BRUMFIELD, Frank M. - Putnam

In compiling this volume of representative citizens of Putnam County occasion has been afforded to give the records of men in many walks of life; here will be found mention of worthy citizens of all vocations, and at this juncture we are permitted to offer a resume of the career of one of the substantial and highly esteemed, in fact, one of the industrial leaders of northwestern Putnam County, where he has long maintained his home and where he has attained a high degree of success in his chosen field of labor and enterprise, being a well known merchant at Russellville. Frank M. Brumfield was born on the old family homestead in Russell township, July 27, 1866, and he remained with his father until he was sixteen years of age. or until the latter's death, when he began clerking, having decided to devote his life to merchandising. His first employer was T. L. Grider, in 18S4, at Fincastle. and he has been in this line of work constantly ever since. He was in partnership with Henry Grimes for a period of two years. He came to Russellville in 1888 and purchased the store of an old firm. Moreland & Ross, the firm becoming Grimes, Ross & Company, which conducted a general merchantile business. Mart Inge succeeded Grimes and the firm was changed to Inge, Ross & Company, which remained for ten years, when the stock was divided. Inge took the groceries and shoes and started alone, and the firm of Ross & Brumfield was started, these gentlemen dividing their goods on January 15, 1908, after a number of years of very successful partnership. Mr. Brumfield then opened a general store alone with a fine and carefully selected stock of goods and soon enjoyed an excellent trade, for he had been known to the vicinity for many years as a merchant of thrift and reliability, and he has remained in his splendid quarters in the I. O. O. F. building, which is one of the substantial cement block structures of the town and admirably located and which place is the headquarters for farmers and their families when in town. The Ross store was continued until the death of Mr. Ross and is now owned by a Mr. Smith. Mr. Brumfield has greatly increased his stock of goods to double what it was formerly. He has a well-kept and well-arranged store, twenty-six by eighty-five feet, and his neat stock of goods is tastily displayed. He carries stock aggregating in value about seven thousand dollars, and he is doing a very satisfactory cash business, for he keeps nothing that it not up-to-date and of excellent quality and his prices are always right. He buys eggs extensively and has a large country trade. Mr. Brumheld lives on the old homestead which he owns, and which consists of one hundred and five acres. He has platted and added thirty acres to the town, known as Brumfield's Addition to Russellville; this is becoming a very popular section of the thriving town and he is selling lots constantly. He is very successful in overseeing his farm where general crops are raised and which has been very skillfully managed, October 9, 1907, Mr. Brumfield married Ella Donehew, daughter of a well known family of Russellville. This union is without issue. Fraternally Mr. Brumfield is a Mason and he seems to live up to its sublime ritual in all the relations he has with his fellow men. He is a man who attends strictly to his individual affairs and has never aspired to public offices.