Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Plotts, Rezeau B. 1837 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 18, 2006, 10:04 pm Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908) REZEAU B. PLOTTS. Among the pioneer settlers of Nobles county few have taken a more active part in the affairs of the county than has R. B. Plotts, of Worthington. Coming to the county with the vanguard of the colonists early in 1872, he at once became identified with the interests of the community, and took part in many of the stirring events of pioneer days. The life of R. B. Plotts has been an eventful one. He was born at Mount Holly, N. J., Jan. 29, 1837, the town of his birth being but eighteen miles from the city of Philadelphia. His great-great-grandfather was a native of Germany, who came to the United States and became one of the early settlers of New Jersey, founding the American branch of the Plotts family. Our subject's father was Rev. Conley Plotts, a Princeton graduate and a man of considerable prominence in educational circles in the eastern states, a teacher as well as a preacher, who for many years was owner of the academy at Mount Holly, which he and his brother John founded, and in Philadelphia was engaged in school work in several educational institutions. Our subject's mother was Anna F. (Frankfort) Plotts, who was a native of Philadelphia, and the descendant of another old American family. Both the Plotts and Frankfort families were prominent in Revolutionary times. One member of the Frankfort family was a personal friend of General Washington, and Mr. Plotts, of this sketch, has in his possession an old desk which was his grandfather's and at which General Washington has sat. Another one of Mr. Plotts' ancestors was a member of the Boston tea party, and another served with John Paul Jones. R. B. Plotts began his education when four years of age, receiving instruction from his father. In 1842 the family moved to Philadelphia, and there he completed his education graduating from the central high school—a school corresponding to the present day college—in 1853. Upon quitting school Mr. Plotts entered the employ of Reany, Neafie & Levy, in Kensington, Philadelphia, and remained with that firm four years, learning the machinist's trade. Thereafter he worked as a journeyman machinist in different parts of the country whenever he could find work. When not able to obtain work at his trade he taught school in Iowa and Wisconsin. In the spring of 1859 he moved to Williamsport, Pa., to which place his parents had moved while he was learning his trade. There he remained until early in the year following, working part of the time in the railroad shops. After a short sojourn in Norfolk, Va., Mr. Plotts went to Richmond, Va., where he made his home until February or March, 1861. On the last train that left Richmond for the nation's capital before the opening of hostilities between the north and south had cut off communication Mr. Plotts was a passenger. He went at once to Williamsport and made application for admission to the navy, and on July 1, 1861, was accepted. In August the sloop of war Richmond, to which he was assigned, sailed from the Brooklyn navy yard, and cruised for about a month in pursuit of the rebel ship Sumpter. Then the vessel reported for duty at Pensacola, and was sent to blocade the mouth of the Mississippi river, where it relieved the Brooklyn. After being on blockade duty for a short time the Richmond, on October 1, sailed to the head of the passes, where it remained until the morning of October 12. That day it engaged in battle with the rebel ram Manassas. In the engagement the rebel ship collided with the Richmond, broke a large hole in its side and did considerable damage. After fighting for about an hour and a half the vessels separated, neither having gained a victory. Mr. Plotts participated in many hard fought engagements on board the Richmond from 1861 to 1863. In the last named year he was transferred to the Nipsic, and during the next nine months was with the South Atlantic squadron. Most of the time his vessel was off Charleston, in the vicinity of which it participated in many engagements. In July, 1864, Mr. Plotts was assigned to the ship Octorara, on which he served during two severe engagements, his vessel leading in the fight in Mobile bay against Fort Morgan. The squadron continued in the vicinity of Mobile bay until the close of the war. For some time Mr. Plotts was in the hospital as the result of hardships and exposure through which he had passed. Later he was ordered to New Orleans, whence he was ordered north on sick leave. He returned home, where he remained until 1866, being retired from duty in January, and late in the same year was ordered on duty again and was stationed at League Island, Philadelphia, where he was four years. In 1867 he was given the office of past assistant engineer, with the rank of lieutenant. He was retired from active duty Oct. 1, 1870, and is still on the retired list. On June 29, 1906, He was promoted to the office of chief engineer, with the rank of lieutenant. After being placed on the retired list Mr. Plotts returned to Williamsport, Pa., where he remained a little over a year. He decided to cast his lot with the west and on March 6, 1872, arrived with the colonists in Nobles county. He settled on a farm in Elk township, where he engaged in farming until February, 1877. He then moved to Worthington, which has since been his home. During his long residence in the county Mr. Plotts has been very active along many lines of endeavor and has many times been called, upon to serve in an official capacity. He was the first clerk in Elk township. On May 29, 1880, he was appointed village recorder to succeed N. A. Barlow, resigned, and was elected to the office in 1881-82-83-84-85-86. He was village assessor in 1894 and village clerk in 1904. In the early days he served several terms as deputy sheriff, and was acting sheriff during the latter part of Sheriff Miller's last term. He was elected and served several terms as county coroner. Mr. Plotts has been a member of the Masonic order since 1873, and for twenty years has been secretary of the Worthington lodge. He is also a member of the G. A. R. At New Orleans. La., on July 23, 1864, Lieutenant Plotts was married to Miss Kate Slavin, daughter of Edward and Anna (Davis) Slavin, natives, respectively, of Ireland and England. Mrs. Plotts was born at Galveston, Texas, June 23, 1845, and died in Worthington April 2, 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Plotts were born the following children: Emily C., Martha W., Lillian C., Nellie M., Phillip E., John Manning and Walter J. All are living except the last named, who died in September, 1888. The first born, a son, died at birth; also two daughters died in infancy. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/bios/plotts19gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb