deeded 341/2 acres of ground on the hill west of the camp.This is where she and her husband went to housekeeping.On a very cold day her husband went down the hill to help his father-in-law split rails.Amos got warm while working, took his coat off and sat on the ground to rest.A few days later he became ill with hasty consumption and died with in a few weeks.He was 26 years of age at the time and this left his wife with two children, Jeremiah William and is sister Sarah Eliza to raise.Mary Smoker returned with her two children to the home of her parents.She had a sister Eliza who had married the brother of Amos Smoker.Her sister died leaving four small children.Mary Smoker consented to keep house for her brother-in-law and the children.It was about six months after she had moved to his home that he was kicked by a horse and died leaving Mary Smoker with six children to care for, which she did.The 341/2 acres between John Brumfiel's land and Mary Smoker's had been deeded to another brother Edmund Brumfiel.This ground joins the camp sight.According to records in the Wayne County Auditor's office, John Brumfiel deeded the ground on which the building of Camp Clements are situated to Leroy Parker, April 9, 1881.A notation beside this entry in the rook running from 1880 to 1885 states "deed not recorded"/.It would appear that at this date the land left the Brumfiel family as the writer could find no indication that Leroy parker was related to the Brumfiel family although it is possible that he was.The land again changed owners on June 7, 1886 this time by a sheriff's deed conveying title from Leroy Parker to Howell Grave.The indebtedness involved on this mortgage foreclosure was $713.10.Howell Graves was engaged in farming for many years in New Garden, and about 1862 started a business as an iron merchant in Richmond.On November 1, 1899 the tract was deeded to Hannah Graves and Emma Bayless, two heirs of Howell Graves.In 1912 the heirs of Emma Baylies deed the ground to Joseph Graves and on February 7, 1919 Hannah Graves and Joseph Graves deeded the 341/2 acres heretofore mentioned to Mary B. Hale and Della B. Hayes.It was September 14, 1939 that Mary B. Hale et all deeded the camp sight to the Richmond Y.M.C.A.Soon after the papers were signed making Camp Clements a reality another problem confronted those who were working so hard to get the camp established.A well of water that would test pure had to be drilled.Shaft after shaft was sunk in various places on the camp sight but the water would not pass the test.Finally Gail Smoker, great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel, who had acquired the ground originally deeded to Edmund Brumfiel, permitted the drilling of a well on his ground.This well was located just across John's Creek to the west of the camp and it passed the tests.Mr Smoker sold .13 of an acre to the Y committee and here on this small plot of ground is the well that has supplied the water for Camp Clements for may years.Camp Clements has benefited many boys and girls.Among this number have been two great-great grandsons and a great-great granddaughter of Merriman Brumfiel.Roy and Marcia Smoker have attended 4-H camping sessions.Roy and his cousin, Davis Tice, were guests of the camp for a regular camping period.Recently the campsite acquired another 50 acres.Since this article was intended mainly to give details of the Brumfiel families historical connection, I will give on a short resume concerning thetract.The 50 acres originally belonged to David Railsback.His heir was his daughter Sarah who married Larkin Carr.This land was deeded to William Smoker by Larkin Carr, May 13, 1896, in consideration of a Carr Scott threshing machine and $700.Mr Smoker's son Gail later purchased the land from his father and farmed it for many years.A few years ago he sold it to Mr Schultz and the remainder of that transaction has been previously published.
More About Merriman Brumfiel:
Burial: Abington Cemetery.
More About Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa):
Marriage: June 19, 1825, Montgomery County, Ohio.
Children of Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) are:+Marion Brumfiel, b. 1839, Abington, Indiana, d. 1923.
+Jacob Brumfiel, b. 1827, d. 1889.
+Eliza Brumfiel, b. 1826, d. 1863.
+Josiah Brumfiel, b. 1829, d. 1877.
+William Brumfiel, b. 1831, d. 1902.
+Mary Brumfiel, b. 1833, d. 1924.
+John Brumfiel, b. 1834, d. 1872.
+David Brumfiel, b. December 20, 1836, Wayne Conty, Indiana, d. March 30, 1877, Wayne County, Indiana.
+Edmund Brumfiel, b. 1841, d. 1876.
+Margaret Brumfiel, b. 1843, d. 1925.
+Henry Brumfiel, b. 1845.
+Lydia Brumfiel, b. 1850.
Infant Brumfiel.
History on Merriman/Meryman gained from online information:
Merriman Brumfiel (b. January 09, 1803, d. April 06, 1881)
Merriman Brumfiel (son of William Brumfiel and Mary Grow/Crow) was born January 09, 1803 in Germantown, Bracken County, Ky, and died April 06, 1881 in Abington, Wayne County, Indiana.He married Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) on June 19, 1825 in Montgomery County, Ohio, daughter of Isaiah Cushwa Jr. and Anna Margaret Lutz.
Includes NotesNotes for Merriman Brumfiel:
Camp Clements is located on Section 35, Township 13, Range 2, in Abington Township, Wayne County, Indiana, about one mile and a half north of Abington, Indiana.This section is hilly, but the bottom lands are rich, and the country around is settled by well-to-do farmers, many of them the direct descendants of the pioneer settlers of the township.
Abington Township was reportedly settled in 1805 but records indicate the first settlers did not arrive until 1806.The township was not officially organized until February 1837.In 1939 thirty-four and one half acres were purchased for the sight of Camp Clements.This is the land on which the buildings and swimming pool of the camp were built.Later thirteen hundredths acre and a tract of 50 acres were purchased and added to the original camp sight.The earliest deed on record at the Wayne County Court House, Richmond, Indiana, indicates that Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback jointly purchased the territory located in Section 35, Township 13, Range 2.This deed was executed the 13 day of September 1844, approximately seven and one half years after the township was organized.A portion of the deed is as follows:
This indenture made this day between George W., Julian of the first part and Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback of the second part witness-the that whereas therefore to wit, on the 13th day of September, 1844, at Wayne Circuit court upon a certain bill in chancery filed therein by the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback against Nathan Wilson and Daniel P. Wiggins and Fleming Wasoon, Administrators of Samuel Fleming deceased and Peter Fleming and all heirs at law of said Samuel and Peter for value received enter into an agreement to convey to the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback the following described real estate in Wayne County, Indiana to wit.Part of fractional section 35,township 13, Range 2, west and part of the north west of said fractional section.Beginning at a stone on the west bank of the east fork of Whitewater at a walnut tree 8 inches in diameter, bears north 42 degrees west 30 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 blinds thence south 12 degrees, west 6 chains thence south 15 degrees, west 2 chains 50 links, etc.This deed was entered on the 9th day of October 1844.
The boys who now roam the camp sight each summer might fine it an interesting project to trace the ground on which they are camping by the above description.If the trees are still standing they should be towering landmarks by now.David Railsback and Mary, his wife, conveyed their portion of this ground to Merriman Brumfiel byquit claim deed on June 10, 1851.Merriman Brumfiel was the son of William Brumfiel.William was of English descent and his wife Mary Crow was of German origin.They both resided in the State of Virgina and from there they emigrated to Germantown, Brach en County, Kentucky.Here they made their home for several years.Five children were born to them, four sons and a daughter, namely, Merriman, born January 9, 1803, John 1806, Jefferson, 1812, Robert, 1814 and Mary, date unknown.The father was supposed to have been drowned in trying to cross a swollen stream and the mother, a window with her five children, moved to a small town, Miamisburg, near Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio where the children grew up.The children married and settled in different counties in Indiana.Merriman after his marriage to Lydia Gushwa about 1825, moved to Abington, Wayne County, Indiana, where he operated a flour mill and also owned a farm on which he lived.He and his wife had 13 children, 12 of whom grew to adulthood.The family home was situated on the east side of the Whitewater river a couple of miles below the sight of Camp Clemants.Merriman Brumfiel operated a grist mill built about 1826, nearly a mile from the village of Abington, and built by Joseph Cox.Cox sold it to Rafe Shambourie, who put up a better one, having a run of burr stones, and sold it to Merriman Brumfiel, who built another one or near the same site, with a saw mill attached.The circumstances of the family were similar to those of their neighbors.They lived in a log cabin meagerly furnished.The iron cooking pot belonging to the family and the carding wheel are in the possession of Gail Smoker a great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel.The family raised their own grain, chickens, pigs, and cattle, in fact nearly all of their needs were supplied by their own industriousness.For food they raised potatoes, pumpkins, turnips, corn and other vegetables which they dried for winter use.Vegetables were also kept by being buried in the ground where they stayed frozen until needed.Many families had difficulty in the early days securing flour but this was one luxury the Brumfiel could enjoy.It was not difficult for them to grind their own grain into flour.Mr Brumfiel was known as a just and upright man throughout the community.An early map bears out his sense of fairness and his belief in the principles upon which America has thrived.In dividing his property he deeded each of his children an equal share and the map show many tracts of 341/2 acres deeded to each one of his children.A deed recorded April 17, 1867 conveyed the title of the land where the camp is located to John Brumfiel.It is interesting to note that the description of the land is given as being bounded on the south by the meandering of the river.The first cabin built on the tract stood in approximately the same place that the present dining room of the camp is located.It was similar to those occupied by others in the neighborhood.In building cabins the neighbors banded together and helped each family get settled.Trees of uniform size were selected, cut into pieces of the desired length, and carried or hauled to the spot, which was selected usually near a spring of water, regardless of other considerations.While the logs were being brought together, someone was selecting a board tree, usually an oak of large size.This was cut into pieces about four feet in length with a cross-cut saw, if one was available, These pieces were, with a fro and wooden maul, riven into boards, called clapboards.The cabin was in the meantime rapidly going up.At each corner was an expert hand with an ax to saddle and notch down the logs so low as to bring them near together.The usual height was one story.The gable was made with logs gradually shortened up to the top.The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from the gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the split clapboards after the manner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather.These clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called weight poles, reaching from one gable to the other; being kept apart and in their places by laying between them sticks, or pieces of timber, called knees.A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the building.For a window, a piece, two feet long, less or more, was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed with paper pasted over it.A door-way also was cut through one of the walls, and split pieces called door-checks, reaching from the bottom to the top of the opening, were pinned to the ends of the logs with wooden pins.A door was made of spit clapboards, battens being nailed on with wrought nails made by a Pioneer blacksmith, and was hung with wooden hinges.The interstices or cracks between the logs were closed with mud.The large cracks or chinks were partially closed with split sticks before the clay or mud was applied. The cabin was furnished with a table made from a wooden box and the chairs were round pieces of wood split and burned.The parents' bed was placed in one corner with atrundle bed under it for the younger children.The stove was in another corner and the table was in the middle of the room.Arranged on the wall close to the stove were hung the few cooking pots the family used.Above them a couple of clapboards places on wooden pins served as the cupboard where the cups, saucer and plates were kept.What became of this original cabin is not known by this writer.However, another such cabin was constructed at the foot of the hill a few years later and it was here that William Smoker, son of Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel Smoker, and nephew of John Brumfiel was born.The cabin was built near the location that is now occupied by the camp museum.The barn and other buildings were closer to john's creek, across what is now a road to the west.John Brumfiel married Susan Stevens and they had one son, Cyrum Brumfiel, born in 1869.He died as a young man in the year 1883.Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel married Amos Smoker.She had been deeded 341/2 acres of ground on the hill west of the camp.This is where she and her husband went to housekeeping.On a very cold day her husband went down the hill to help his father-in-law split rails.Amos got warm while working, took his coat off and sat on the ground to rest.A few days later he became ill with hasty consumption and died with in a few weeks.He was 26 years of age at the time and this left his wife with two children, Jeremiah William and is sister Sarah Eliza to raise.Mary Smoker returned with her two children to the home of her parents.She had a sister Eliza who had married the brother of Amos Smoker.Her sister died leaving four small children.Mary Smoker consented to keep house for her brother-in-law and the children.It was about six months after she had moved to his home that he was kicked by a horse and died leaving Mary Smoker with six children to care for, which she did.The 341/2 acres between John Brumfiel's land and Mary Smoker's had been deeded to another brother Edmund Brumfiel.This ground joins the camp sight.According to records in the Wayne County Auditor's office, John Brumfiel deeded the ground on which the building of Camp Clements are situated to Leroy Parker, April 9, 1881.A notation beside this entry in the rook running from 1880 to 1885 states "deed not recorded"/.It would appear that at this date the land left the Brumfiel family as the writer could find no indication that Leroy parker was related to the Brumfiel family although it is possible that he was.The land again changed owners on June 7, 1886 this time by a sheriff's deed conveying title from Leroy Parker to Howell Grave.The indebtedness involved on this mortgage foreclosure was $713.10.Howell Graves was engaged in farming for many years in New Garden, and about 1862 started a business as an iron merchant in Richmond.On November 1, 1899 the tract was deeded to Hannah Graves and Emma Bayless, two heirs of Howell Graves.In 1912 the heirs of Emma Baylies deed the ground to Joseph Graves and on February 7, 1919 Hannah Graves and Joseph Graves deeded the 341/2 acres heretofore mentioned to Mary B. Hale and Della B. Hayes.It was September 14, 1939 that Mary B. Hale et all deeded the camp sight to the Richmond Y.M.C.A.Soon after the papers were signed making Camp Clements a reality another problem confronted those who were working so hard to get the camp established.A well of water that would test pure had to be drilled.Shaft after shaft was sunk in various places on the camp sight but the water would not pass the test.Finally Gail Smoker, great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel, who had acquired the ground originally deeded to Edmund Brumfiel, permitted the drilling of a well on his ground.This well was located just across John's Creek to the west of the camp and it passed the tests.Mr Smoker sold .13 of an acre to the Y committee and here on this small plot of ground is the well that has supplied the water for Camp Clements for may years.Camp Clements has benefited many boys and girls.Among this number have been two great-great grandsons and a great-great granddaughter of Merriman Brumfiel.Roy and Marcia Smoker have attended 4-H camping sessions.Roy and his cousin, Davis Tice, were guests of the camp for a regular camping period.Recently the campsite acquired another 50 acres.Since this article was intended mainly to give details of the Brumfiel families historical connection, I will give on a short resume concerning thetract.The 50 acres originally belonged to David Railsback.His heir was his daughter Sarah who married Larkin Carr.This land was deeded to William Smoker by Larkin Carr, May 13, 1896, in consideration of a Carr Scott threshing machine and $700.Mr Smoker's son Gail later purchased the land from his father and farmed it for many years.A few years ago he sold it to Mr Schultz and the remainder of that transaction has been previously published.
More About Merriman Brumfiel:
Burial: Abington Cemetery.
More About Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa):
Marriage: June 19, 1825, Montgomery County, Ohio.
Children of Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) are:+Marion Brumfiel, b. 1839, Abington, Indiana, d. 1923.
+Jacob Brumfiel, b. 1827, d. 1889.
+Eliza Brumfiel, b. 1826, d. 1863.
+Josiah Brumfiel, b. 1829, d. 1877.
+William Brumfiel, b. 1831, d. 1902.
+Mary Brumfiel, b. 1833, d. 1924.
+John Brumfiel, b. 1834, d. 1872.
+David Brumfiel, b. December 20, 1836, Wayne Conty, Indiana, d. March 30, 1877, Wayne County, Indiana.
+Edmund Brumfiel, b. 1841, d. 1876.
+Margaret Brumfiel, b. 1843, d. 1925.
+Henry Brumfiel, b. 1845.
+Lydia Brumfiel, b. 1850.
Infant Brumfiel.
Married Lydia Gushwa in Montgomery Co. OH 6-19-1825. They owned a farm 1/2 mile north of Abington IN on bank of Whitewater river.
History on Merriman/Meryman gained from online information:
Merriman Brumfiel (b. January 09, 1803, d. April 06, 1881)
Merriman Brumfiel (son of William Brumfiel and Mary Grow/Crow) was born January 09, 1803 in Germantown, Bracken County, Ky, and died April 06, 1881 in Abington, Wayne County, Indiana.He married Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) on June 19, 1825 in Montgomery County, Ohio, daughter of Isaiah Cushwa Jr. and Anna Margaret Lutz.
Includes NotesNotes for Merriman Brumfiel:
Camp Clements is located on Section 35, Township 13, Range 2, in Abington Township, Wayne County, Indiana, about one mile and a half north of Abington, Indiana.This section is hilly, but the bottom lands are rich, and the country around is settled by well-to-do farmers, many of them the direct descendants of the pioneer settlers of the township.
Abington Township was reportedly settled in 1805 but records indicate the first settlers did not arrive until 1806.The township was not officially organized until February 1837.In 1939 thirty-four and one half acres were purchased for the sight of Camp Clements.This is the land on which the buildings and swimming pool of the camp were built.Later thirteen hundredths acre and a tract of 50 acres were purchased and added to the original camp sight.The earliest deed on record at the Wayne County Court House, Richmond, Indiana, indicates that Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback jointly purchased the territory located in Section 35, Township 13, Range 2.This deed was executed the 13 day of September 1844, approximately seven and one half years after the township was organized.A portion of the deed is as follows:
This indenture made this day between George W., Julian of the first part and Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback of the second part witness-the that whereas therefore to wit, on the 13th day of September, 1844, at Wayne Circuit court upon a certain bill in chancery filed therein by the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback against Nathan Wilson and Daniel P. Wiggins and Fleming Wasoon, Administrators of Samuel Fleming deceased and Peter Fleming and all heirs at law of said Samuel and Peter for value received enter into an agreement to convey to the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback the following described real estate in Wayne County, Indiana to wit.Part of fractional section 35,township 13, Range 2, west and part of the north west of said fractional section.Beginning at a stone on the west bank of the east fork of Whitewater at a walnut tree 8 inches in diameter, bears north 42 degrees west 30 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 blinds thence south 12 degrees, west 6 chains thence south 15 degrees, west 2 chains 50 links, etc.This deed was entered on the 9th day of October 1844.
The boys who now roam the camp sight each summer might fine it an interesting project to trace the ground on which they are camping by the above description.If the trees are still standing they should be towering landmarks by now.David Railsback and Mary, his wife, conveyed their portion of this ground to Merriman Brumfiel byquit claim deed on June 10, 1851.Merriman Brumfiel was the son of William Brumfiel.William was of English descent and his wife Mary Crow was of German origin.They both resided in the State of Virgina and from there they emigrated to Germantown, Brach en County, Kentucky.Here they made their home for several years.Five children were born to them, four sons and a daughter, namely, Merriman, born January 9, 1803, John 1806, Jefferson, 1812, Robert, 1814 and Mary, date unknown.The father was supposed to have been drowned in trying to cross a swollen stream and the mother, a window with her five children, moved to a small town, Miamisburg, near Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio where the children grew up.The children married and settled in different counties in Indiana.Merriman after his marriage to Lydia Gushwa about 1825, moved to Abington, Wayne County, Indiana, where he operated a flour mill and also owned a farm on which he lived.He and his wife had 13 children, 12 of whom grew to adulthood.The family home was situated on the east side of the Whitewater river a couple of miles below the sight of Camp Clemants.Merriman Brumfiel operated a grist mill built about 1826, nearly a mile from the village of Abington, and built by Joseph Cox.Cox sold it to Rafe Shambourie, who put up a better one, having a run of burr stones, and sold it to Merriman Brumfiel, who built another one or near the same site, with a saw mill attached.The circumstances of the family were similar to those of their neighbors.They lived in a log cabin meagerly furnished.The iron cooking pot belonging to the family and the carding wheel are in the possession of Gail Smoker a great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel.The family raised their own grain, chickens, pigs, and cattle, in fact nearly all of their needs were supplied by their own industriousness.For food they raised potatoes, pumpkins, turnips, corn and other vegetables which they dried for winter use.Vegetables were also kept by being buried in the ground where they stayed frozen until needed.Many families had difficulty in the early days securing flour but this was one luxury the Brumfiel could enjoy.It was not difficult for them to grind their own grain into flour.Mr Brumfiel was known as a just and upright man throughout the community.An early map bears out his sense of fairness and his belief in the principles upon which America has thrived.In dividing his property he deeded each of his children an equal share and the map show many tracts of 341/2 acres deeded to each one of his children.A deed recorded April 17, 1867 conveyed the title of the land where the camp is located to John Brumfiel.It is interesting to note that the description of the land is given as being bounded on the south by the meandering of the river.The first cabin built on the tract stood in approximately the same place that the present dining room of the camp is located.It was similar to those occupied by others in the neighborhood.In building cabins the neighbors banded together and helped each family get settled.Trees of uniform size were selected, cut into pieces of the desired length, and carried or hauled to the spot, which was selected usually near a spring of water, regardless of other considerations.While the logs were being brought together, someone was selecting a board tree, usually an oak of large size.This was cut into pieces about four feet in length with a cross-cut saw, if one was available, These pieces were, with a fro and wooden maul, riven into boards, called clapboards.The cabin was in the meantime rapidly going up.At each corner was an expert hand with an ax to saddle and notch down the logs so low as to bring them near together.The usual height was one story.The gable was made with logs gradually shortened up to the top.The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from the gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the split clapboards after the manner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather.These clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called weight poles, reaching from one gable to the other; being kept apart and in their places by laying between them sticks, or pieces of timber, called knees.A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the building.For a window, a piece, two feet long, less or more, was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed with paper pasted over it.A door-way also was cut through one of the walls, and split pieces called door-checks, reaching from the bottom to the top of the opening, were pinned to the ends of the logs with wooden pins.A door was made of spit clapboards, battens being nailed on with wrought nails made by a Pioneer blacksmith, and was hung with wooden hinges.The interstices or cracks between the logs were closed with mud.The large cracks or chinks were partially closed with split sticks before the clay or mud was applied. The cabin was furnished with a table made from a wooden box and the chairs were round pieces of wood split and burned.The parents' bed was placed in one corner with atrundle bed under it for the younger children.The stove was in another corner and the table was in the middle of the room.Arranged on the wall close to the stove were hung the few cooking pots the family used.Above them a couple of clapboards places on wooden pins served as the cupboard where the cups, saucer and plates were kept.What became of this original cabin is not known by this writer.However, another such cabin was constructed at the foot of the hill a few years later and it was here that William Smoker, son of Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel Smoker, and nephew of John Brumfiel was born.The cabin was built near the location that is now occupied by the camp museum.The barn and other buildings were closer to john's creek, across what is now a road to the west.John Brumfiel married Susan Stevens and they had one son, Cyrum Brumfiel, born in 1869.He died as a young man in the year 1883.Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel married Amos Smoker.She had been deeded 341/2 acres of ground on the hill west of the camp.This is where she and her husband went to housekeeping.On a very cold day her husband went down the hill to help his father-in-law split rails.Amos got warm while working, took his coat off and sat on the ground to rest.A few days later he became ill with hasty consumption and died with in a few weeks.He was 26 years of age at the time and this left his wife with two children, Jeremiah William and is sister Sarah Eliza to raise.Mary Smoker returned with her two children to the home of her parents.She had a sister Eliza who had married the brother of Amos Smoker.Her sister died leaving four small children.Mary Smoker consented to keep house for her brother-in-law and the children.It was about six months after she had moved to his home that he was kicked by a horse and died leaving Mary Smoker with six children to care for, which she did.The 341/2 acres between John Brumfiel's land and Mary Smoker's had been deeded to another brother Edmund Brumfiel.This ground joins the camp sight.According to records in the Wayne County Auditor's office, John Brumfiel deeded the ground on which the building of Camp Clements are situated to Leroy Parker, April 9, 1881.A notation beside this entry in the rook running from 1880 to 1885 states "deed not recorded"/.It would appear that at this date the land left the Brumfiel family as the writer could find no indication that Leroy parker was related to the Brumfiel family although it is possible that he was.The land again changed owners on June 7, 1886 this time by a sheriff's deed conveying title from Leroy Parker to Howell Grave.The indebtedness involved on this mortgage foreclosure was $713.10.Howell Graves was engaged in farming for many years in New Garden, and about 1862 started a business as an iron merchant in Richmond.On November 1, 1899 the tract was deeded to Hannah Graves and Emma Bayless, two heirs of Howell Graves.In 1912 the heirs of Emma Baylies deed the ground to Joseph Graves and on February 7, 1919 Hannah Graves and Joseph Graves deeded the 341/2 acres heretofore mentioned to Mary B. Hale and Della B. Hayes.It was September 14, 1939 that Mary B. Hale et all deeded the camp sight to the Richmond Y.M.C.A.Soon after the papers were signed making Camp Clements a reality another problem confronted those who were working so hard to get the camp established.A well of water that would test pure had to be drilled.Shaft after shaft was sunk in various places on the camp sight but the water would not pass the test.Finally Gail Smoker, great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel, who had acquired the ground originally deeded to Edmund Brumfiel, permitted the drilling of a well on his ground.This well was located just across John's Creek to the west of the camp and it passed the tests.Mr Smoker sold .13 of an acre to the Y committee and here on this small plot of ground is the well that has supplied the water for Camp Clements for may years.Camp Clements has benefited many boys and girls.Among this number have been two great-great grandsons and a great-great granddaughter of Merriman Brumfiel.Roy and Marcia Smoker have attended 4-H camping sessions.Roy and his cousin, Davis Tice, were guests of the camp for a regular camping period.Recently the campsite acquired another 50 acres.Since this article was intended mainly to give details of the Brumfiel families historical connection, I will give on a short resume concerning thetract.The 50 acres originally belonged to David Railsback.His heir was his daughter Sarah who married Larkin Carr.This land was deeded to William Smoker by Larkin Carr, May 13, 1896, in consideration of a Carr Scott threshing machine and $700.Mr Smoker's son Gail later purchased the land from his father and farmed it for many years.A few years ago he sold it to Mr Schultz and the remainder of that transaction has been previously published.
More About Merriman Brumfiel:
Burial: Abington Cemetery.
More About Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa):
Marriage: June 19, 1825, Montgomery County, Ohio.
Children of Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) are:+Marion Brumfiel, b. 1839, Abington, Indiana, d. 1923.
+Jacob Brumfiel, b. 1827, d. 1889.
+Eliza Brumfiel, b. 1826, d. 1863.
+Josiah Brumfiel, b. 1829, d. 1877.
+William Brumfiel, b. 1831, d. 1902.
+Mary Brumfiel, b. 1833, d. 1924.
+John Brumfiel, b. 1834, d. 1872.
+David Brumfiel, b. December 20, 1836, Wayne Conty, Indiana, d. March 30, 1877, Wayne County, Indiana.
+Edmund Brumfiel, b. 1841, d. 1876.
+Margaret Brumfiel, b. 1843, d. 1925.
+Henry Brumfiel, b. 1845.
+Lydia Brumfiel, b. 1850.
Infant Brumfiel.
History on Merriman/Meryman gained from online information:
Merriman Brumfiel (b. January 09, 1803, d. April 06, 1881)
Merriman Brumfiel (son of William Brumfiel and Mary Grow/Crow) was born January 09, 1803 in Germantown, Bracken County, Ky, and died April 06, 1881 in Abington, Wayne County, Indiana.He married Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) on June 19, 1825 in Montgomery County, Ohio, daughter of Isaiah Cushwa Jr. and Anna Margaret Lutz.
Includes NotesNotes for Merriman Brumfiel:
Camp Clements is located on Section 35, Township 13, Range 2, in Abington Township, Wayne County, Indiana, about one mile and a half north of Abington, Indiana.This section is hilly, but the bottom lands are rich, and the country around is settled by well-to-do farmers, many of them the direct descendants of the pioneer settlers of the township.
Abington Township was reportedly settled in 1805 but records indicate the first settlers did not arrive until 1806.The township was not officially organized until February 1837.In 1939 thirty-four and one half acres were purchased for the sight of Camp Clements.This is the land on which the buildings and swimming pool of the camp were built.Later thirteen hundredths acre and a tract of 50 acres were purchased and added to the original camp sight.The earliest deed on record at the Wayne County Court House, Richmond, Indiana, indicates that Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback jointly purchased the territory located in Section 35, Township 13, Range 2.This deed was executed the 13 day of September 1844, approximately seven and one half years after the township was organized.A portion of the deed is as follows:
This indenture made this day between George W., Julian of the first part and Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback of the second part witness-the that whereas therefore to wit, on the 13th day of September, 1844, at Wayne Circuit court upon a certain bill in chancery filed therein by the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback against Nathan Wilson and Daniel P. Wiggins and Fleming Wasoon, Administrators of Samuel Fleming deceased and Peter Fleming and all heirs at law of said Samuel and Peter for value received enter into an agreement to convey to the said Merriman Brumfiel and David Railsback the following described real estate in Wayne County, Indiana to wit.Part of fractional section 35,township 13, Range 2, west and part of the north west of said fractional section.Beginning at a stone on the west bank of the east fork of Whitewater at a walnut tree 8 inches in diameter, bears north 42 degrees west 30 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 links to a Bucket 10 inches in diameter, bears South 25 degrees west 22 blinds thence south 12 degrees, west 6 chains thence south 15 degrees, west 2 chains 50 links, etc.This deed was entered on the 9th day of October 1844.
The boys who now roam the camp sight each summer might fine it an interesting project to trace the ground on which they are camping by the above description.If the trees are still standing they should be towering landmarks by now.David Railsback and Mary, his wife, conveyed their portion of this ground to Merriman Brumfiel byquit claim deed on June 10, 1851.Merriman Brumfiel was the son of William Brumfiel.William was of English descent and his wife Mary Crow was of German origin.They both resided in the State of Virgina and from there they emigrated to Germantown, Brach en County, Kentucky.Here they made their home for several years.Five children were born to them, four sons and a daughter, namely, Merriman, born January 9, 1803, John 1806, Jefferson, 1812, Robert, 1814 and Mary, date unknown.The father was supposed to have been drowned in trying to cross a swollen stream and the mother, a window with her five children, moved to a small town, Miamisburg, near Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio where the children grew up.The children married and settled in different counties in Indiana.Merriman after his marriage to Lydia Gushwa about 1825, moved to Abington, Wayne County, Indiana, where he operated a flour mill and also owned a farm on which he lived.He and his wife had 13 children, 12 of whom grew to adulthood.The family home was situated on the east side of the Whitewater river a couple of miles below the sight of Camp Clemants.Merriman Brumfiel operated a grist mill built about 1826, nearly a mile from the village of Abington, and built by Joseph Cox.Cox sold it to Rafe Shambourie, who put up a better one, having a run of burr stones, and sold it to Merriman Brumfiel, who built another one or near the same site, with a saw mill attached.The circumstances of the family were similar to those of their neighbors.They lived in a log cabin meagerly furnished.The iron cooking pot belonging to the family and the carding wheel are in the possession of Gail Smoker a great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel.The family raised their own grain, chickens, pigs, and cattle, in fact nearly all of their needs were supplied by their own industriousness.For food they raised potatoes, pumpkins, turnips, corn and other vegetables which they dried for winter use.Vegetables were also kept by being buried in the ground where they stayed frozen until needed.Many families had difficulty in the early days securing flour but this was one luxury the Brumfiel could enjoy.It was not difficult for them to grind their own grain into flour.Mr Brumfiel was known as a just and upright man throughout the community.An early map bears out his sense of fairness and his belief in the principles upon which America has thrived.In dividing his property he deeded each of his children an equal share and the map show many tracts of 341/2 acres deeded to each one of his children.A deed recorded April 17, 1867 conveyed the title of the land where the camp is located to John Brumfiel.It is interesting to note that the description of the land is given as being bounded on the south by the meandering of the river.The first cabin built on the tract stood in approximately the same place that the present dining room of the camp is located.It was similar to those occupied by others in the neighborhood.In building cabins the neighbors banded together and helped each family get settled.Trees of uniform size were selected, cut into pieces of the desired length, and carried or hauled to the spot, which was selected usually near a spring of water, regardless of other considerations.While the logs were being brought together, someone was selecting a board tree, usually an oak of large size.This was cut into pieces about four feet in length with a cross-cut saw, if one was available, These pieces were, with a fro and wooden maul, riven into boards, called clapboards.The cabin was in the meantime rapidly going up.At each corner was an expert hand with an ax to saddle and notch down the logs so low as to bring them near together.The usual height was one story.The gable was made with logs gradually shortened up to the top.The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from the gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the split clapboards after the manner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather.These clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called weight poles, reaching from one gable to the other; being kept apart and in their places by laying between them sticks, or pieces of timber, called knees.A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the building.For a window, a piece, two feet long, less or more, was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed with paper pasted over it.A door-way also was cut through one of the walls, and split pieces called door-checks, reaching from the bottom to the top of the opening, were pinned to the ends of the logs with wooden pins.A door was made of spit clapboards, battens being nailed on with wrought nails made by a Pioneer blacksmith, and was hung with wooden hinges.The interstices or cracks between the logs were closed with mud.The large cracks or chinks were partially closed with split sticks before the clay or mud was applied. The cabin was furnished with a table made from a wooden box and the chairs were round pieces of wood split and burned.The parents' bed was placed in one corner with atrundle bed under it for the younger children.The stove was in another corner and the table was in the middle of the room.Arranged on the wall close to the stove were hung the few cooking pots the family used.Above them a couple of clapboards places on wooden pins served as the cupboard where the cups, saucer and plates were kept.What became of this original cabin is not known by this writer.However, another such cabin was constructed at the foot of the hill a few years later and it was here that William Smoker, son of Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel Smoker, and nephew of John Brumfiel was born.The cabin was built near the location that is now occupied by the camp museum.The barn and other buildings were closer to john's creek, across what is now a road to the west.John Brumfiel married Susan Stevens and they had one son, Cyrum Brumfiel, born in 1869.He died as a young man in the year 1883.Mary Elizabeth Brumfiel married Amos Smoker.She had been deeded 341/2 acres of ground on the hill west of the camp.This is where she and her husband went to housekeeping.On a very cold day her husband went down the hill to help his father-in-law split rails.Amos got warm while working, took his coat off and sat on the ground to rest.A few days later he became ill with hasty consumption and died with in a few weeks.He was 26 years of age at the time and this left his wife with two children, Jeremiah William and is sister Sarah Eliza to raise.Mary Smoker returned with her two children to the home of her parents.She had a sister Eliza who had married the brother of Amos Smoker.Her sister died leaving four small children.Mary Smoker consented to keep house for her brother-in-law and the children.It was about six months after she had moved to his home that he was kicked by a horse and died leaving Mary Smoker with six children to care for, which she did.The 341/2 acres between John Brumfiel's land and Mary Smoker's had been deeded to another brother Edmund Brumfiel.This ground joins the camp sight.According to records in the Wayne County Auditor's office, John Brumfiel deeded the ground on which the building of Camp Clements are situated to Leroy Parker, April 9, 1881.A notation beside this entry in the rook running from 1880 to 1885 states "deed not recorded"/.It would appear that at this date the land left the Brumfiel family as the writer could find no indication that Leroy parker was related to the Brumfiel family although it is possible that he was.The land again changed owners on June 7, 1886 this time by a sheriff's deed conveying title from Leroy Parker to Howell Grave.The indebtedness involved on this mortgage foreclosure was $713.10.Howell Graves was engaged in farming for many years in New Garden, and about 1862 started a business as an iron merchant in Richmond.On November 1, 1899 the tract was deeded to Hannah Graves and Emma Bayless, two heirs of Howell Graves.In 1912 the heirs of Emma Baylies deed the ground to Joseph Graves and on February 7, 1919 Hannah Graves and Joseph Graves deeded the 341/2 acres heretofore mentioned to Mary B. Hale and Della B. Hayes.It was September 14, 1939 that Mary B. Hale et all deeded the camp sight to the Richmond Y.M.C.A.Soon after the papers were signed making Camp Clements a reality another problem confronted those who were working so hard to get the camp established.A well of water that would test pure had to be drilled.Shaft after shaft was sunk in various places on the camp sight but the water would not pass the test.Finally Gail Smoker, great grandson of Merriman Brumfiel, who had acquired the ground originally deeded to Edmund Brumfiel, permitted the drilling of a well on his ground.This well was located just across John's Creek to the west of the camp and it passed the tests.Mr Smoker sold .13 of an acre to the Y committee and here on this small plot of ground is the well that has supplied the water for Camp Clements for may years.Camp Clements has benefited many boys and girls.Among this number have been two great-great grandsons and a great-great granddaughter of Merriman Brumfiel.Roy and Marcia Smoker have attended 4-H camping sessions.Roy and his cousin, Davis Tice, were guests of the camp for a regular camping period.Recently the campsite acquired another 50 acres.Since this article was intended mainly to give details of the Brumfiel families historical connection, I will give on a short resume concerning thetract.The 50 acres originally belonged to David Railsback.His heir was his daughter Sarah who married Larkin Carr.This land was deeded to William Smoker by Larkin Carr, May 13, 1896, in consideration of a Carr Scott threshing machine and $700.Mr Smoker's son Gail later purchased the land from his father and farmed it for many years.A few years ago he sold it to Mr Schultz and the remainder of that transaction has been previously published.
More About Merriman Brumfiel:
Burial: Abington Cemetery.
More About Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa):
Marriage: June 19, 1825, Montgomery County, Ohio.
Children of Merriman Brumfiel and Lydia Gushwa (Cushwa) are:+Marion Brumfiel, b. 1839, Abington, Indiana, d. 1923.
+Jacob Brumfiel, b. 1827, d. 1889.
+Eliza Brumfiel, b. 1826, d. 1863.
+Josiah Brumfiel, b. 1829, d. 1877.
+William Brumfiel, b. 1831, d. 1902.
+Mary Brumfiel, b. 1833, d. 1924.
+John Brumfiel, b. 1834, d. 1872.
+David Brumfiel, b. December 20, 1836, Wayne Conty, Indiana, d. March 30, 1877, Wayne County, Indiana.
+Edmund Brumfiel, b. 1841, d. 1876.
+Margaret Brumfiel, b. 1843, d. 1925.
+Henry Brumfiel, b. 1845.
+Lydia Brumfiel, b. 1850.
Infant Brumfiel.
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