Orlando Plummer
Encyclopedia
Orlando Pleasant Shields Plummer (April 13, 1836 – December 7, 1913) was an American physician and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native of Pennsylvania
, he started practicing medicine in Illinois
before moving to Portland, Oregon
. In Oregon, he continued his medical work as well as working for several telegraph companies. A Republican, Plummer was also a member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
, a medical professor, fruit farmer, and Portland city council member. His drug store in downtown had the first telephone in Portland.
, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
, on April 13, 1836, to Elizabeth (née Craig) and John Boyd Plummer. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
. Plummer received his early education at the local public schools and at the Greenville Academy. He then was employed as an assistant at the local telegraph office, which led to additional jobs working for the telegraph company in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Plummer continued in this line of work at an office in Rock Island, Illinois
, where his brother S. C. Plummer was a doctor.
Orlando read medicine from his brother before he returned to his native Pennsylvania to enter medical school. He attended school at Jefferson Medical College
in Philadelphia where he graduated in 1857 with a Doctor of Medicine
. Plummer returned to Illinois
and practiced medicine in the communities of Aledo
and Moline
from 1858 to 1863. In 1859, he married Sarah B. Cool with whom he had three daughters, with the marriage ending in divorce. One daughter married Claud Gatch, one-time mayor of Salem, Oregon
. In 1863, Plummer took the Oregon Trail
to California
to continue working for the telegraph company, traveling by mule team. He spent the winter of 1863 to 1864 working in a telegraph office there before receiving a promotion.
, office of the California State Telegraph Company. He arrived on April 9, 1864, and became the first interstate telegraph operator in the city. In the fall of 1866 he resigned from the company and moved south to Albany
to resume practicing medicine. After two years Plummer returned to working in the telegraph industry, now for Western Union
, who had purchased Plummer’s former employer. He was hired as the superintendent for their Oregon district, and served in that position from 1868 to 1875.
During his time as superintendent, he began teaching at the Willamette University College of Medicine
in Salem
. Plummer taught hygiene and medical electricity for three years at the school. In 1874, he married Martha Elizabeth Kelly, granddaughter of Clinton Kelly
and niece of Penumbra Kelly. Martha was fourteen years younger than Orlando, and they had five children; Grace, Agnes, Ross, Hildegarde, and Marion.
In 1877, Plummer returned to Portland to practice medicine and opened a drug store at First and Salmon streets in what is today Downtown Portland
. Willamette University
’s medical program moved to Portland in 1879 and Plummer returned to teaching at the school . He was the first dean of the school, and also taught materia medica and therapeutics. Plummer left the school after three years to concentrate on his drug store. He bought a new home in 1881, and remodeled the building. In 1891, he relocated the store to Third and Madison, and his store became the home of the first telephone in the city.
Plummer was a member of the United States Examining Surgeons, serving as the secretary of the board on several occasions. He also helped found the State Medical Society of Oregon and was later appointed by Governor Sylvester Pennoyer
to the newly created State Board of Medical Examiners. Plummer spent some time as a professor at the University of Oregon
’s medical school, located in Portland. That school and the Willamette medical college were merged in 1913 and later became Oregon Health & Science University
.
from Multnomah County
(where Portland is located) as a Republican in District 41. He won re-election to a second two-year term in 1882, but represented District 39 during that session. He only served during the 1880 and 1882 legislative sessions. Plummer also served as chairman of the Republican’s city and county conventions for one year.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, he started practicing medicine in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
before moving to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. In Oregon, he continued his medical work as well as working for several telegraph companies. A Republican, Plummer was also a member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
, a medical professor, fruit farmer, and Portland city council member. His drug store in downtown had the first telephone in Portland.
Early life
Orlando Pleasant Shields Plummer (often O.P.S. Plummer) was born in GreenvilleGreenville, Pennsylvania
Greenville is a borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Located along the Shenango River, Greenville is roughly 80 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Greenville is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is home to 570,000 people...
, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 116,638. Its county seat is Mercer; Sharon is its largest city....
, on April 13, 1836, to Elizabeth (née Craig) and John Boyd Plummer. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Plummer received his early education at the local public schools and at the Greenville Academy. He then was employed as an assistant at the local telegraph office, which led to additional jobs working for the telegraph company in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Plummer continued in this line of work at an office in Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, where his brother S. C. Plummer was a doctor.
Orlando read medicine from his brother before he returned to his native Pennsylvania to enter medical school. He attended school at Jefferson Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University is a private health sciences university in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. The university consists of six constituent colleges and schools, Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Health...
in Philadelphia where he graduated in 1857 with a Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
. Plummer returned to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and practiced medicine in the communities of Aledo
Aledo, Illinois
Aledo is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,613 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County.-Geography:Aledo is located at ....
and Moline
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
from 1858 to 1863. In 1859, he married Sarah B. Cool with whom he had three daughters, with the marriage ending in divorce. One daughter married Claud Gatch, one-time mayor of Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. In 1863, Plummer took the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to continue working for the telegraph company, traveling by mule team. He spent the winter of 1863 to 1864 working in a telegraph office there before receiving a promotion.
Oregon
Plummer was promoted to manager of the Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, office of the California State Telegraph Company. He arrived on April 9, 1864, and became the first interstate telegraph operator in the city. In the fall of 1866 he resigned from the company and moved south to Albany
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
to resume practicing medicine. After two years Plummer returned to working in the telegraph industry, now for Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
, who had purchased Plummer’s former employer. He was hired as the superintendent for their Oregon district, and served in that position from 1868 to 1875.
During his time as superintendent, he began teaching at the Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine is a former school of medicine that was part of Willamette University. Founded in 1867 as the first medical school in Oregon, the school relocated between Portland and the main university campus in Salem several times. Eventually the school was merged with...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. Plummer taught hygiene and medical electricity for three years at the school. In 1874, he married Martha Elizabeth Kelly, granddaughter of Clinton Kelly
Clinton Kelly (minister)
Reverend Clinton Kelly was an early pioneer of what became the U.S. state of Oregon.Kelly was born on June 15, 1808, in Pulaski County, Kentucky, the son of Samuel and Nancy Kelly....
and niece of Penumbra Kelly. Martha was fourteen years younger than Orlando, and they had five children; Grace, Agnes, Ross, Hildegarde, and Marion.
In 1877, Plummer returned to Portland to practice medicine and opened a drug store at First and Salmon streets in what is today Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
. Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
’s medical program moved to Portland in 1879 and Plummer returned to teaching at the school . He was the first dean of the school, and also taught materia medica and therapeutics. Plummer left the school after three years to concentrate on his drug store. He bought a new home in 1881, and remodeled the building. In 1891, he relocated the store to Third and Madison, and his store became the home of the first telephone in the city.
Plummer was a member of the United States Examining Surgeons, serving as the secretary of the board on several occasions. He also helped found the State Medical Society of Oregon and was later appointed by Governor Sylvester Pennoyer
Sylvester Pennoyer
Sylvester Pennoyer was an American educator, attorney, and politician in Oregon. He was born in New York, attended Harvard Law School, and moved to Oregon at age 25. A Democrat, he served two terms as the eighth Governor of Oregon from 1886 to 1895. He joined the Populist cause in the early 1890s...
to the newly created State Board of Medical Examiners. Plummer spent some time as a professor at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
’s medical school, located in Portland. That school and the Willamette medical college were merged in 1913 and later became Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
.
Political career
In 1865, Plummer entered politics and was elected as a city council member for Portland. He served one term on the council, from 1865 to 1866. In 1880, he was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
from Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
(where Portland is located) as a Republican in District 41. He won re-election to a second two-year term in 1882, but represented District 39 during that session. He only served during the 1880 and 1882 legislative sessions. Plummer also served as chairman of the Republican’s city and county conventions for one year.