Biography of Thomas Plummer - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 98 Thomas Plummer, who is perhaps the oldest native born citizen of Howard Township who is now a resident of that township, was born here in 1843, and has made this vicinity his home ever since. His father, Samuel Plummer, was born in the District of Columbia, where he was left an orphan at the age of seven years. During his boyhood he served as an apprentice at the saddler trade, after which he worked some years as a journeyman, but while yet a young man he engaged with Major DuVal, with whom he came to Arkansas at the time some of the Indians were removed westward, and at the age of twenty-five he was married in what is now Pope County to Henrietta Ellis, a native of Mississippi. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Plummer settled in the canebrake near the mouth of Point Remove, and from there he removed to where Plummerville is, where he again settled in the wilderness, and was perhaps the first permanent settler in what is now Howard Township. Here by his industry and frugality he accumulated a handsome competency and spent his remaining years. He continued to work at his trade nearly all his life, in connection with which he kept a country tavern for a number of years, and later merchandised some. After a long life of activity and usefulness, this honest old veteran passed to his last resting place February 15, 1876, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and his remains were interred on a slight bluff overlooking the town which bears his name. His wife preceded him in death nearly thirty-one years, her death occurring October 6, 1845, aged thirty-nine years. She was a Primitive Baptist. Thomas Plummer is the youngest of five sons and five daughters, three of whom survive. Thomas was reared on a farm and never attended school but about three months in his life. At the breaking out of the war he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and at once enlisted in Company B, Tenth Arkansas Infantry, and operated in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee, participating in the battles of Prairie Grove (where he was wounded), Helena, Mark's Mill, Saline River, Pleasant Hill, La., and other skirmishes. He surrendered at Shreveport, La., at the close of the war, and returned to his home. He also had three brothers in the service. William (since deceased), was in the Tenth Arkansas Cavalry. Joseph and Samuel (twins), also deceased since the war. In 1870 Thomas was united in marriage with Julia A. Miller, whose parents, John W. and Elizabeth (Wade) Miller were also among the earliest settlers of Conway County. Mr. Miller was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and when young he learned the trade of a millwright. In 1837 he went to Louisiana, and in 1839 came to Arkansas, and in 1840 built the first steam-mill that was ever built at Lewisburg. He afterward built other mills in Howard Township, where he has resided for about forty-five years, and is now living with his fourth wife. His first marriage was in 1845, to Mrs. Plummer's mother. She was a daughter of Russell and Elizabeth Wade, who were very early settlers of Perry County, Arkansas, where they both died, and where Mrs. Miller was born. She died in 1854. Mrs. Plummer was born in Conway County, and is the mother of five sons and three daughters, all living. Mr. Plummer has made farming his life-long occupation, and is now the owner of 190 acres, 80 of which is good bottom land. He has about 100 acres under cultivation. He is an active worker for the schools and for the general advancement of his children, and is a prominent member of the Howard Lodge. A. F. and A. M., No 253, having held the positions of Junior Warden and Junior Deacon. Mrs. Plummer is a Methodist.