FRANCIS PLUMB

FRANCIS PLUMB, a leading citizen of Lincoln Township, is a native of England, born in Lincolnshire, February 6, 1846. He is a son of William and Mary (Gray) Plumb, natives of England, who had five sons and one daughter. The father died in England, and the mother, with three children, still reside there, and three of the children emigrated to America. Francis was reared on a farm and was educated in his native land. For three years he worked in a government ship-yard. He was married March 17, 1868, to Miss Grace McKinnon, a native of England, and a daughter of Peter and Grace (McClellan) McKinnon. Mr. Plumb and wife sailed from Liverpool for New York, April 28,1868. They went directly to Council Bluffs after landing, and from Council Bluffs to Mills County, where Mr. Plumb had relatives. He worked by the month for three years and then rented for four years; he then came to Shelby County and bought 120 acres of wild land. In 1875 he settled on this land and has since made it his home. Mr. Plumb has invested his surplus in land, and now owns 360 acres. He has a good comfortable dwelling-house, surrounded with a fine grove, and a barn and yards for cattle. The farm is well watered, and he makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle, in which he has been very successful. Mr. and Mrs.Plumb are the parents of seven children - William V., John, Robert Fracis, Maggie Isabelle, Alfred Alonzo and Florence Grace. Lillian Grace, the fifth child, died September 6, 1873. Mr. Plumb and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church, known as the Stevens class. Mr. Plumb is a Republican. He is still in the prime of life, and although he started a poor man, by good management and thrift he has acquired a valuable property. He is one of Shelby County's reliable and honored citizens.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pg. 409. Transcribed and submitted by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs