O.P.S. PLUMMER, M.D. – Dr. Plummer, one of the most useful citizens of Portland, was born at Greenville, Pennsylvania, in 1836. He became a telegraph operator, and was soon one of the best sound readers in this country. In 1854 he made his home in the West, selecting Rock Island, Illinois, as his residence. He studied medicine, graduating from Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1857. After practicing medicine several years, and serving in army hospital practice during the first years of the Rebellion, he emigrated to the Pacific coast. In the spring of 1864, upon the completion of communication between Portland and San Francisco, he became the first manager of the Portland Telegraph office, and for a short time did all the work of a service which has so grown as to furnish employment to over sixty persons. He was office manager and district superintendent nearly eleven years, and resigned in order to engage in the drug business. For eleven years he has conducted an extensive trade in this city, being located on the southwest corner of First and Main streets, Portland, Oregon.
He was married to Martha E. Kelly, daughter of the late Reverend Albert Kelly, July 4, 1874, and is the father of eight children, as follows; Mrs. Claud Gatch of Salem, Mrs. S.J. Chadwick of Colfax, Washington, and Miss Francette Plummer, now a leading school teacher in that city, by his former marriage; and Grace, Agnes, Hildegarde, Ross and Marion, by his present wife.
Doctor Plummer’s remarkable capacity for labor has withstood unimpaired the many years of constant application to which he has subjected himself. He is one of Portland’s most rugged and capable men. He has ever been highly appreciated for his ability and fidelity in public affairs, and has served the city of Portland as member of the city council, and Multnomah county as representative in the state legislature. In his profession of medicine he has held a conspicuous position, having filled for a long time the chair of materia medica and therapeutics in the Medical Department of the Willamette University; and he was dean of the faculty.
He is a leading member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been master of Portland Lodge, No. 55, during three successive years. He is at present a member of the Board of Examining surgeons for pensions at this city, and has been secretary of that body since its organization. He is a firm supporter of morality and good order, and is a member of the Fourth Presbyterian church of Portland. The state owes much to him for his untiring zeal in developing an interest in our fruit culture; and he is one of the leading members of our Pomological Society. He is one of our citizens whom we like to see register himself in distant or foreign parts as “of Oregon.” It is a service to us.