Here is the second article - also the link to the website to view the pictures. http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2007/01/10/features/355feature10.txt Posted: Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007 - 03:23:36 pm CST Story of how Brumley got its name a mystery By Ra'Vae Edwards redwards@newstrbune.com BRUMLEY, Mo. - Laid out in 1877, nine years after the first store was built, Brumley didn't experience a growth spurt until 1883 when the Lebanon branch railway brought in some trade, according to the 1889 Missouri Godspeed History Book. At that time, Brumley was one of the smallest towns in Miller County with a population of about 100. There were two general stores, two wagon and blacksmith shops, a drug store, a hotel, two churches, a school and a post office. Although it is clear that the town was laid out by J.M Hawkins, who also built the post office, it is unclear where the name Brumley originated. For 79-year-old Lloyd Degraffenreid, that's always been a mystery. “We never have figured out how that name came about,” he said. “There are some families around here with that name, but nobody really ever has been too sure how Brumley got the name. Guess it doesn't matter much, just would be interesting to know.” Except for a few years, Degraffenreid spent his entire life in Brumley. He is one of nine children. His father was a carpenter and a farmer. Of the nine children, Degraffenreid said most of them “scattered like flies” but he chose to stick around home. He met and married his wife, Veda, in Brumley 56 years ago and together they raised five children. Three children still live nearby. “I've lived here pretty much my whole life,” he said. “Brumley is home and that's how I like it.” As a child, Degraffenreid said he can recall when his hometown was a growing town with many businesses. “It's hard to believe it now, but we had five general stores at one time, a garage, a blacksmith shop, a feed mill and a couple of taverns,” he said. “Ted Stamper had the power plant that supplied the electricity to the town and we had a four year high school until about 1949.” Degraffenreid graduated from that high school in 1945. After the high school was consolidated with the School of the Osage in 1949, he said the elementary school lasted several years longer. Unsure of when the grade school closed, Degraffenreid said all of his children attended the school at one time or another. Incorporated in 1928, many things have changed about the small town of Brumley over the years, but the population has always stayed about the same. “People have moved away and other people move in,” Degraffenreid said. “But the population always stays somewhere between 90-110. That part doesn't seem to change too much. “The town itself is altogether a different place. I used to know nearly everyone around here but now I hardly know a soul. So many people have moved away, several have died and the new people move in and they're friendly, but I just don't know them.” However, he said if someone called him and said they wanted to move to his town, he'd gladly help them. “I'd say well, okay, I'll help you find a place.” Brumley is located in the southwestern portion of Miller County, 11 miles from Iberia and 10 miles from the Lake of the Ozarks.