Dr. Hiram S. Plummer




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"
Wm. Henry Perrin 1883

SUBMITTED BY: Misty Flannigan Dec 1997