Husband John Campbell Plumer 1 2
Born: 28 Nov 1788 - Puckety, Westmoreland Co, PA 3
Christened:
Died: 18 Jul 1873 4
Buried:
Father: George Plumer (1762-1843) 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mother: Margaret Lowrey (1765-1818/1818) 6 7 8 10 11
Marriage: Apr 1814 4
Other Spouse: Maria Elliott (1793-1872) 4 12 - Dec 1828 4
Wife Elizabeth Peairs 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: Oct 1827 4
Buried:
Children
1 M Joseph Peairs Plumer 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: when seventeen years old
Buried:
2 F Margaret Lowrey Plumer 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: in childhood
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
3 M George Croghan Plumer 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: in childhood
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
4 F Susannah Allen Plumer 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1882
Buried:
Spouse: Rev. Thomas Stevenson ( - ) 4
5 F Elizabeth Plumer 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: Aft 1882
Buried:
Spouse: A. F. Stevenson ( - ) 4
General Notes: Husband - John Campbell Plumer
His name (John Campbell) was given to him in honor of an event in early history, the circumstances of which are as follows: On one occasion when his grandfather, Jonathan Plumer, was sorely threatened by the Indians he sought protection for his family in Fort Pitt, and as evidence that his fears were not groundless it is related that on this occasion as they fled, on looking back, they saw the smoke of their cabin ascending. And it was at this time that the family was in the fort during the siege by the Indian chief Killbuck, and while remaining near it, during the following summer, his son George, then a small boy, while attempting to swim in the Monongahela, in company with his elder brother, William, was rescued from drowning by Col. John Campbell. It was this incident which has perpetuated the name of Col. Campbell in the Plumer family.
In the home at Puckety the family was living in constant danger, and the Indians becoming openly hostile a removal was necessary. Two nights before leaving, the mother with her four boys, the youngest a tender babe, was concealed under an overhanging rock, while the father kept watch with his dog and gun.
In the spring of 1791 his father came into possession of the land "in the forks of the Youghiogheny and Sewickley Creek," long known as the "Plumer Homestead." The cabin in which the family lived for some years gave place in 1799 to a hewn log house, large and roomy, and which in that day was a model of architecture. In this house some of the family were born, the parents died, and the different members separated to form their respective homes.
At the time of the parents' removal here, John Campbell Plumer was between two and three years of age, and his childhood and youth was spent in helping clear and work the farm. In the year 1805, when about seventeen years of age, he went with his brother Alexander on a trading expedition. Their cargo consisted of flour, whiskey, and bacon, which they took on a keel-boat to the salt-works on the Big Kanawha and exchanged for salt.
In March, 1810, he started on a more extended expedition. His cargo at this time consisted of three hundred barrels of flour and a quantity of whiskey and bacon, which he took to New Orleans on a flat-boat, and finding the market dull he shipped to Havana, and at that place exchanged his cargo for coffee, which he took with him to Philadelphia in a schooner. Here he met his father and a merchant by the name of Kirker, who were there purchasing spring goods, and sending home their goods and a portion of the coffee, which they loaded in six wagons, and shipping the balance of the latter to Pittsburgh, he walked the entire distance of more than three hundred miles in six days.
At the age of twenty-four he joined the cavalry troop commanded by Capt. Joseph Markle, and was appointed sergeant on the 12th of September, 1812, and was in the battle of Mississinewa, and at the siege of Fort Meigs. At the latter he acted as a volunteer guide or captain of a picket-guard in advance of Maj. Ball's squadron, which was about to make a sortie from the fort, covering the landing of Gen. Clay's Kentucky troops, numbering twelve hundred men. The surrounding woods were full of Indians and British, ready to cut off any reinforcements that might come to it. He conducted them safely to the fort, and for his bravery and military skill displayed in this hazardous undertaking he was publicly complimented by Maj. James V. Ball (afterwards lieutenant-colonel), commander of the fort.
We find the following reference to this incident in Howe's "Ohio:" "Capt. Hamilton was directed to proceed up the river in a periauger, land a subaltern on the left bank, who should be a pilot to conduct Gen. Clay to the fort."
On the morning of the battle at Mississinewa, when the first alarm was given, and while in the act of throwing his holsters across his horse, the handle of one of the pistols was carried off by a bullet from a concealed Indian.
He was honorably mustered out of service with the troops at Franklinton, Ohio, on the 19th of August, 1813, after eleven months' service, carrying with him a scar which he received from the bursting of a shell,
In 1814 he was elected captain of a troop of cavalry of the militia of Pennsylvania, in the First Brigade of the Thirteenth Division, composed of the militia of the counties of Westmoreland and Fayette, for the term of seven years, and his commission was confirmed to him by Governor Simon Snyder. At the expiration of this time he received an earnest and flattering invitation to accept a second election, but he declined.
He was a man of great industry, energy, and perseverance. Having by principles of economy accumulated a moderate capital, he settled in Robbstown, later West Newton, soon after his first marriage, and built on Water Street his dwelling-house, which in later years he enlarged and improved. That house was the place where all the births, marriages, and deaths in his family occurred.
He bought from his brother Alexander and William Clark their grist- and saw-mills, which adjoined his property, and about 1820 or 1821 he removed the old structures and erected a new grist-mill of stone, which at the time was one of the largest and best in Western Pennsylvania, and to which in later years he built an expensive addition.
His dealings in wheat and flour were extensive for those days, and, the demand for his quality of flour increasing, he purchased of Abraham Funk his mills on Sewickley Creek, and to secure sufficient water-power for his town mill, he built a dam across the Youghiogheny River, which in the time of slack-water navigation he was compelled to raise, and in order to facilitate the passage of heavily-laden boats from above he procured a charter, and erected a lock on the west side. This was followed by much persecution from unscrupulous men, which was met by him with his native firmness and readiness to do the right. In 1866 he sold his mill property, and from that time retired from active business.
He was active in superintending the erection of the "Robbstown Bridge" across the Youghiogheny, and was an original stockholder, which interest he retained to the close of his life.
In 1819 he was commissioned justice of the peace by Governor William Findley, and discharged the duties of the office with more than ordinary ability: few of his decisions being appealed to court, and in no case were they reversed. "Squire Plumer" was the distinctive title by which he was respectfully known in his community.
In 1838 he received an appointment from President Van Buren to visit West Point as an inspector, but, taking sick before reaching there, was able to perform little duty. This was followed by a long and serious illness. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1830, where he was on the House Committee on Claims, and in 1839 to the Senate, serving in 1840-42.
He was a hard-money Democrat, and during the years of struggle for bank extension and legislative control he was known as the "Old Hickory" of Westmoreland, which appellation had been given to him from his resemblance in features to his great political chief, Andrew Jackson.
Mr. Plumer had all the depth and strength of the religious conviction which belonged to his Puritan ancestry. He was in membership with the old Sewickley Presbyterian Church from early life until January, 1851, when an organization was formed in West Newton. He was liberal in church benevolence, was zealous and active, and served as ruling elder from the year 1866 to the time of his death.
He exerted a wide influence in church, political, and business interests, and while of positive and decided character, was respectful and courteous in discussion. He was self-educated, a man of stern integrity, a pioneer in the free-school system of the State, and a friend of liberal education.
We close this sketch of John C. Plumer, which might justly be more extended, with the following from one who knew him well: "Strong, self-reliant, of great courage, afraid of no man, strongly attached to his own opinions, yet tolerant; somewhat stern in manner, yet affectionate; his ear ever open to the cry of the widow and the fatherless; his mental powers of such type that had he possessed the advantages of to-day he would have reached high rank in law, statesmanship, or a military career, in his death, which occurred July 18, 1873, was verified the saying, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season."
He was buried in a cemetery which over-looks the scene of his long and useful life.
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth Peairs
from Round Hill, Allegheny Co, PA