Summary: Described as a "rugged pioneering soul" who lied about his age to fight under Sherman in the Civil War at 17. He moved with his wife and 300 cattle in a covered wagon from Iowa to build a homestead in Colorado, had 4 surviving children, was friendly with his neighboring native Americans, and worked ranching and farming.
Born: October 1847 in Pennsylvania
Parents and or siblings: nothing is sure...yet!
The van Plummers were Dutch immigrants. They dropped "van" when they came to the US. After two generations they dropped "mer" and added "b".
Suggested father: Edward B. Plumb (1822-1868) born in Ohio (so not in NY like Williston stated).
Suggested mother: Betsey Shatto (1824-1860) born in (also not NY).
Their marriage date is listed as 1849, so 2 years after Williston born.
There is a Carrie Plumb listed as being born to Betsey and Edward in 1851. Also Bessie Plum listed as being born to EB Plumb in Washington County, Iowa in 1860. If her mother was Betsey, she must have died after having her, and her father died when she was 8. Her obituary said she was adopted by her uncle Colonel Ralph Plumb and his wife. But apparently EB remarried before he died - a woman named Belle. The only link I've found is that Bessie was listed as leaving behind a brother W.T. Plumb of Eastonville, Colorado when she died in 1902.
Another suggested father: Williston L. Plumb. No info on him at all.
Civil War:
Williston must have moved from Pennsylvania to Washington County, Iowa between 1847 and 1864, since that is where he enlisted as a soldier just after his 17th birthday.
The minimum age was 18 (between 18 and 20 soldiers needed parental permission), so Williston (like many others) probably lied about his age, as shown in this document, where he is listed as 18.
Enlisted as a private in the 13th Regiment Iowa Voluntary Infantry, Company G, on 2 November 1864, mustered the same day, and fought to the end of the war, mustered out with the rest of his regiment on 21 July 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Here is his soldier page from the National Park Service and some statistics about the 13th Iowa Infantry.
An excerpt from the same document, "Roster and Record of Iowa Troops In the Rebellion, Vol. 2, by Guy E. Logan, HISTORICAL SKETCH THIRTEENTH REGIMENT IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY" gives an account of the regiment during the dates Williston was active.
The original term of Service of those who had not re-enlisted being about to expire, they were sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., and were there mustered out of the service on Nov. 2, 1864. Colonel Shane, Adjutant Rood and Quartermaster Kennedy of the Field and Staff and several of the line officers were also mustered out. These officers and men had served their country faithfully for three years, and the beginning of the end of the war was near at hand. While they parted from their comrades of the veteran regiment with regret, it was with a feeling of just pride that they reviewed the glorious record they had helped to make, and they returned with honor to their homes in Iowa. Lieut. Col. J. C. Wilson was promoted to Colonel of the regiment, and other promotions were made to fill vacancies, as shown in the subjoined roster. From Marietta the regiment moved to Atlanta, and on the 15th of November started on that great march through Georgia to Savannah and the sea. Arrived at Savannah, the regiment took part in the siege operations before that city and, upon its evacuation, it was among the troops that entered the city on the 22d of December, 1864. On Jan. 6, 1865, the regiment embarked on steamer and proceeded to Beaufort, S. C., where it arrived the next day. From Beaufort the regiment marched to Pocotaligo, where it remained until January 29th, when it started on the long and toilsome march through the Carolinas. On the 17th day of February, 1865, a detachment of 75 men of the Thirteenth Iowa, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy, entered the city of Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, and planted the colors of the regiment on the dome of the Capitol. Continuing the march from Columbia, the regiment reached Bentonville, N. C. It took part in the battle of Bentonville, but was not closely engaged, though it had three men wounded on the skirmish line. This was its last battle. At Goldsboro, N. C., the regiment found a large number of recruits from Iowa waiting to join it. The long march was continued by way of Raleigh, Petersburg and Richmond, and ended at Alexandria, Va., near Washington, May 19, 1865. A few days later the regiment took its place in line and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in that magnificent review, the greatest military pageant of modern times. After the review the regiment remained in camp near Washington until June 7th, when it was conveyed by rail to Parkersburg, Va., and thence by steamer to Louisville, Ky., where it remained until July 21, 1865, and on that day was mustered out of the service of the United States. A few days later it was conveyed to Davenport, Iowa, by rail, and there, on the 29th day of July, 1865, the regiment was disbanded and the survivors returned to their homes.
Williston was apparently wounded, because got a pension from the United States Veterans Administration from 1902 and then 1907 as an army invalid, and once he died his wife was listed as an army widow and kept receiving payments after he died in 1915 until her own death (or even after, as some docs say payments were made until 1933).
Married: Ellen E. Robinson on 24 or 26 August 1869.
Ellen got her teaching certificate in Iowa in 1867, and this account says that they met during her teaching days in Iowa. There are two dates recorded for their marriage: the 24th and the 26th of August, 1869 are both listed with the Washington, Iowa county courthouse.
Sounds like Ellen had to whip him into shape: here's a handwritten note from 2 months after their wedding.
"West Hartford Oct 20th, 1869
This day I promise my wife Ellen Plumb that I will abstain from the use of all unnecessary and hurtfull drinks from this day forth as long as I live. So help me God. Willie Plumb."
Underneath this is written in smaller handwriting, "May God bless you my husband and help you to keep your pledge. Ellen Plumb"
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| Amy has this. |
June 1870 Census has a Willis (ran out of room?) Plumb (22, farmer) and Ellen (20, keeping house) both from Iowa living in Perry, Salt River Township, Ralls County, Missouri.
Moved to Colorado: 1873.
From "Our Pioneer Nazarenes" by C.T. Corbett
In the Colorado landscape may be seen plains and mountains, valleys and glaciers. Across its lofty fifty-two peaks of over fourteen thousand feet are some of the greatest glaciers of North America, while over the prairies may be found some of the best ranch land in all the West.
To these plains, just east of Colorado Springs, came Williston and Ellen Plumb from Iowa in a caravan of covered wagons and 300 head of cattle in the year 1873. Williston Plumb was a rugged pioneering soul, having fought under General Sherman in the Civil War. Ellen Robinson with her religious turn had been trained for the profession of school teaching under that educator and fiery soul-winning evangelist, Rev. Charles G. Finney. She had met and married Mr. Plumb during her teaching days in Iowa. In Colorado they established their homestead in view of the vast Rocky Mountain range on a ranch which soon grew into sixteen hundred acres of farming and pasture land for their cattle.
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| Williston and Ellen are on the right. |
"In the spring of 1873 Williston T and Ellen Robinson Plumb left Hannibal Mo. along with several others, bound for Colorado seeking health and happiness.
The Plumbs homestead where there was an abundance of grass and water for their cattle herd. The land was located east of Kiowa Creek on what is known as the northwest of the old Eastonville community along North Meridian Road.
Due to Federal land grants and private purchases, Williston obtained a total of 1245 acres in north-east El Paso county.
The Plumbs had many friends among the Indians. The pioneers were well liked and the indians never stole their horses or other stock.
To the Plumbs were born three boys and two daughters. One girl died very young from a bronchial infection caused by the whooping cough.
The other girl born in 1884 was Bessie who married a neighbor rancher Fred Evans. To Bessie and Fred were born seven children.
Williston Plumb ran supply wagons from the railroad depot in Eastonville (formerly the town of Easton) to the miners in Cripple Creek. There, he obtained mine timbers to build his home along the bank of Kiowa Creek. The oldest son of Bessie lived on the Plumb Ranch in the old farm house until the year 1974. The old homestead was sold in 1982 and the temporary owners donated the house to the Falcon Fire Department who burned it for a practice session of rescue procedures. The old house smoldered for several days.
Williston Plumb died at the age of 66, in 1914. The land became Ellen Plumb's estate until her death the 9th of July, 1929.
Bessie A. Plumb Evans' husband, Fred, obtained 1200 acres from the children of Ellen Plumb - Edward, Roselle, Theron and Bessie the 19th of August 1933.
Bessie retired from the ranch in 1950, moving to Colorado Springs and making her home with her daughter, Ellen, until her death the 23rd of January, 1964."
1878 had second child: Theron Williston Plumb
1880 had third child: Adel, a daughter, the daughter who died in infancy. (She is probably the "Abell" buried in the family plot in 11 July 1881.)
1880 census (June 17) lists Williston (32), Ellen (32), Edward (6), Theron (2) and Adel (2 months) on Township 11 Range 61, El Paso, Colorado. Williston is listed as a farmer and Ellen as a housekeeper, and there is a 19 year old from Ohio named Charles Snyder living with them, listed as a farm laborer. (Grammy says Williston grew corn and oats.)
I think somewhere in here they had the fourth child. There were 6 in all, 2 died.
1884 had fifth child: Bessie Plumb [Evans]
1885 Colorado census has Williston (38), Ellen (38), Edward (11), Theron (7) and Bessie (1).
1886 had sixth child: Roselle John Plumb
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| Ellen Robinson, Roselle Plumb, Williston Plumb, #5 is Theron Plumb, and don't know others besides "sick aunt who wouldn't help with anything" far right. (In Grammy's words.) During a trip to Louisiana. |
1900 census lists Williston (52), Ellen (52), Bessie (16) and Roselle (14) as living in Precincts 1-2, 14, 17, 20, 25 Eastonville, Table Rock, Ramah, Calhan, Falcon, Payton, El Paso, Colorado. Williston is still listed as a farmer, and Ellen is listed as having had 6 children, 4 of whom are living. No education is listed, but all have "yes" in boxes for "Read", "Write" and "Speak English".
1910 census has everyone moved in with Theron in Eastonville, El Paso, Colorado.Williston (62), Ellen (62), Theron (32), his wife Ada (29), their 4 kids (2, 4, 6 and 8) and a 16-year-old servant from Colorado named Grace Baldwin. Williston is listed as still working doing farm labor, and Ellen none.
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| Ellen Robinson, Big Bessie Evans and her children, and Williston Plumb |
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