A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 1050-1051
John T. Brumfield, and several other prominent men, constitute the Pittsboro Milling Company, of Middle Township, Hendricks County. His great-grandfather, Barnes Brumfield, emigrated from Germany to America, settled in Virginia, and there acquired a plantation and many slaves. Barnes Brumfield, the grandfather of our subject and a native of Virginia, emigrated to Boyle County, Ky., it its early history, entered a farm and made a home for himself and family. He owned a good plantation, and was well and favorably known, but his old age he spent in Hendricks County, Ind. William E. Brumfield, the father of our subject, was born in Boyle County, Ky., in October, 1818, but when a youth he left his native state and settled in Putnam County, Ind., and engaged in the trade of a blacksmith. After a number of years of success in his trade he disposed of his interests in the shop and bought and moved to Brownsburg, Hendricks County. In the spring of 1867, he moved to the northern part of Vermillion County, Ill., where he lived until October, 1869, when he returned to Hendricks County and settled in Pittsboro, Ind., where he died, November 4, 1869. He was first an old-line Whig, but later became a stanch Republican, and was elected justice of the peace; in religion he was a member of the Christian Church. He married Mary J. Green, daughter of Morton Green. The mother is still living, a hale old lady, but the father died November 4, 1869.
John T. Brumfield, our subject, was born in Putnam County, Ind., September 2, 1850. His early life was spent on the farm and in the schools of his native county, where he received a good common education. He married Nancy J. McLeod, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Newman) McLeod, and to this marriage were born the following children: Grace A., who is a graduate of Pittsboro High School, and also of the Business College of Indianapolis, in shorthand and typewriting, and is now aiding her father in his office; Ernie, James B. and Russell, all living. Mr. Brumfield is a strong Republican, and has been honored by that party by being elected township trustee, at the November election of 1894, by thirty-one majority. In 1876 blue Jeans Williams carried the township by ninety-six. Mr. Brumfield and wife are both members of the Christian Church, which they aid liberally. Our subject assumes the office of trustee with the confidence and esteem of the people, without regard to political affiliations.