Grave Spotlight of the Month - March 2026 - Historic Houses of Monroe County - Reverend Leroy Mayfield

 Reverend Leroy Mayfield was born on January 15, 1791 in Garrard County(also listed as being Lincoln County, which is now part of Virginia before it became Garrard County, KY), Kentucky to William Isaac Mayfield Jr (1769-1849) [buried in Vernal Mayfield Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana] and Mary Ann "Mollie" Banks Mayfield (1770-1820) [buried in Robert Collier Cemetery, Garrard County, Kentucky].  He was the eldest of at least 4 children, the others being: William Mayfield III (1793-1873), buried in Vernal Mayfield Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana; George B. Mayfield (1801-1863), buried in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Greenwood, Cass County, Nebraska; and John B. Mayfield (1808-1893), buried in Mayfield Cemetery #3, Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky.  It is possible that there was another brother named Isaac, but I have not yet been able to verify that.

Leroy was baptized in 1808 at Sugar Creek Church in Kentucky by a man named Randall Hall.  This church appears to still be an active Baptist church located in Princeton, Kentucky.  As for the man who baptized him, I found reference to Randolph Hall from that area, born around 1759 and was a founder of the Charity Baptist Church in Patrick County, Virginia.  

The Reverend was married twice, first to Sarah "Sally" Steen Mayfield (1788-1829) on May 12, 1812, in Garrard County, Kentucky.  They had several children: Elzaphan Mayfield (1813-1834), buried in Vernal Mayfield Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana [he was also known as Ellsworth, but a family history notes that this is actually Elizabeth.  The headstone shows Elzaphan.  It's quite confusing.]; Nicholas Smith Mayfield (1816-1888), buried in Vernal Mayfield Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana; Tillitha [possibly also Tabitha] B. Mayfield (1819-1852), buried in Vernal Mayfield Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana; Ambrose Carlton Mayfield (1820-1888), buried in Nelson Cemetery, Nelson, Nuckolls County, Nebraska; Teresa/Therisa M. Mayfield (1822-1855), buried in Vernal Mayfield Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana; Christina Mayfield (?-?), burial unknown; Gabriel Mayfield (?-?), burial unknown; David Mayfield (?-?), burial unknown; and Deniza Mayfield (1830-1851), burial unknown.

A note in a Mayfield Genealogy states that he served in the War of 1812, but there doesn't appear to be any further information on that.  

According to tax records, he must have moved to Monroe County around 1817 or 1818.  Leroy must have already been involved in preaching by this time, because the Vernal Church was established around 1817-8 and his family was already involved along with the families of James Parks, John Sanders and the Coffeys.  Though, it is likely that he was maybe stepping in before he was ordained, as a note states that he was ordained in 1820 as a Baptist Preacher. Around 1826, there was a rude log cabin built for the church which was used until 1838 when they built a frame structure, closer to Ellettsville.  The first minister of this church was Reverend James Chambers and then two years later Leroy Mayfield took over. 

His second wife was Martha M. Basket Mayfield (1807-1892) whom he buried on January 21, 1830, in Monroe County, Indiana.  They had several children as well: Eliza Jane Mayfield Atherton (1833-1911), buried in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Greenwood, Cass County, Nebraska; Joseph M. Mayfield (1835-1910), buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana; George Washington Mayfield  (1838-1922), buried in Riverview Cemetery, Louisville, Cass County, Nebraska [his death occurred after falling from a cherry tree]; Mary Elizabeth Mayfield Gullion (1839-?), buried in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Greenwood, Cass County, Nebraska; Zerilda P. Mayfield Tozier (1841-1912), buried in Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery, Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon; and Sarah E. Mayfield Atherton (1843-1877), buried in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Greenwood, Cass County, Nebraska.

His house, which was listed on the National Historic Register in 1994, was built in 1830, which would mean that it was build after he married his second wife.  Limestone rubble was used to build up the foundation and then wooden clapboard walls were erected.  It originally was an L-shaped house, but later on, long after Leroy passed away, the footprint was shifted to be more rectangular.  It is one of, if not the, oldest in the Richland township area, the next oldest being the James Bratney House on Woodyard Road, having been built in 1835. (quick side note: I have for years driven down Woodyard Road and seen this house.  I have emailed the local historical society trying to find out more about it with no success, and then, lo and behold, I find the name by accident while researching a different house.)

In 1828, he was appointed as one of ten trustees of the new Indiana College, later known as Indiana University. He was one of the men who voted to appoint Dr. Wylie as president of Indiana College.

Leroy Mayfield died in 1851 and was buried in the small nearby cemetery where he had first buried his wife Sarah "Sally".  Many of the Mayfield family  members were buried here as well as friends of the family and members of the church.  It quickly grew to having just over 100 burials and was then known as the Vernal Mayfield Cemetery.  

Rest in Peace Leroy Mayfield.

REFERENCES

Find-A-Grave - Reverend Leroy Mayfield

Geneaology.com - Mayfield Family Report

werelate.org - Randolph Hall

Rootsweb - Mayfield Genealogy 

National Historic Register - Leroy Mayfield House

Indiana University - Board of Trustees