Source: "History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its First Settlement to the
Present Time," by Andrew W. Young, Cincinnati, Ohio, Robert Clarke & Co.,
1872, p. 428-9.

"JOHN THOMAS PLUMMER was born in Montgomery county, Md., March 12, 1807,
and removed with his father to Cincinnati in 1819, and thence, in 1823, to
Richmond, where he resided until his death, April 10, 1865. He commenced the
study of medicine in his eighteenth year, and graduated from Yale College
just before he had attained his majority. As a physician, he was much
beloved and popular, notwithstanding his extreme aversion to the means often
used to gain popularity. He continued in practice until within a short time
of his decease. In the spring of 1833, he was married to Hannah Wright, of
Springboro', Warren county, Ohio, who died in 1836, leaving a son. In the
fall of 1837, Dr. Plummer married for his second wife, Sarah O. Pierce, of
Portsmouth, N. H., who, with two sons, still survives him. Dr. P. early
became a close and successful student. An intimate friend of his, himself a
man of science, wrote of him after his death, as follows:

"He obtained, by his own exertions, a good, nay, a critical knowledge of the
English language; studied Latin, Greek, and Hebrew of the dead, and French
and German of the living languages, and acquired some knowledge of several
others. He was the personal friend and correspondent of Noah Webster, and
assisted him with some western words in the preparation of his dictionary.

"Dr. Plummer's acquirements were general and profound. He was a naturalist,
not a mere amateur or theorist, but an active and practical one, applying
his knowledge to the investigations of his surroundings, giving whatever
was new and interesting to the world through the scientific periodicals,
more particularly Silliman's Journal, between the editor of which and him-
self there existed a warm personal friendship. His cabinet of specimens and
preparations was at one time large, thoroughly classified, and of especial
value as illustrating the several departments of natural science as they
were developed in his immediate neighborhood. During the latter years of
his life, his impaired health unfitted him for exercises of this kind; and
he distributed his collections to schools and to other places where he
thought them likely to do most good.

"While all branches of medical science received his careful attention,
chemistry and pharmacy were his favorites. The Journal of Pharmacy will
testify to some of his labors in the latter direction; and as a chemist,
theoretical and practical, not only as chemistry is applied to medicine,
but generally, it is doubted whether he had a superior outside of those
who are devoted to chemistry as a special profession."

He was editor of the Schoolmaster, a paper published by Holloway & Davis
during the year 1839, and author of one or two Readers for Friends'
schools. His writings upon agricultural, educational, and scientific
subjects, other than that of his profession, were numerous, and inspired
by a desire to advance the interests of his fellow-men. Devoting so much of
his time to his profession and to scientific and literary studies, he had
little time and less inclination to take part in public business, although
he was for a short time a stockholder in the Richmond Gas Light and Coke
Company, and its first president. While he had decided views on political
questions, and inculcated, with his voice and his pen, the principles of
humanity, temperance, and general benevolence, he stood aloof from parties
and organizations, as tending, in his opinion, to give a wrong bias to the
convictions and actions of men. And he conscientiously refused to partici-
pate in any political movements, or cast a vote for any candidate who, if
elected, might be required to use force in the discharge of his official
duties. We quote again from his friend:

"Born into the society of Friends, he continued a consistent member until
death. Without being a slave to the discipline of the society or a bigot
to its tenets, he held his duty to his Maker and his fellow-man through
its organization paramount to all other duty. His Christian life was not
an idle one, but of active and efficient labor in whatever capacity he
was called to act. perhaps no man among the Friends was more thoroughly
versed in a knowledge of the size, the progress, and the principles of
their sect; and it was all brought into use to advance the welfare of the
society and the world. This made him one of the most influential members of
the society. Nor was his christianity confined to the church and its
associations; but all his acts were performed as his convictions of
Christian duty dictated.

"His opposition to public show or exhibition of any kind was carried
almost, if not quite, to eccentricity; and this sentiment was, doubt-
less, combined with others, the cause of his several times declining
tendered professorships in medical schools, and leading positions in
other educational institutions, as well as of deterring him from uniting
with or attending formal medical organizations that held public meetings."

It is proper to add, that Dr. Plummer rendered a valuable service to the
public by the writing and publishing of "A Historical Sketch," in connec-
tion with his "Directory to the City of Richmond," which appeared in 1857.
The timely publication of this little book has rescued from oblivion many
interesting facts and reminiscences of early times, which can not now be
obtained from any other source. John T. Plummer had five children: By his
first wife, Jonathan W., of the firm of Plummer & Morrisson, wholesale
druggists, Richmond. By his second wife: Charles P., still living; Joseph
P., who died of cholera in 1849 at the age of 9 years; Wm. S., who died in
1863, aged 16; and James, still living."