Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Camp, Brother of L. J. Camp (1918)

Lemuel J. Camp (L. J.) born in Clinton Co., Ohio in 1851 was well known at Murray around the turn of the century. He grew up near Princeville, Illinois, and attended High School at Brimfield, Illinois. In September 1877 he was married in Princeville to Nancy Jane O'Brien. Jane was born near Farmington, Iowa, in 1859. Her father passed away shortly after her birth, and with her mother and step-father, W B Mann, she had moved to Illinois when she was three.

Shortly after Jane and L. J. were married they joined the westward movement. In Jan. 1879 they saw Murray for the first time, on their way west by train. They unloaded their stock and fed them at the Murray stockyards and then proceeded to the Beatrice, Nebraska area, which was to be their home the next seven years. Then they traveled by covered wagon to Norton Co., Kansas, where a sod house was home. In 1895 they moved to Liberal, Missouri.

But the Murray area had looked good to them, so in 1897 they returned to make their home there. Mr. Camp's brother, Jerry and his family had settled in this area, too.

L. J. and Nancy Camp (1937)

stagecoach inn was located. Their youngest child was born there in May of 1899.

At that time the double tracks were being built through Murray, and the family's oldest son helped with the project. Another son was a businessman in Murray for several years. A daughter passed away in 1906. One son
served overseas in World War I. L. J. and Jane continued to farm in Clarke Co. until his death in 1937.

As the children were growing up, the family's social life centered around the Madison Chapel Church in rural northwest Clarke County. L. J. and Jane were present at the meetings held in the school house by Rev. E. A. McKimm in February, 1912. At these meetings funds were pledged for a church. That summer the community donated time and labor, and the Church was built. When Madison Chapel was dedicated in January, 1913, L. J., Jane, and several of their children were charter members. L. J. was an Elder on the original board and served as elder until his death.

The children all married and settled in Clarke and Madison County. Many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren presently make their homes in the county. For many years the family has gathered in the Murray Park each September for a family reunion.