Son of Hannah Maria Bierce and David Plumb. Married to Ellen Matilda Cowles on 21 Aug 1867 in Emporia, Lyon Co, KS.
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Hon. George Plumb was one of Emporia's [Kansas] honored pioneers, the son of David Plumb, and was a brother of the late Senator Preston B. Plumb. Although he never gained the fame of his distinguished brother, George Plumb had a very interesting and active career. He was also one of the pioneers of Kansas and took a prominent part in its official affairs. David P. Plumb became a successful business man and agriculturist in Kansas, and in the early political affairs of the state became a leader, being among the organizers of the Republican party in Kansas.
Mr. Plumb was born in Delaware Co, OH on December 15, 1843. He learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1857 with his parents when hs was 14. They lived in the first house or shanty that was built in Emporia. As a boy he carried the chain in making the first survey of the townsite. He was a student for 2 months in the first prairie school of Emporia. The teacher was a private tutor and there were nine scholars altogether. He found plenty of work to do on his father's claim of 160 acres just east of Emporia at the mouth of Plumb Creek, which was named for his father.
On November 13, 1861, he enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Cavalry and then was afterwards transferred to the Second Kansas Cavalry, and still later to the Ninth Cavalry. He served until he was honorably discharged December 19, 1864. Much of his military experience was in the Far West. During their stay in the West, Company B built a new road from Fort Bridger to Camp Collins, and also built Fort Halleck at the foot of Medicine Mountains. He was a member of the escort who accompanied Governor Hardy, a first cousin, by the way, of Abraham Lincoln, across the plains to Utah in 1862. He then spent more than a year in Wyoming, where the presence of a large body of troops was required on account of Indian warfare. He assisted in laying out a new stage line from Cachlepowder to Green River in Wyoming, an overland trail that was established primarily as a protection against the Indians.
On July 7, 1863, he was a participant in an all day's engagement with the Ute Indians in South Pass, in which several soldiers wers killed and several wounded. When he returned to the fort after this battle, Mr. Plumb received an order to report to General Schofield at St. Louis. He took the stage on July 9, 1863, but on arriving at Medicine Bow it was found that the Indians had destroyed the station. The driver refused to go any further until Mr. Plumb persuaded him to do so by getting upon the booth and riding by his side. The station at Rock Creek was also destroyed. Rock Creek was thirty-two miles from the fort and it was twelve miles to the next station, and they were compelled to go through without a change of horses.
At Cachlepowder River he took the Denver stage, which had three passengers, one of them being Dave Moffett, who was then postmaster at Denver, and another was a Jewish merchant, Pondsnasky. In this stage they journeyed overland to Atchison, but at the Nebraska line they were held up by road agents. At that time the drafting of men into the army had caused many to flee and take to the life of outlaws on the frontier. Pondsnasky had a large amount of gold dust with him. The holdup occurred after they had left the Cottonwood Station about two miles, and it was just dusk. The driver seeing that the stage was surrounded stopped his horses, but Moffett immediately threw open the door on one side while Mr. Plumb did the same on the other, and both quickly climbed to the top. The driver then whipped up his horses and the road agents, thinking it was a party of soldiers, fell back and allowed them to pass uninjured.
Arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Mr. Plumb went to headquarters for transportation to St. Louis and there found an order transferring him to General Ewing's headquarters at Kansas City, MO. He was then assigned with four others as an independent scout and spent the rest of that summer in that work. The next spring, 1864, he was in the Red River expedition, and participated in the engagement at Fort Bayou, Clarksville, Dardanelles and other places.
When Gen. Sterling Price began his last great raid into Missouri sccompanied by Raines, Marmaduke and other Confederate generals, the Southern forces crossed the Arkansas River below and above Little Rock and joined forces near the White River. General Steele of the Federal army sent out a reconnoitering party to discover where the Confederates were concentrating. At the head of this party was Major Pomeroy of the Ninth Kansas and ninety-seven others including Mr. Plumb. At a bridge across the bayou, they captured a rebel picket and from him learned that the noted guerilla was having his horses shod at a crossroads known as West Point. It was about the middle of afternoon and the Federals made a wide circuit so as to arrive at West Point about dark. Coming into the main road they found a large frame house. They asked a man who stood by the well curb where West Point crossroads was, and were told that they had arrived and that General Price, Raines, Marmaduke and other leaders of the Federal forces had just gone into camp there. It was a dangerous situation, but they managed to make their escape without being captured. At the conclusion of this campaign, Mr. Plumb was mustered out at Leavenworth, KS.
After the war was over and Mr. Plumb had returned to Kansas, he and his brother, Hon. Preston B. Plumb, entered into a contract to engage in the raising of cattle and sheep. In 1868 Mr. Plumb bought his brother's interest and thereafter continued alone in the business. From a small capital in the beginning he increased his wealth extensively and owned a most excellent ranch of 5,000 acres in Lyon County. He also sold a ranch of 4,000 acres. He was one of the extensive cattle feeders in this section of the state though he had disposed of a great part of the landed possessions he once owned.
Success attended his business from the beginning and for many years he has ranked among the leading agriculturists and stockmen of the State of Kansas. He was the builder of his own fortune and displayed extraordinary business ability. On his ranch were to be found the best of improvements and large droves of fine cattle and other stock. He had other valuable holdings, in the way of bank and other corporation stock, including stock in the Emporia National and other banks. He was a director in the Commercial State Bank of Emporia.
In 1904 he was elected a member of the Kansas Legislature, and in 1906 he was reëlected to succeed himself for a second term. In the legislature he rendered creditable service and gained a still wider popularity and acquaintance over the state. During his time in the legislature, the two-cent railroad bill was passed, the anti-pass bill and much other important legislation. In 1910 he was elected a member of the Kansas Railroad Commission. In 1911 Mr. Plumb was elected chairman of the body. When the public utilities law was passed he helped organize the board, and was its chairman during organization. One public honor came in April, 1915, when he was elected finance commissioner of Emporia and gave most of his time to that important place of trust.
He resided in Emporia where he had a handsome, though not a large, residence 628 Exchange Street. Mr. Plumb was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights and Ladies of Security, is a past commander of Post No. 55, Grand Army of the Rcpublic.
On August 21, 1867, at the home of the bride near Emporia Mr. Plumb married Miss Ella Cowles. Seven children were born to their union. Daughter Edna died at age 13, and Preston B. died at age 26. Maggie, who lived at Lang, KS, was the widow of Marion Roderick who was a farmer and stockman. James R. was a farmer and stockman on the old home ranch at Lang. Joseph was a rancher and wheat grower at Lewiston, Montana. Inez was the wife of Carl Kinney, a stock rancher at Gunderson, Colorado. Kittie married Clarence DeLong, who was a farmer, and raiser of horses and cattle, living three miles north of Emporia. They later lived in the Plumb home on Exchange Street.
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The Emporia Gazette, 05 Jun 1930
George Plumb, for whose brother the Preston B. Plumb post is named, was born in Union County, Ohio, December 15, 1843. George Plumb is the son of the late David Plumb, one of Lyon County's pioneers. George Plumb came to Emporia in 1857. His brother, Preston, later Senator Plumb, was one of the organizers of the town company. He married Miss Ellen Cowles, August 20, 1857. Mrs. Plumb died last Tuesday morning. Mr. Plumb has five children. They are: J. R. Plumb, St. Joseph; J. C. Plumb, Lewiston, Mont.; Mrs. Karl G. Kinney, Linton, Ore.; Mrs. Ed Mitchell and Mrs. C. H. DeLong, Emporia.
Mr. Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Infantry, November 13, 1861. The regiment spent the first year along the Missouri-Kansas border, its camps being near Paola. The regiment was later merged with the 2nd Cavalry and Company H became Company B.
Mr. Plumb took part in many battles throughout the war and his company was credited with having saved some of the prairie states for the Union when it accompanied Governor Hardy to Utah across the plains.
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The Emporia Gazette, 12 Oct 1933, Tue
GEORGE PLUMB DIES AT HOME
Death Comes to Emporia Pioneer and Civil War Veteran, Following Few Days Sickness
TO HOLD FUNERAL SUNDAY
Services Will Be Held at Sutton Funeral Home--Death Ends Long Career As Farmer, Soldier, and Public Servant
George Plumb died at 7:45 o'clock this morning at his home, 628 Exchange. He had been sick only a few days.
Mr. Plumb is survived by three daughters and two sons. They are: Mrs. Ed Mitchell, of Emporia; Mrs. Carl Kinney, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Clarence DeLong, Emporia; James R. Plumb, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Joseph Plumb, Lewistown, Idaho. Nine grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon in the Sutton Funeral home. Interment will be in Maplewood cemetery. The casket will be open at the funeral home from Friday noon until the time of the services. The family has requested that no flowers be sent.
BORN IN OHIO IN 1843
George Plumb was born in Union county, Ohio, December 15, 1843. His father and mother were David Prince and Hannah Maria Bierce Plumb, both descendents of New England families. The Plumbs trace their ancestry to William the Conqueror.
Mr. and Mrs. David Plumb brought their family to Kansas in April, 1857, coming directly to Emporia where their elder son, Preston B. Plumb, who later became a United States senator, already had located. The Plumbs lived for a short time in the first house built in Emporia, a 14 by 16 up-and-down shanty on the present site of the Emporia State Bank. David Plumb at once selected a claim, on the Neosho northeast of town, and soon a cabin was built and the family moved into its own home. George Plumb, though but 13 years old, began the work of a pioneer, helping his father and brother cut and haul logs for the cabin and get out the stone for the foundation and the chimney, thus early doing the work of a man. In 1858 he was breaking sod for a neighbor. He attended school in Emporia one winter, he and his brother, Will, walking the four miles from their home to town. He worked on the claim with his father until 1861.
November 13, 1861, George Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Cavalry, the first Emporia company to enlist for three years or for the duration of the war. Another company had enlisted earlier for 90 days. The eighth Kansas spent the winter of 1861-62 on the Missouri-Kansas border, fighting guerillas, and in the spring was ordered to Leavenworth, where it was merged with the 2nd Kansas, and Company H became Company B. Later, Mr. Plumb was transferred to Company B, 9th Kansas Cavalry. The second Kansas broke up gangs of kidnappers who were stealing free Negroes and running them south, where they were sold as slaves.
KEPT MAIL ROUTE OPEN
In the spring of 1862 Governor Hardy, of Utah, lately appointed to that office by his cousin, President Lincoln, reached Atchison. Company B, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, was detailed to escort him to Utah, and as a member of this company George Plumb crossed the plains. The soldiers kept open the mail routes for hundreds of miles, fighting Indians and Mormons at many points along the way. This company is credited in the adjutant general's report as having saved these states to the Union by enabling the government, by this mail route, to keep in touch with them.
George Plumb did scout duty under General Ewing along the Kansas-Missouri border in 1863, and after the Quantrill raid on Lawrence, went to Humboldt to help hold back the Confederates from further advance up the Neosho valley. Emporia men rode all night to the relief of Humboldt after news of its sacking reached this section of the state. George Plumb was with the Red River expedition in 1864, and after his return, again was ordered to the protection of the border. He was in many fights and skirmishes, often was hungry and cold and rain-soaked, and was in the hospital with an attack of mountain fever while on the plains. His horse fell on him while attacking guerillas at Cowskin Prairie, I.T., and his knee cap was broken, but he was never wounded in battle.
After his discharge from the army, George Plumb went into the livestock business with his brother, Preston B. Plumb. In 1868 he bought his brother's interest, and for many years carried on the business on an extensive scale. He was one of the foremost sheep breeders in Kansas, and was equally well-known as a cattleman. His claim on Badger creek was developed into one of the finest and most complete cattle and sheep ranches in the state and grew to 5000 acres. His improvements were the latest and best and his stock was pedigreed.
SECRETARY OF LIVESTOCK GROUP
George Plumb was elected secretary of the Kansas Livestock association in 1894 and served the association in that capacity until 1910, when he resigned to become a member of the State Railroad commission. He had been a member of the livestock association's executive committee since its organization.
Gov. Roscoe Stubbs in 1909 appointed George Plumb to a place on the State Railroad commission, for a term of four years. Plumb was one of the few men who, appointed to an office, was elected to it by the people when the law changed, making it an elective office. His candidacy was endorsed by fair-minded newspaper men, regardless of politics, all over the state.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Kansas house of representatives two terms, the sessions of 1905 and 1907. He was one of the foremost champions of the direct primary law, of the 2-cent fare law, of the anti-discrimination law and of the maximum freight law. He was the author of a most important railroad law, permitting the railroad commissioners to join with commissioners of other states to fight for lower freight rates in common territory.
A CITY FINANCE COMMISSIONER
George Plumb was elected commissioner of finance of Emporia in 1915 and served the city in that office six years. He found in the sinking fund of the city treasury $30,192.69, and when his term of office closed this fund had been increased to $96,729.50. He retired bonds amounting to $81,700, making a total of $178,429.50. He found the tax rate in 1915 to be .0087 and for the three years following it was reduced to .0064.
George Plumb was married August 21, 1868, to Miss Ellen Cowles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cowles, Lyon county pioneers. They began housekeeping on the David Plumb homestead, where they lived three years. Then they moved to their claim on Badger creek, which was their home until 1902, when they built the home on Exchange street, which for many years was a center of the town's hospitality. Previous to that time, as the children needed school advantages beyond the district school, a part of the family had lived in Emporia during the school terms.
In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Plumb celebrated their golden wedding and in 1928 the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage was observed by a large gathering of relatives and friends. Mrs. Plum (sic) died in 1930.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Grace Methodist church, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had served Post 55 several times as commander. He was a director in the Commercial National Bank, a member of the Y.M.C.A. board, and was interested in and gave a helping hand to all community projects of the town and county.
The passing of George Plumb removes from the ranks of Emporia's old settlers the man whose reminiscences of Lyon county's pioneer history were among the most interesting and colorful of all those who saw the town's beginnings. No Old Settler's gathering in Emporia ever was considered complete unless George Plumb was there.
In 1857, when he was only 14 years old, he drove an ox team from the Emporia townsite to Lawrence, the nearest place where breadstuff was made. The trip took a week, and was made without accident. The next time he went to mill was up the Cottonwood to the Haworth mill.
That same winter he went to Kansas City with two of the Hall brothers after lumber for the Masonic hall, which stood for many years at the corner of Seventh and Commercial. The party camped at night, sleeping under the wagons.
When David Plumb, George Plumb's father, took his claim across the Neosho, this side of later what was called Plumb creek, the family stayed on the townsite and George Plumb and his brother, Will, helped their father get out rock for a fireplace, cut logs, and put up a cabin. The family moved in before the roof was on or the door hung, and the young Plumbs helped break the sod and plant corn, with the finishing of the cabin coming when it could. Later George Plumb brought home lumber for the door.
The Plumb family brought school books with them from Ohio, and except for the comparably short time George Plumb walked from the claim into Emporia to school, he was taught, with the other younger children, by his sister Ellen, who later for many years owned and operated a book store in Emporia.
In the early days of the Chisholm trail over which many thousand cattle were driven from the Indian territory and Texas to Kansas, George Plumb often was one of the drivers.
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Hon. George Plumb was one of Emporia's [Kansas] honored pioneers, the son of David Plumb, and was a brother of the late Senator Preston B. Plumb. Although he never gained the fame of his distinguished brother, George Plumb had a very interesting and active career. He was also one of the pioneers of Kansas and took a prominent part in its official affairs. David P. Plumb became a successful business man and agriculturist in Kansas, and in the early political affairs of the state became a leader, being among the organizers of the Republican party in Kansas.
Mr. Plumb was born in Delaware Co, OH on December 15, 1843. He learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1857 with his parents when hs was 14. They lived in the first house or shanty that was built in Emporia. As a boy he carried the chain in making the first survey of the townsite. He was a student for 2 months in the first prairie school of Emporia. The teacher was a private tutor and there were nine scholars altogether. He found plenty of work to do on his father's claim of 160 acres just east of Emporia at the mouth of Plumb Creek, which was named for his father.
On November 13, 1861, he enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Cavalry and then was afterwards transferred to the Second Kansas Cavalry, and still later to the Ninth Cavalry. He served until he was honorably discharged December 19, 1864. Much of his military experience was in the Far West. During their stay in the West, Company B built a new road from Fort Bridger to Camp Collins, and also built Fort Halleck at the foot of Medicine Mountains. He was a member of the escort who accompanied Governor Hardy, a first cousin, by the way, of Abraham Lincoln, across the plains to Utah in 1862. He then spent more than a year in Wyoming, where the presence of a large body of troops was required on account of Indian warfare. He assisted in laying out a new stage line from Cachlepowder to Green River in Wyoming, an overland trail that was established primarily as a protection against the Indians.
On July 7, 1863, he was a participant in an all day's engagement with the Ute Indians in South Pass, in which several soldiers wers killed and several wounded. When he returned to the fort after this battle, Mr. Plumb received an order to report to General Schofield at St. Louis. He took the stage on July 9, 1863, but on arriving at Medicine Bow it was found that the Indians had destroyed the station. The driver refused to go any further until Mr. Plumb persuaded him to do so by getting upon the booth and riding by his side. The station at Rock Creek was also destroyed. Rock Creek was thirty-two miles from the fort and it was twelve miles to the next station, and they were compelled to go through without a change of horses.
At Cachlepowder River he took the Denver stage, which had three passengers, one of them being Dave Moffett, who was then postmaster at Denver, and another was a Jewish merchant, Pondsnasky. In this stage they journeyed overland to Atchison, but at the Nebraska line they were held up by road agents. At that time the drafting of men into the army had caused many to flee and take to the life of outlaws on the frontier. Pondsnasky had a large amount of gold dust with him. The holdup occurred after they had left the Cottonwood Station about two miles, and it was just dusk. The driver seeing that the stage was surrounded stopped his horses, but Moffett immediately threw open the door on one side while Mr. Plumb did the same on the other, and both quickly climbed to the top. The driver then whipped up his horses and the road agents, thinking it was a party of soldiers, fell back and allowed them to pass uninjured.
Arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Mr. Plumb went to headquarters for transportation to St. Louis and there found an order transferring him to General Ewing's headquarters at Kansas City, MO. He was then assigned with four others as an independent scout and spent the rest of that summer in that work. The next spring, 1864, he was in the Red River expedition, and participated in the engagement at Fort Bayou, Clarksville, Dardanelles and other places.
When Gen. Sterling Price began his last great raid into Missouri sccompanied by Raines, Marmaduke and other Confederate generals, the Southern forces crossed the Arkansas River below and above Little Rock and joined forces near the White River. General Steele of the Federal army sent out a reconnoitering party to discover where the Confederates were concentrating. At the head of this party was Major Pomeroy of the Ninth Kansas and ninety-seven others including Mr. Plumb. At a bridge across the bayou, they captured a rebel picket and from him learned that the noted guerilla was having his horses shod at a crossroads known as West Point. It was about the middle of afternoon and the Federals made a wide circuit so as to arrive at West Point about dark. Coming into the main road they found a large frame house. They asked a man who stood by the well curb where West Point crossroads was, and were told that they had arrived and that General Price, Raines, Marmaduke and other leaders of the Federal forces had just gone into camp there. It was a dangerous situation, but they managed to make their escape without being captured. At the conclusion of this campaign, Mr. Plumb was mustered out at Leavenworth, KS.
After the war was over and Mr. Plumb had returned to Kansas, he and his brother, Hon. Preston B. Plumb, entered into a contract to engage in the raising of cattle and sheep. In 1868 Mr. Plumb bought his brother's interest and thereafter continued alone in the business. From a small capital in the beginning he increased his wealth extensively and owned a most excellent ranch of 5,000 acres in Lyon County. He also sold a ranch of 4,000 acres. He was one of the extensive cattle feeders in this section of the state though he had disposed of a great part of the landed possessions he once owned.
Success attended his business from the beginning and for many years he has ranked among the leading agriculturists and stockmen of the State of Kansas. He was the builder of his own fortune and displayed extraordinary business ability. On his ranch were to be found the best of improvements and large droves of fine cattle and other stock. He had other valuable holdings, in the way of bank and other corporation stock, including stock in the Emporia National and other banks. He was a director in the Commercial State Bank of Emporia.
In 1904 he was elected a member of the Kansas Legislature, and in 1906 he was reëlected to succeed himself for a second term. In the legislature he rendered creditable service and gained a still wider popularity and acquaintance over the state. During his time in the legislature, the two-cent railroad bill was passed, the anti-pass bill and much other important legislation. In 1910 he was elected a member of the Kansas Railroad Commission. In 1911 Mr. Plumb was elected chairman of the body. When the public utilities law was passed he helped organize the board, and was its chairman during organization. One public honor came in April, 1915, when he was elected finance commissioner of Emporia and gave most of his time to that important place of trust.
He resided in Emporia where he had a handsome, though not a large, residence 628 Exchange Street. Mr. Plumb was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights and Ladies of Security, is a past commander of Post No. 55, Grand Army of the Rcpublic.
On August 21, 1867, at the home of the bride near Emporia Mr. Plumb married Miss Ella Cowles. Seven children were born to their union. Daughter Edna died at age 13, and Preston B. died at age 26. Maggie, who lived at Lang, KS, was the widow of Marion Roderick who was a farmer and stockman. James R. was a farmer and stockman on the old home ranch at Lang. Joseph was a rancher and wheat grower at Lewiston, Montana. Inez was the wife of Carl Kinney, a stock rancher at Gunderson, Colorado. Kittie married Clarence DeLong, who was a farmer, and raiser of horses and cattle, living three miles north of Emporia. They later lived in the Plumb home on Exchange Street.
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The Emporia Gazette, 05 Jun 1930
George Plumb, for whose brother the Preston B. Plumb post is named, was born in Union County, Ohio, December 15, 1843. George Plumb is the son of the late David Plumb, one of Lyon County's pioneers. George Plumb came to Emporia in 1857. His brother, Preston, later Senator Plumb, was one of the organizers of the town company. He married Miss Ellen Cowles, August 20, 1857. Mrs. Plumb died last Tuesday morning. Mr. Plumb has five children. They are: J. R. Plumb, St. Joseph; J. C. Plumb, Lewiston, Mont.; Mrs. Karl G. Kinney, Linton, Ore.; Mrs. Ed Mitchell and Mrs. C. H. DeLong, Emporia.
Mr. Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Infantry, November 13, 1861. The regiment spent the first year along the Missouri-Kansas border, its camps being near Paola. The regiment was later merged with the 2nd Cavalry and Company H became Company B.
Mr. Plumb took part in many battles throughout the war and his company was credited with having saved some of the prairie states for the Union when it accompanied Governor Hardy to Utah across the plains.
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The Emporia Gazette, 12 Oct 1933, Tue
GEORGE PLUMB DIES AT HOME
Death Comes to Emporia Pioneer and Civil War Veteran, Following Few Days Sickness
TO HOLD FUNERAL SUNDAY
Services Will Be Held at Sutton Funeral Home--Death Ends Long Career As Farmer, Soldier, and Public Servant
George Plumb died at 7:45 o'clock this morning at his home, 628 Exchange. He had been sick only a few days.
Mr. Plumb is survived by three daughters and two sons. They are: Mrs. Ed Mitchell, of Emporia; Mrs. Carl Kinney, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Clarence DeLong, Emporia; James R. Plumb, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Joseph Plumb, Lewistown, Idaho. Nine grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon in the Sutton Funeral home. Interment will be in Maplewood cemetery. The casket will be open at the funeral home from Friday noon until the time of the services. The family has requested that no flowers be sent.
BORN IN OHIO IN 1843
George Plumb was born in Union county, Ohio, December 15, 1843. His father and mother were David Prince and Hannah Maria Bierce Plumb, both descendents of New England families. The Plumbs trace their ancestry to William the Conqueror.
Mr. and Mrs. David Plumb brought their family to Kansas in April, 1857, coming directly to Emporia where their elder son, Preston B. Plumb, who later became a United States senator, already had located. The Plumbs lived for a short time in the first house built in Emporia, a 14 by 16 up-and-down shanty on the present site of the Emporia State Bank. David Plumb at once selected a claim, on the Neosho northeast of town, and soon a cabin was built and the family moved into its own home. George Plumb, though but 13 years old, began the work of a pioneer, helping his father and brother cut and haul logs for the cabin and get out the stone for the foundation and the chimney, thus early doing the work of a man. In 1858 he was breaking sod for a neighbor. He attended school in Emporia one winter, he and his brother, Will, walking the four miles from their home to town. He worked on the claim with his father until 1861.
November 13, 1861, George Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Cavalry, the first Emporia company to enlist for three years or for the duration of the war. Another company had enlisted earlier for 90 days. The eighth Kansas spent the winter of 1861-62 on the Missouri-Kansas border, fighting guerillas, and in the spring was ordered to Leavenworth, where it was merged with the 2nd Kansas, and Company H became Company B. Later, Mr. Plumb was transferred to Company B, 9th Kansas Cavalry. The second Kansas broke up gangs of kidnappers who were stealing free Negroes and running them south, where they were sold as slaves.
KEPT MAIL ROUTE OPEN
In the spring of 1862 Governor Hardy, of Utah, lately appointed to that office by his cousin, President Lincoln, reached Atchison. Company B, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, was detailed to escort him to Utah, and as a member of this company George Plumb crossed the plains. The soldiers kept open the mail routes for hundreds of miles, fighting Indians and Mormons at many points along the way. This company is credited in the adjutant general's report as having saved these states to the Union by enabling the government, by this mail route, to keep in touch with them.
George Plumb did scout duty under General Ewing along the Kansas-Missouri border in 1863, and after the Quantrill raid on Lawrence, went to Humboldt to help hold back the Confederates from further advance up the Neosho valley. Emporia men rode all night to the relief of Humboldt after news of its sacking reached this section of the state. George Plumb was with the Red River expedition in 1864, and after his return, again was ordered to the protection of the border. He was in many fights and skirmishes, often was hungry and cold and rain-soaked, and was in the hospital with an attack of mountain fever while on the plains. His horse fell on him while attacking guerillas at Cowskin Prairie, I.T., and his knee cap was broken, but he was never wounded in battle.
After his discharge from the army, George Plumb went into the livestock business with his brother, Preston B. Plumb. In 1868 he bought his brother's interest, and for many years carried on the business on an extensive scale. He was one of the foremost sheep breeders in Kansas, and was equally well-known as a cattleman. His claim on Badger creek was developed into one of the finest and most complete cattle and sheep ranches in the state and grew to 5000 acres. His improvements were the latest and best and his stock was pedigreed.
SECRETARY OF LIVESTOCK GROUP
George Plumb was elected secretary of the Kansas Livestock association in 1894 and served the association in that capacity until 1910, when he resigned to become a member of the State Railroad commission. He had been a member of the livestock association's executive committee since its organization.
Gov. Roscoe Stubbs in 1909 appointed George Plumb to a place on the State Railroad commission, for a term of four years. Plumb was one of the few men who, appointed to an office, was elected to it by the people when the law changed, making it an elective office. His candidacy was endorsed by fair-minded newspaper men, regardless of politics, all over the state.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Kansas house of representatives two terms, the sessions of 1905 and 1907. He was one of the foremost champions of the direct primary law, of the 2-cent fare law, of the anti-discrimination law and of the maximum freight law. He was the author of a most important railroad law, permitting the railroad commissioners to join with commissioners of other states to fight for lower freight rates in common territory.
A CITY FINANCE COMMISSIONER
George Plumb was elected commissioner of finance of Emporia in 1915 and served the city in that office six years. He found in the sinking fund of the city treasury $30,192.69, and when his term of office closed this fund had been increased to $96,729.50. He retired bonds amounting to $81,700, making a total of $178,429.50. He found the tax rate in 1915 to be .0087 and for the three years following it was reduced to .0064.
George Plumb was married August 21, 1868, to Miss Ellen Cowles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cowles, Lyon county pioneers. They began housekeeping on the David Plumb homestead, where they lived three years. Then they moved to their claim on Badger creek, which was their home until 1902, when they built the home on Exchange street, which for many years was a center of the town's hospitality. Previous to that time, as the children needed school advantages beyond the district school, a part of the family had lived in Emporia during the school terms.
In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Plumb celebrated their golden wedding and in 1928 the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage was observed by a large gathering of relatives and friends. Mrs. Plum (sic) died in 1930.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Grace Methodist church, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had served Post 55 several times as commander. He was a director in the Commercial National Bank, a member of the Y.M.C.A. board, and was interested in and gave a helping hand to all community projects of the town and county.
The passing of George Plumb removes from the ranks of Emporia's old settlers the man whose reminiscences of Lyon county's pioneer history were among the most interesting and colorful of all those who saw the town's beginnings. No Old Settler's gathering in Emporia ever was considered complete unless George Plumb was there.
In 1857, when he was only 14 years old, he drove an ox team from the Emporia townsite to Lawrence, the nearest place where breadstuff was made. The trip took a week, and was made without accident. The next time he went to mill was up the Cottonwood to the Haworth mill.
That same winter he went to Kansas City with two of the Hall brothers after lumber for the Masonic hall, which stood for many years at the corner of Seventh and Commercial. The party camped at night, sleeping under the wagons.
When David Plumb, George Plumb's father, took his claim across the Neosho, this side of later what was called Plumb creek, the family stayed on the townsite and George Plumb and his brother, Will, helped their father get out rock for a fireplace, cut logs, and put up a cabin. The family moved in before the roof was on or the door hung, and the young Plumbs helped break the sod and plant corn, with the finishing of the cabin coming when it could. Later George Plumb brought home lumber for the door.
The Plumb family brought school books with them from Ohio, and except for the comparably short time George Plumb walked from the claim into Emporia to school, he was taught, with the other younger children, by his sister Ellen, who later for many years owned and operated a book store in Emporia.
In the early days of the Chisholm trail over which many thousand cattle were driven from the Indian territory and Texas to Kansas, George Plumb often was one of the drivers.
Son of Hannah Maria Bierce and David Plumb. Married to Ellen Matilda Cowles on 21 Aug 1867 in Emporia, Lyon Co, KS.
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Hon. George Plumb was one of Emporia's [Kansas] honored pioneers, the son of David Plumb, and was a brother of the late Senator Preston B. Plumb. Although he never gained the fame of his distinguished brother, George Plumb had a very interesting and active career. He was also one of the pioneers of Kansas and took a prominent part in its official affairs. David P. Plumb became a successful business man and agriculturist in Kansas, and in the early political affairs of the state became a leader, being among the organizers of the Republican party in Kansas.
Mr. Plumb was born in Delaware Co, OH on December 15, 1843. He learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1857 with his parents when hs was 14. They lived in the first house or shanty that was built in Emporia. As a boy he carried the chain in making the first survey of the townsite. He was a student for 2 months in the first prairie school of Emporia. The teacher was a private tutor and there were nine scholars altogether. He found plenty of work to do on his father's claim of 160 acres just east of Emporia at the mouth of Plumb Creek, which was named for his father.
On November 13, 1861, he enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Cavalry and then was afterwards transferred to the Second Kansas Cavalry, and still later to the Ninth Cavalry. He served until he was honorably discharged December 19, 1864. Much of his military experience was in the Far West. During their stay in the West, Company B built a new road from Fort Bridger to Camp Collins, and also built Fort Halleck at the foot of Medicine Mountains. He was a member of the escort who accompanied Governor Hardy, a first cousin, by the way, of Abraham Lincoln, across the plains to Utah in 1862. He then spent more than a year in Wyoming, where the presence of a large body of troops was required on account of Indian warfare. He assisted in laying out a new stage line from Cachlepowder to Green River in Wyoming, an overland trail that was established primarily as a protection against the Indians.
On July 7, 1863, he was a participant in an all day's engagement with the Ute Indians in South Pass, in which several soldiers wers killed and several wounded. When he returned to the fort after this battle, Mr. Plumb received an order to report to General Schofield at St. Louis. He took the stage on July 9, 1863, but on arriving at Medicine Bow it was found that the Indians had destroyed the station. The driver refused to go any further until Mr. Plumb persuaded him to do so by getting upon the booth and riding by his side. The station at Rock Creek was also destroyed. Rock Creek was thirty-two miles from the fort and it was twelve miles to the next station, and they were compelled to go through without a change of horses.
At Cachlepowder River he took the Denver stage, which had three passengers, one of them being Dave Moffett, who was then postmaster at Denver, and another was a Jewish merchant, Pondsnasky. In this stage they journeyed overland to Atchison, but at the Nebraska line they were held up by road agents. At that time the drafting of men into the army had caused many to flee and take to the life of outlaws on the frontier. Pondsnasky had a large amount of gold dust with him. The holdup occurred after they had left the Cottonwood Station about two miles, and it was just dusk. The driver seeing that the stage was surrounded stopped his horses, but Moffett immediately threw open the door on one side while Mr. Plumb did the same on the other, and both quickly climbed to the top. The driver then whipped up his horses and the road agents, thinking it was a party of soldiers, fell back and allowed them to pass uninjured.
Arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Mr. Plumb went to headquarters for transportation to St. Louis and there found an order transferring him to General Ewing's headquarters at Kansas City, MO. He was then assigned with four others as an independent scout and spent the rest of that summer in that work. The next spring, 1864, he was in the Red River expedition, and participated in the engagement at Fort Bayou, Clarksville, Dardanelles and other places.
When Gen. Sterling Price began his last great raid into Missouri sccompanied by Raines, Marmaduke and other Confederate generals, the Southern forces crossed the Arkansas River below and above Little Rock and joined forces near the White River. General Steele of the Federal army sent out a reconnoitering party to discover where the Confederates were concentrating. At the head of this party was Major Pomeroy of the Ninth Kansas and ninety-seven others including Mr. Plumb. At a bridge across the bayou, they captured a rebel picket and from him learned that the noted guerilla was having his horses shod at a crossroads known as West Point. It was about the middle of afternoon and the Federals made a wide circuit so as to arrive at West Point about dark. Coming into the main road they found a large frame house. They asked a man who stood by the well curb where West Point crossroads was, and were told that they had arrived and that General Price, Raines, Marmaduke and other leaders of the Federal forces had just gone into camp there. It was a dangerous situation, but they managed to make their escape without being captured. At the conclusion of this campaign, Mr. Plumb was mustered out at Leavenworth, KS.
After the war was over and Mr. Plumb had returned to Kansas, he and his brother, Hon. Preston B. Plumb, entered into a contract to engage in the raising of cattle and sheep. In 1868 Mr. Plumb bought his brother's interest and thereafter continued alone in the business. From a small capital in the beginning he increased his wealth extensively and owned a most excellent ranch of 5,000 acres in Lyon County. He also sold a ranch of 4,000 acres. He was one of the extensive cattle feeders in this section of the state though he had disposed of a great part of the landed possessions he once owned.
Success attended his business from the beginning and for many years he has ranked among the leading agriculturists and stockmen of the State of Kansas. He was the builder of his own fortune and displayed extraordinary business ability. On his ranch were to be found the best of improvements and large droves of fine cattle and other stock. He had other valuable holdings, in the way of bank and other corporation stock, including stock in the Emporia National and other banks. He was a director in the Commercial State Bank of Emporia.
In 1904 he was elected a member of the Kansas Legislature, and in 1906 he was reëlected to succeed himself for a second term. In the legislature he rendered creditable service and gained a still wider popularity and acquaintance over the state. During his time in the legislature, the two-cent railroad bill was passed, the anti-pass bill and much other important legislation. In 1910 he was elected a member of the Kansas Railroad Commission. In 1911 Mr. Plumb was elected chairman of the body. When the public utilities law was passed he helped organize the board, and was its chairman during organization. One public honor came in April, 1915, when he was elected finance commissioner of Emporia and gave most of his time to that important place of trust.
He resided in Emporia where he had a handsome, though not a large, residence 628 Exchange Street. Mr. Plumb was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights and Ladies of Security, is a past commander of Post No. 55, Grand Army of the Rcpublic.
On August 21, 1867, at the home of the bride near Emporia Mr. Plumb married Miss Ella Cowles. Seven children were born to their union. Daughter Edna died at age 13, and Preston B. died at age 26. Maggie, who lived at Lang, KS, was the widow of Marion Roderick who was a farmer and stockman. James R. was a farmer and stockman on the old home ranch at Lang. Joseph was a rancher and wheat grower at Lewiston, Montana. Inez was the wife of Carl Kinney, a stock rancher at Gunderson, Colorado. Kittie married Clarence DeLong, who was a farmer, and raiser of horses and cattle, living three miles north of Emporia. They later lived in the Plumb home on Exchange Street.
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The Emporia Gazette, 05 Jun 1930
George Plumb, for whose brother the Preston B. Plumb post is named, was born in Union County, Ohio, December 15, 1843. George Plumb is the son of the late David Plumb, one of Lyon County's pioneers. George Plumb came to Emporia in 1857. His brother, Preston, later Senator Plumb, was one of the organizers of the town company. He married Miss Ellen Cowles, August 20, 1857. Mrs. Plumb died last Tuesday morning. Mr. Plumb has five children. They are: J. R. Plumb, St. Joseph; J. C. Plumb, Lewiston, Mont.; Mrs. Karl G. Kinney, Linton, Ore.; Mrs. Ed Mitchell and Mrs. C. H. DeLong, Emporia.
Mr. Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Infantry, November 13, 1861. The regiment spent the first year along the Missouri-Kansas border, its camps being near Paola. The regiment was later merged with the 2nd Cavalry and Company H became Company B.
Mr. Plumb took part in many battles throughout the war and his company was credited with having saved some of the prairie states for the Union when it accompanied Governor Hardy to Utah across the plains.
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The Emporia Gazette, 12 Oct 1933, Tue
GEORGE PLUMB DIES AT HOME
Death Comes to Emporia Pioneer and Civil War Veteran, Following Few Days Sickness
TO HOLD FUNERAL SUNDAY
Services Will Be Held at Sutton Funeral Home--Death Ends Long Career As Farmer, Soldier, and Public Servant
George Plumb died at 7:45 o'clock this morning at his home, 628 Exchange. He had been sick only a few days.
Mr. Plumb is survived by three daughters and two sons. They are: Mrs. Ed Mitchell, of Emporia; Mrs. Carl Kinney, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Clarence DeLong, Emporia; James R. Plumb, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Joseph Plumb, Lewistown, Idaho. Nine grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon in the Sutton Funeral home. Interment will be in Maplewood cemetery. The casket will be open at the funeral home from Friday noon until the time of the services. The family has requested that no flowers be sent.
BORN IN OHIO IN 1843
George Plumb was born in Union county, Ohio, December 15, 1843. His father and mother were David Prince and Hannah Maria Bierce Plumb, both descendents of New England families. The Plumbs trace their ancestry to William the Conqueror.
Mr. and Mrs. David Plumb brought their family to Kansas in April, 1857, coming directly to Emporia where their elder son, Preston B. Plumb, who later became a United States senator, already had located. The Plumbs lived for a short time in the first house built in Emporia, a 14 by 16 up-and-down shanty on the present site of the Emporia State Bank. David Plumb at once selected a claim, on the Neosho northeast of town, and soon a cabin was built and the family moved into its own home. George Plumb, though but 13 years old, began the work of a pioneer, helping his father and brother cut and haul logs for the cabin and get out the stone for the foundation and the chimney, thus early doing the work of a man. In 1858 he was breaking sod for a neighbor. He attended school in Emporia one winter, he and his brother, Will, walking the four miles from their home to town. He worked on the claim with his father until 1861.
November 13, 1861, George Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Cavalry, the first Emporia company to enlist for three years or for the duration of the war. Another company had enlisted earlier for 90 days. The eighth Kansas spent the winter of 1861-62 on the Missouri-Kansas border, fighting guerillas, and in the spring was ordered to Leavenworth, where it was merged with the 2nd Kansas, and Company H became Company B. Later, Mr. Plumb was transferred to Company B, 9th Kansas Cavalry. The second Kansas broke up gangs of kidnappers who were stealing free Negroes and running them south, where they were sold as slaves.
KEPT MAIL ROUTE OPEN
In the spring of 1862 Governor Hardy, of Utah, lately appointed to that office by his cousin, President Lincoln, reached Atchison. Company B, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, was detailed to escort him to Utah, and as a member of this company George Plumb crossed the plains. The soldiers kept open the mail routes for hundreds of miles, fighting Indians and Mormons at many points along the way. This company is credited in the adjutant general's report as having saved these states to the Union by enabling the government, by this mail route, to keep in touch with them.
George Plumb did scout duty under General Ewing along the Kansas-Missouri border in 1863, and after the Quantrill raid on Lawrence, went to Humboldt to help hold back the Confederates from further advance up the Neosho valley. Emporia men rode all night to the relief of Humboldt after news of its sacking reached this section of the state. George Plumb was with the Red River expedition in 1864, and after his return, again was ordered to the protection of the border. He was in many fights and skirmishes, often was hungry and cold and rain-soaked, and was in the hospital with an attack of mountain fever while on the plains. His horse fell on him while attacking guerillas at Cowskin Prairie, I.T., and his knee cap was broken, but he was never wounded in battle.
After his discharge from the army, George Plumb went into the livestock business with his brother, Preston B. Plumb. In 1868 he bought his brother's interest, and for many years carried on the business on an extensive scale. He was one of the foremost sheep breeders in Kansas, and was equally well-known as a cattleman. His claim on Badger creek was developed into one of the finest and most complete cattle and sheep ranches in the state and grew to 5000 acres. His improvements were the latest and best and his stock was pedigreed.
SECRETARY OF LIVESTOCK GROUP
George Plumb was elected secretary of the Kansas Livestock association in 1894 and served the association in that capacity until 1910, when he resigned to become a member of the State Railroad commission. He had been a member of the livestock association's executive committee since its organization.
Gov. Roscoe Stubbs in 1909 appointed George Plumb to a place on the State Railroad commission, for a term of four years. Plumb was one of the few men who, appointed to an office, was elected to it by the people when the law changed, making it an elective office. His candidacy was endorsed by fair-minded newspaper men, regardless of politics, all over the state.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Kansas house of representatives two terms, the sessions of 1905 and 1907. He was one of the foremost champions of the direct primary law, of the 2-cent fare law, of the anti-discrimination law and of the maximum freight law. He was the author of a most important railroad law, permitting the railroad commissioners to join with commissioners of other states to fight for lower freight rates in common territory.
A CITY FINANCE COMMISSIONER
George Plumb was elected commissioner of finance of Emporia in 1915 and served the city in that office six years. He found in the sinking fund of the city treasury $30,192.69, and when his term of office closed this fund had been increased to $96,729.50. He retired bonds amounting to $81,700, making a total of $178,429.50. He found the tax rate in 1915 to be .0087 and for the three years following it was reduced to .0064.
George Plumb was married August 21, 1868, to Miss Ellen Cowles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cowles, Lyon county pioneers. They began housekeeping on the David Plumb homestead, where they lived three years. Then they moved to their claim on Badger creek, which was their home until 1902, when they built the home on Exchange street, which for many years was a center of the town's hospitality. Previous to that time, as the children needed school advantages beyond the district school, a part of the family had lived in Emporia during the school terms.
In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Plumb celebrated their golden wedding and in 1928 the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage was observed by a large gathering of relatives and friends. Mrs. Plum (sic) died in 1930.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Grace Methodist church, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had served Post 55 several times as commander. He was a director in the Commercial National Bank, a member of the Y.M.C.A. board, and was interested in and gave a helping hand to all community projects of the town and county.
The passing of George Plumb removes from the ranks of Emporia's old settlers the man whose reminiscences of Lyon county's pioneer history were among the most interesting and colorful of all those who saw the town's beginnings. No Old Settler's gathering in Emporia ever was considered complete unless George Plumb was there.
In 1857, when he was only 14 years old, he drove an ox team from the Emporia townsite to Lawrence, the nearest place where breadstuff was made. The trip took a week, and was made without accident. The next time he went to mill was up the Cottonwood to the Haworth mill.
That same winter he went to Kansas City with two of the Hall brothers after lumber for the Masonic hall, which stood for many years at the corner of Seventh and Commercial. The party camped at night, sleeping under the wagons.
When David Plumb, George Plumb's father, took his claim across the Neosho, this side of later what was called Plumb creek, the family stayed on the townsite and George Plumb and his brother, Will, helped their father get out rock for a fireplace, cut logs, and put up a cabin. The family moved in before the roof was on or the door hung, and the young Plumbs helped break the sod and plant corn, with the finishing of the cabin coming when it could. Later George Plumb brought home lumber for the door.
The Plumb family brought school books with them from Ohio, and except for the comparably short time George Plumb walked from the claim into Emporia to school, he was taught, with the other younger children, by his sister Ellen, who later for many years owned and operated a book store in Emporia.
In the early days of the Chisholm trail over which many thousand cattle were driven from the Indian territory and Texas to Kansas, George Plumb often was one of the drivers.
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Hon. George Plumb was one of Emporia's [Kansas] honored pioneers, the son of David Plumb, and was a brother of the late Senator Preston B. Plumb. Although he never gained the fame of his distinguished brother, George Plumb had a very interesting and active career. He was also one of the pioneers of Kansas and took a prominent part in its official affairs. David P. Plumb became a successful business man and agriculturist in Kansas, and in the early political affairs of the state became a leader, being among the organizers of the Republican party in Kansas.
Mr. Plumb was born in Delaware Co, OH on December 15, 1843. He learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until he came to Kansas in the spring of 1857 with his parents when hs was 14. They lived in the first house or shanty that was built in Emporia. As a boy he carried the chain in making the first survey of the townsite. He was a student for 2 months in the first prairie school of Emporia. The teacher was a private tutor and there were nine scholars altogether. He found plenty of work to do on his father's claim of 160 acres just east of Emporia at the mouth of Plumb Creek, which was named for his father.
On November 13, 1861, he enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Cavalry and then was afterwards transferred to the Second Kansas Cavalry, and still later to the Ninth Cavalry. He served until he was honorably discharged December 19, 1864. Much of his military experience was in the Far West. During their stay in the West, Company B built a new road from Fort Bridger to Camp Collins, and also built Fort Halleck at the foot of Medicine Mountains. He was a member of the escort who accompanied Governor Hardy, a first cousin, by the way, of Abraham Lincoln, across the plains to Utah in 1862. He then spent more than a year in Wyoming, where the presence of a large body of troops was required on account of Indian warfare. He assisted in laying out a new stage line from Cachlepowder to Green River in Wyoming, an overland trail that was established primarily as a protection against the Indians.
On July 7, 1863, he was a participant in an all day's engagement with the Ute Indians in South Pass, in which several soldiers wers killed and several wounded. When he returned to the fort after this battle, Mr. Plumb received an order to report to General Schofield at St. Louis. He took the stage on July 9, 1863, but on arriving at Medicine Bow it was found that the Indians had destroyed the station. The driver refused to go any further until Mr. Plumb persuaded him to do so by getting upon the booth and riding by his side. The station at Rock Creek was also destroyed. Rock Creek was thirty-two miles from the fort and it was twelve miles to the next station, and they were compelled to go through without a change of horses.
At Cachlepowder River he took the Denver stage, which had three passengers, one of them being Dave Moffett, who was then postmaster at Denver, and another was a Jewish merchant, Pondsnasky. In this stage they journeyed overland to Atchison, but at the Nebraska line they were held up by road agents. At that time the drafting of men into the army had caused many to flee and take to the life of outlaws on the frontier. Pondsnasky had a large amount of gold dust with him. The holdup occurred after they had left the Cottonwood Station about two miles, and it was just dusk. The driver seeing that the stage was surrounded stopped his horses, but Moffett immediately threw open the door on one side while Mr. Plumb did the same on the other, and both quickly climbed to the top. The driver then whipped up his horses and the road agents, thinking it was a party of soldiers, fell back and allowed them to pass uninjured.
Arriving at Fort Leavenworth, Mr. Plumb went to headquarters for transportation to St. Louis and there found an order transferring him to General Ewing's headquarters at Kansas City, MO. He was then assigned with four others as an independent scout and spent the rest of that summer in that work. The next spring, 1864, he was in the Red River expedition, and participated in the engagement at Fort Bayou, Clarksville, Dardanelles and other places.
When Gen. Sterling Price began his last great raid into Missouri sccompanied by Raines, Marmaduke and other Confederate generals, the Southern forces crossed the Arkansas River below and above Little Rock and joined forces near the White River. General Steele of the Federal army sent out a reconnoitering party to discover where the Confederates were concentrating. At the head of this party was Major Pomeroy of the Ninth Kansas and ninety-seven others including Mr. Plumb. At a bridge across the bayou, they captured a rebel picket and from him learned that the noted guerilla was having his horses shod at a crossroads known as West Point. It was about the middle of afternoon and the Federals made a wide circuit so as to arrive at West Point about dark. Coming into the main road they found a large frame house. They asked a man who stood by the well curb where West Point crossroads was, and were told that they had arrived and that General Price, Raines, Marmaduke and other leaders of the Federal forces had just gone into camp there. It was a dangerous situation, but they managed to make their escape without being captured. At the conclusion of this campaign, Mr. Plumb was mustered out at Leavenworth, KS.
After the war was over and Mr. Plumb had returned to Kansas, he and his brother, Hon. Preston B. Plumb, entered into a contract to engage in the raising of cattle and sheep. In 1868 Mr. Plumb bought his brother's interest and thereafter continued alone in the business. From a small capital in the beginning he increased his wealth extensively and owned a most excellent ranch of 5,000 acres in Lyon County. He also sold a ranch of 4,000 acres. He was one of the extensive cattle feeders in this section of the state though he had disposed of a great part of the landed possessions he once owned.
Success attended his business from the beginning and for many years he has ranked among the leading agriculturists and stockmen of the State of Kansas. He was the builder of his own fortune and displayed extraordinary business ability. On his ranch were to be found the best of improvements and large droves of fine cattle and other stock. He had other valuable holdings, in the way of bank and other corporation stock, including stock in the Emporia National and other banks. He was a director in the Commercial State Bank of Emporia.
In 1904 he was elected a member of the Kansas Legislature, and in 1906 he was reëlected to succeed himself for a second term. In the legislature he rendered creditable service and gained a still wider popularity and acquaintance over the state. During his time in the legislature, the two-cent railroad bill was passed, the anti-pass bill and much other important legislation. In 1910 he was elected a member of the Kansas Railroad Commission. In 1911 Mr. Plumb was elected chairman of the body. When the public utilities law was passed he helped organize the board, and was its chairman during organization. One public honor came in April, 1915, when he was elected finance commissioner of Emporia and gave most of his time to that important place of trust.
He resided in Emporia where he had a handsome, though not a large, residence 628 Exchange Street. Mr. Plumb was a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights and Ladies of Security, is a past commander of Post No. 55, Grand Army of the Rcpublic.
On August 21, 1867, at the home of the bride near Emporia Mr. Plumb married Miss Ella Cowles. Seven children were born to their union. Daughter Edna died at age 13, and Preston B. died at age 26. Maggie, who lived at Lang, KS, was the widow of Marion Roderick who was a farmer and stockman. James R. was a farmer and stockman on the old home ranch at Lang. Joseph was a rancher and wheat grower at Lewiston, Montana. Inez was the wife of Carl Kinney, a stock rancher at Gunderson, Colorado. Kittie married Clarence DeLong, who was a farmer, and raiser of horses and cattle, living three miles north of Emporia. They later lived in the Plumb home on Exchange Street.
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The Emporia Gazette, 05 Jun 1930
George Plumb, for whose brother the Preston B. Plumb post is named, was born in Union County, Ohio, December 15, 1843. George Plumb is the son of the late David Plumb, one of Lyon County's pioneers. George Plumb came to Emporia in 1857. His brother, Preston, later Senator Plumb, was one of the organizers of the town company. He married Miss Ellen Cowles, August 20, 1857. Mrs. Plumb died last Tuesday morning. Mr. Plumb has five children. They are: J. R. Plumb, St. Joseph; J. C. Plumb, Lewiston, Mont.; Mrs. Karl G. Kinney, Linton, Ore.; Mrs. Ed Mitchell and Mrs. C. H. DeLong, Emporia.
Mr. Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Infantry, November 13, 1861. The regiment spent the first year along the Missouri-Kansas border, its camps being near Paola. The regiment was later merged with the 2nd Cavalry and Company H became Company B.
Mr. Plumb took part in many battles throughout the war and his company was credited with having saved some of the prairie states for the Union when it accompanied Governor Hardy to Utah across the plains.
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The Emporia Gazette, 12 Oct 1933, Tue
GEORGE PLUMB DIES AT HOME
Death Comes to Emporia Pioneer and Civil War Veteran, Following Few Days Sickness
TO HOLD FUNERAL SUNDAY
Services Will Be Held at Sutton Funeral Home--Death Ends Long Career As Farmer, Soldier, and Public Servant
George Plumb died at 7:45 o'clock this morning at his home, 628 Exchange. He had been sick only a few days.
Mr. Plumb is survived by three daughters and two sons. They are: Mrs. Ed Mitchell, of Emporia; Mrs. Carl Kinney, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Clarence DeLong, Emporia; James R. Plumb, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Joseph Plumb, Lewistown, Idaho. Nine grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon in the Sutton Funeral home. Interment will be in Maplewood cemetery. The casket will be open at the funeral home from Friday noon until the time of the services. The family has requested that no flowers be sent.
BORN IN OHIO IN 1843
George Plumb was born in Union county, Ohio, December 15, 1843. His father and mother were David Prince and Hannah Maria Bierce Plumb, both descendents of New England families. The Plumbs trace their ancestry to William the Conqueror.
Mr. and Mrs. David Plumb brought their family to Kansas in April, 1857, coming directly to Emporia where their elder son, Preston B. Plumb, who later became a United States senator, already had located. The Plumbs lived for a short time in the first house built in Emporia, a 14 by 16 up-and-down shanty on the present site of the Emporia State Bank. David Plumb at once selected a claim, on the Neosho northeast of town, and soon a cabin was built and the family moved into its own home. George Plumb, though but 13 years old, began the work of a pioneer, helping his father and brother cut and haul logs for the cabin and get out the stone for the foundation and the chimney, thus early doing the work of a man. In 1858 he was breaking sod for a neighbor. He attended school in Emporia one winter, he and his brother, Will, walking the four miles from their home to town. He worked on the claim with his father until 1861.
November 13, 1861, George Plumb enlisted in Company H, 8th Kansas Cavalry, the first Emporia company to enlist for three years or for the duration of the war. Another company had enlisted earlier for 90 days. The eighth Kansas spent the winter of 1861-62 on the Missouri-Kansas border, fighting guerillas, and in the spring was ordered to Leavenworth, where it was merged with the 2nd Kansas, and Company H became Company B. Later, Mr. Plumb was transferred to Company B, 9th Kansas Cavalry. The second Kansas broke up gangs of kidnappers who were stealing free Negroes and running them south, where they were sold as slaves.
KEPT MAIL ROUTE OPEN
In the spring of 1862 Governor Hardy, of Utah, lately appointed to that office by his cousin, President Lincoln, reached Atchison. Company B, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, was detailed to escort him to Utah, and as a member of this company George Plumb crossed the plains. The soldiers kept open the mail routes for hundreds of miles, fighting Indians and Mormons at many points along the way. This company is credited in the adjutant general's report as having saved these states to the Union by enabling the government, by this mail route, to keep in touch with them.
George Plumb did scout duty under General Ewing along the Kansas-Missouri border in 1863, and after the Quantrill raid on Lawrence, went to Humboldt to help hold back the Confederates from further advance up the Neosho valley. Emporia men rode all night to the relief of Humboldt after news of its sacking reached this section of the state. George Plumb was with the Red River expedition in 1864, and after his return, again was ordered to the protection of the border. He was in many fights and skirmishes, often was hungry and cold and rain-soaked, and was in the hospital with an attack of mountain fever while on the plains. His horse fell on him while attacking guerillas at Cowskin Prairie, I.T., and his knee cap was broken, but he was never wounded in battle.
After his discharge from the army, George Plumb went into the livestock business with his brother, Preston B. Plumb. In 1868 he bought his brother's interest, and for many years carried on the business on an extensive scale. He was one of the foremost sheep breeders in Kansas, and was equally well-known as a cattleman. His claim on Badger creek was developed into one of the finest and most complete cattle and sheep ranches in the state and grew to 5000 acres. His improvements were the latest and best and his stock was pedigreed.
SECRETARY OF LIVESTOCK GROUP
George Plumb was elected secretary of the Kansas Livestock association in 1894 and served the association in that capacity until 1910, when he resigned to become a member of the State Railroad commission. He had been a member of the livestock association's executive committee since its organization.
Gov. Roscoe Stubbs in 1909 appointed George Plumb to a place on the State Railroad commission, for a term of four years. Plumb was one of the few men who, appointed to an office, was elected to it by the people when the law changed, making it an elective office. His candidacy was endorsed by fair-minded newspaper men, regardless of politics, all over the state.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Kansas house of representatives two terms, the sessions of 1905 and 1907. He was one of the foremost champions of the direct primary law, of the 2-cent fare law, of the anti-discrimination law and of the maximum freight law. He was the author of a most important railroad law, permitting the railroad commissioners to join with commissioners of other states to fight for lower freight rates in common territory.
A CITY FINANCE COMMISSIONER
George Plumb was elected commissioner of finance of Emporia in 1915 and served the city in that office six years. He found in the sinking fund of the city treasury $30,192.69, and when his term of office closed this fund had been increased to $96,729.50. He retired bonds amounting to $81,700, making a total of $178,429.50. He found the tax rate in 1915 to be .0087 and for the three years following it was reduced to .0064.
George Plumb was married August 21, 1868, to Miss Ellen Cowles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Cowles, Lyon county pioneers. They began housekeeping on the David Plumb homestead, where they lived three years. Then they moved to their claim on Badger creek, which was their home until 1902, when they built the home on Exchange street, which for many years was a center of the town's hospitality. Previous to that time, as the children needed school advantages beyond the district school, a part of the family had lived in Emporia during the school terms.
In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Plumb celebrated their golden wedding and in 1928 the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage was observed by a large gathering of relatives and friends. Mrs. Plum (sic) died in 1930.
Mr. Plumb was a member of the Grace Methodist church, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had served Post 55 several times as commander. He was a director in the Commercial National Bank, a member of the Y.M.C.A. board, and was interested in and gave a helping hand to all community projects of the town and county.
The passing of George Plumb removes from the ranks of Emporia's old settlers the man whose reminiscences of Lyon county's pioneer history were among the most interesting and colorful of all those who saw the town's beginnings. No Old Settler's gathering in Emporia ever was considered complete unless George Plumb was there.
In 1857, when he was only 14 years old, he drove an ox team from the Emporia townsite to Lawrence, the nearest place where breadstuff was made. The trip took a week, and was made without accident. The next time he went to mill was up the Cottonwood to the Haworth mill.
That same winter he went to Kansas City with two of the Hall brothers after lumber for the Masonic hall, which stood for many years at the corner of Seventh and Commercial. The party camped at night, sleeping under the wagons.
When David Plumb, George Plumb's father, took his claim across the Neosho, this side of later what was called Plumb creek, the family stayed on the townsite and George Plumb and his brother, Will, helped their father get out rock for a fireplace, cut logs, and put up a cabin. The family moved in before the roof was on or the door hung, and the young Plumbs helped break the sod and plant corn, with the finishing of the cabin coming when it could. Later George Plumb brought home lumber for the door.
The Plumb family brought school books with them from Ohio, and except for the comparably short time George Plumb walked from the claim into Emporia to school, he was taught, with the other younger children, by his sister Ellen, who later for many years owned and operated a book store in Emporia.
In the early days of the Chisholm trail over which many thousand cattle were driven from the Indian territory and Texas to Kansas, George Plumb often was one of the drivers.
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