Husband Arnold Plumer 1 2 3 4
Born: 5 Jun 1801 - Jackson Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
Christened:
Died: 28 Apr 1869 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5 6 7
Buried: - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5
Father: Samuel Plumer (1772-1820) 2 3 4 8
Mother: Patty Adams (1770-1847) 2 4 5 8
Marriage: 6 Feb 1827 6 9
• Additional Image: Arnold Plumer.
• Biographical Sketch: from History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890).
To read this brief biographical sketch of his life and career, click here.
Wife Margaret McClelland 1 10 11 12
Born: 1807 13
Christened:
Died: 1879 13
Buried:
Father: George McClelland (1780-1834) 1 10 14 15
Mother: Agnes Seaton (Abt 1780-1842) 1 10 15 16
Children
1 F Elvira A. Plumer 6 9 17 18
Born: 26 Nov 1827 - Venango Co, PA 18
Christened:
Died: 25 Oct 1892 18
Buried:
Spouse: Judge Samuel Anderson Gilmore (1806/1808-1873) 6 9 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
2 M Samuel Plumer 12 24 25
Born: 2 Apr 1830 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 26 27
Christened:
Died: 8 Oct 1902 27
Buried:
Spouse: Mary Mytinger ( -1878) 28
Spouse: Eleanor Bosler ( - ) 28
Marr: Nov 1879 28
3 F Margaret Plumer 6 9 12
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Henry Wilson Lamberton ( - ) 6 9 12 29 30
4 M Arnold A. Plumer 6 12 31
Born: 25 Mar 1839 32
Christened:
Died: 20 Sep 1904 32
Buried:
Spouse: Rachel L. Smith ( -1901) 12 32
Marr: 28 Dec 1865 32
5 F Ann Eliza Plumer 6 9 12
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Rev. Richard H. Austin ( - ) 9 12
Marr: 20 Jan 1860 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 33
6 M Henry Baldwin Plumer 12 34
Born: 25 Sep 1841 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 35
Christened:
Died: 10 Dec 1903 36
Buried:
Spouse: Marilla P. Davenport ( -Aft 1919) 36
Marr: 4 Nov 1866 36
General Notes: Husband - Arnold Plumer
Date of birth June 6. [CAB, 407]
He was one of the first children of Caucasian parentage ushered into life in that vicinity, and destined to become its most distinguished citizen. It is said that his mother was a remarkable woman, a fact best indicated by the statement that her son is said to have received from her his best instruction. Early in life he evinced an active interest in politics, allying himself with the Democratic Party and becoming a leader of the organization in his native county. Four months after reaching his twenty-second year he was elected sheriff of Venango County, acquitting himself so creditably in that capacity that in January, 1830, he was appointed by Governor Wolfe prothonotary and clerk of the courts, register and recorder, which combination of offices he held for the next six years. In 1836 Mr. Plumer was elected a member of the Twenty-fifth United States Congress, representing the district composed of Crawford, Erie, Warren and Venango counties. On May 20, 1839, he was named by President Van Buren as United States marshal for the Western district of Pennsylvania, filling that office until May 6, 1841. In October, 1840, he was elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, and on Dec. 14, 1847, was again appointed United States marshal for the same district. On April 3, 1848, he resigned in order to accept the State treasurership. At the expiration of his term he retired from public life, though never ceasing to take a keen interest in politics. The record of his services forms part of the annals of his State and nation. In 1855 Mr. Plumer, as a warm personal friend of James Buchanan, was entreated, by other friends of that statesman, to accept the nomination for canal commissioner, in order to harmonize the Democratic Party after its defeat the preceding year. It was then a political maxim that "as Pennsylvania goes, so goes the Union," and, as Mr. Plumer was regarded as the strongest possible nominee, his candidacy was desirable to establish Democratic supremacy previous to Mr. Buchanan's nomination for the presidency the following year. Accordingly, he made a personal canvass, winning an election in the Buchanan interest. He was offered a place as postmaster-general in President Buchanan's cabinet, but declined on account of ill health.
During his twenty years of private life Mr. Plumer accumulated, by his remarkable foresight and business acumen, the largest fortune ever up to that time acquired by any one resident of Venango County. He was one of those who regard wealth as a trust, and actively aided a number of institutions by his influence and means, while his private charities were both numerous and comprehensive. In all movements which meditated the moral improvement and social culture of the community he was deeply interested. The qualities which made Mr. Plumer a leader among men were his intuition, his courage, his self-reliance and, above all, his fidelity to his word. When he had said he would do a thing, he did it. Loyal to obligation, firm in principle, rock-bound in his convictions, he possessed the implicit confidence of the public. Of tall stature and majestic appearance, dignified in bearing, and possessing to a striking extent the courtesy of the old school, his presence in any assembly attracted general attention. As a public speaker he practiced none of the arts of oratory, talking simply, earnestly and directly to the point, but in language so forcible and aggressive, and above all convincing, that his services on the platform were in great demand.
Devoted in his family relations, Mr. Plumer ever found his home a refuge from the strenuous duties and engrossing cares of public life, and one of his chief pleasures was the exercise of hospitality. On April 28, 1869, this man, so nobly planned and so true to every trust, passed away at his home in Franklin. His death removed from the community a true patriot and a model citizen, and all classes of society united in sincere mourning.
On the day of Mr. Plumer's death the Venango County courts adjourned out of respect to his memory. On the evening of April 29, 1869, the day following his death, a meeting of the citizens of Franklin was held at the courthouse, at which Hon. John Trunkey was appointed president, Hons. Richard Irwin and Thomas Hoge, vice presidents, and A. P. Whitaker, Esq., and Col. J. W. H. Reisinger, secretaries. The Spectator of May 7, 1869, had the following account of this meeting:
"Upon the completion of the organization of the meeting Gen. A. B. McCalmont rose and pronounced a eulogy upon the character of the late Hon. Arnold Plumer, whose decease was the occasion of the meeting, and moved the appointment of a committee of five, of whom he should not be one, to draft a minute expressive of the meeting. Whereupon C. Heydrick, William Hilands and R. L. Cochran, Esqrs., Col. James P. Hoover and Hon. R. S. M'Cormick were appointed. During the absence of the committee, and after their return, in support of their report, the meeting was addressed by Rev. S. M. Eaton, Hon. R. Irwin, Cols. L. D. Rogers and J. S. Myers, and the president. The committee, after a brief absence, reported the following minute, which was unanimously adopted, viz.:
"We, the neighbors and friends of the late Hon. Arnold Plumer, assembled at the Court House in the city of Franklin, this 20th day of April, 1869, by the announcement of his decease yesterday, desire to record our sense of the loss which we have sustained in his death. Before the middle-aged of to-day were born, and while the oldest among you were yet young men, Mr. Plumer had made his mark as a rising man, and the influence of his commanding intellect was felt in the country, and thence extended gradually and steadily throughout the Commonwealth until his name and character were, a few years ago, acknowledged and accepted as a tower of strength in a doubtful political contest which was to determine the then next presidential struggle. His power and influence never waned during the years of his most active life, because he was built upon a sure foundation - he adorned by a faithful and intelligent discharge of its duties every position to which he was called by the confidence of his neighbors or the partiality of his fellow citizens of a great Commonwealth, while his private character was unstained by the too common reproaches of public men. Such a record is a source of just pride to the citizens of the county of his birth, and of his lifelong residence, and challenges the respect of those among us who have not been able at all times, or upon all questions, to agree with him. And while we thus record the common judgment upon his public life, we, who have long and intimately known him, can not refrain from bearing testimony to his many excellent qualities as a private citizen, neighbor and friend. We point with affectionate pride to the purity of his private life, and the unostentatious dignity of his demeanor, which have done much to mould the character of our people. He was a true friend, but not a bitter enemy, who would go out of his way to renew strife; he was warm-hearted and ever willing to counsel any who needed the benefit of his great experience and mature judgment. Of this, many in our midst will long continue to bear grateful witness, as they will relate how the attainment of success or the aversion of calamity was attributed to his wise counsels. One who combined all the qualities we attribute to Mr. Plumer could not be other than he was, an unpretending Christian gentleman.
"In testimony of the common sympathy of this community with the bereaved family of our deceased friend, we direct a copy of this minute to be presented to them, attested by the officers of this meeting, and as a public tribute of respect for his memory we request our proceedings to be published in the newspapers of the county." [HVC 1919, 407]