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Hiram S. Plummer, Mayor of Mt. Vernon. The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual, and as exhibited in the lives of many constitutes the true source of national vigor and strength. The record of Dr. Plummer is such as to entitle him to a prominate place among the self-made and successful men of Illinois. His life is an example of the power of patient purpose, resolute working and steadfast integrity, showing, in the language not to be misunderstood, what it is possible to accomplis, and illustrating the efficacy of self-respect and self-reliance in enabling man to work out for himself an honorable competency and solid reputation. He is the third child of Joseph and Eunice (Cummings) Plummer, and was born in Maryville, Union Co., OH, on the 25th of February, 1831. Joseph Plummer was a native of Rutland County, VT., born in 1794, and was there reared until he was eighteen years of age, and with his parents then moved to Lower Canada. Here he remained with his parents until he reached his majority, and then moved to Union County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. In 1871, he came to Mt. Vernon., Illinois, and resided with the Doctor until he died, which sad event occurred in 1873. His wife, and mother of our subject, was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1802, and was married on the 3ed of February, 1820; she died in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, in 1865. Hiram S. Plummer spent his early life at home, assisting to till the farm, and receiving the benefit of the common schools. At twenty years of age, he left his home and began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Andrew Wilson, of Urbana. Ohio, and remained with him three years, subsequently graduating from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery with the degree of M.D.. He immediately entered upon the practice of his chosen profession, and continued the same until breaking out of the late rebellion in 1862. He yielded to the promptings of patriotism and enlisted as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Tenth Illinois Regiment. After the battle of Perryville, he was detatched to take charge of the wounded, and subsequently, in June, 1863, he was appointed Surgeon in charge of the hospital at Nashville Tenn., and on the consolidation of his regiment in November of the same year, he was mustered out of the service, but remained in charge of the hospital under contract until spring of 1864, when he resigned his position, returned to his home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and resumed his practice, continuing the same until February, 1865, when he again entered the service, this time as Surgeon of the One Hundredth and Fifty Second Regiment. In October of the same year, he returned home and has been engaged in his professional work, doing a large and lucrative practice. He was married, in Sept., 1860, to Miss Martha, a daughter of Harvey T. Pace, one of the old pioneers of the county. Mrs. Plummer is a native of the county, and is the mother of the following seven children: Hollie. Grace, Minnie M., Nanie, Ada R., Lulla and H. Gale. Dr. Plummer is an active worker for the republican party, and has several official position. He is now Mayor of the city, is a member of the order A.F.&A.M., and a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Society.
SOURCE: "History of Jefferson County, Illinois" SUBMITTED BY: Misty Flannigan - Dec 1997 HIRAM S. PLUMMER, M. D. This gentleman, who is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Mt. Vernon, was born in Marysville, Union County, Ohio, February 25, 1831, and is the fourth in order of birth of the parental family. His father, Joseph Plummer, was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1794, and is descended from good old Puritan stock. The latter was a lad of eighteen years when his father, Asa Plummer, removed with his family to Lower Canada, where young Joseph remained until he had attained his majority. In 1815 he returned to the States and became one of the early settlers of Union County, Ohio. Our subject was only two years of age when his father located in Champaign County, Ohio, where his early life was spent on a farm, and where his education was conducted in the common schools. Upon reaching his twentieth year, he went to Urbana and entered the office of Dr. Andrew Wilson, under whose instruction he read medicine for three years. At the end of that time he entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated. In May, 1857, he came to Mt. Vernon, where he was residing at the outbreak of the Rebellion. In September of 1862, he entered the Union army as First Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Tenth Illinois Infantry, and remained in the field with his regiment until after the battle of Perryville. He was then given charge of the wounded from that conflict, and served as physician of the hospital near that place until January 1, 1863. Ordered thence to Nashville, Tenn., he was placed in charge of General Hospital No. 18, and was there on duty about one year. On the re-organization of his regiment, he resigned his position as Assistant Surgeon and accepted that of Acting Assistant Surgeon of the United States army, with headquarters at Nashville. This charge he held for about four months, when he again resigned, and in February, 1864, returned home. Shortly afterward, however, he was appointed Surgeon of the One Hundred and Fiftysecond Illinois Infantry, and continued in the service until September 11, 1865, when the regiment was discharged. After the close of the war, Dr. Plummer resumed his professional duties in Mt. Vernon, where, besides attending to his extensive practice, he has filled several responsible positions. He has been President of the Pension Examining Board since 1867, with the exception of four years under Cleveland's first administration. For four years he was Mayor of Mt. Vernon, and for six years was a member of the Board of Education, being President of that body the greater part of the time. The lady whom our subject married in 1860 was Miss Martha, daughter of Harvey T. Pace, who was born in Kentucky January 20, 1805. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Plummer, John M. Pace, was a native of Henry County, Va., and the son of Joel Pace, Sr., who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather had twin brothers, Joel and Joseph, who were sold iers in the War of 1812 under General Harrison, and both of whom were noted men in the early history of Mt. Vernon. Joel was the first County Commissioner, to which position he was elected in 1819. He also served as the first Clerk of the county, and was the first Probate Judge. In fact, he held almost all of the county offices at different times. He was also a prominent merchant. Joseph was a wealthy farmer in this vicinity, and both brothers lived to an advanced age. Hon. Harvey T. Pace, the father of Mrs. Plummer, was a tailor by trade, and followed that line of work for some time after coming to Mt. Vernon, with whose interests he became identified in 1822. Ten years later he embarked in the general mercantile business on the same corner and in the same building where Dr. Plummer's office is now located. It was the first two-story building in the town, and within its walls Mr. Pace transacted business for forty-four years, or until his decease, which occurred August 13, 1876. He was one of the wealthiest men in the locality, and at one time was President of what is now the Air Line Railroad. He held many local offices, and was three times honored by being elected a member of the State Legislature. At one time he owned about half of the original site of Mt. Vernon, as well as large tracts of land in other parts of Jefferson County. The mother of Mrs. Plummer, Mrs. Nancy (Bruce) Pace, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., April 25, 1807. Her father was a native of Virginia, of Scotch ancestry, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He came to Mt. Vernon in 1823, and during the early days in the history of this county was a member of the County Board of Commissioners. He departed this life in 1854, and the mother of Mrs. Plummer died October 30, 1875, seven months after celebrating her golden wedding. J. M. Pace, a brother of Mrs. Plummer, was the eldest member of the family, and is at present residing in Mt. Vernon, of which city he was the first Mayor. He is employed as a Claim Agent, and his son, William T., is Judge of Jefferson County. Mrs. Plummer is a member of the Christian Church, of which body her father was the organizer in Mt. Vernon. In 1854 he purchased the old Methodist Church, and at his own expense had it remodeled and used as the house of worship for the Christian congregation. Mrs. Plummer is a highly accomplished lady, and is a graduate of the Daughters College of Harrodsburg,Ky. Throughout the state she is well known as a member of the Board of Education in Mt. Vernon. Her election to that body was contested, and by her the case was taken to the Supreme Court, where the election was confirmed. Dr. and Mrs. Plummer are the parents of the following children; Hollie A., now Mrs. William Kelly, of Mt. Vernon; Grace, at home; Minnie M., the wife of E. W. Raymond, of St. Louis; Nannie, Adah R., Loolali and H. Gale. The Doctor is a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Association, and is connected with the Jefferson County Medical Association. Socially, he is a Chapter Mason and a member of the Knights of Honor. He also belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Honor, the I. O. M. A., and the National Railway Surgeons.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
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