The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-04-16
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLIC MEN,
scnn,or Preston n. Plumb

Preston b. Plumb, Junior Senator from the
state Of kansas. like most OF the men who have
achieved notable success In public and private life In
this country, Is Indebted to peculiar advantages Of
birth. fortunate o circumstances, but
is truly and literally, the " architect Of his own
fortuurs.'' lie spraug from humble but honorable
stock and inherited only those habits Of industry and
those principles OF recttude whose united influence
has made their posscssor what he Is. The patetnal
grandfather Of Senator Plumb cmigfatel from the
nelghhoIhoud Of New Haven, Co nm, In 1902, and
made his way to what was then the wilderness Of Ohio.
Hating temporarily near Columbus, he soon heard
Of an infant settlement that being planted in tho
adjoining county Of Delaware and at once made his
way to the place. following "blaaed - trail there
being regular roads in that region. Here he ap
piled his Yankee thrift and perseverance to thesetious
task Of levclng the forest and making farm. This
undertaking he successfully accomplished, and on
the farm thus wrcsted from the woods he continued
to thrive until his children succeeded him, and the
same patrimony descended to his children children,
being held by member Of the family to this day.
Senator plumb's mother was New Yorker, having
been born near Utica, In that state, and both father
and mother stil living to take pride In their sons
success and to he the objects of his acconate solicit
tudc.
At the little hamlet OF Berkshire the future Sena-
tor born october H. 1887 His earlier years
spent within the narrow circle of homefe aud farm
exciting than the meagre attractions of the dis
trct school, whose advantages such they the
boy availel himself Of with singular avllity. His
set-rellant instincts, prompted by the necessities OF
the situation, early impeed young Plumb to seek the
means Of establishing his own fortune. BY happy
inspiration he seized upon the printers craft as the
ono most to his liking, and speedily enrolled himself
In the fraternity from whose ranks have graduated so
| many men who have made their mark upon the
times. lie learned the art thoroughly, and at an
age when boys are expected to he school, and under
the eye Of their parents, he, in company with friend
| named !. w. Dumble established n weekly newspa-
| per at Xenia called the NeiCs This was In 1853.
| The venture was fairly successful, aud Plumb con-
tinued his active connection with 1t till June 1856,
when he succeeded In the edtorship by J. u. Lig
gett, now a Congregational clergyman of repute. AT
| this time Plumb went to Kansas on n prospecting
tour retaining his interest In the paper, but he was
well pleased with what he In the then distant
Territory that he promptly determined to make 1t his
| future home. Returning to ohio, he sold his paper
| to man named Miburn, who continued Its publica.
tlon some years, when 1t merged in the Nenn
| Torchhght, which is still published. Whtelaw
Reid, who had recently graduated from the ohio Unit
versty made his first essay in Journalism as editor
| OF the NsICS In the spring Of 1857, and continued
| in that position for some time.
| Mr.. Plumb settled at EmpOria when the political
| troubles were life, and actively identified him.
| self with the Free-State party, OF which he
leading and efficient member, until, having eded
| In its mission, that party was dissolved the bulk o
Its forces becoming attached to the National Repub-
| liCan organization. In June, 1857 he established
the kd1Sna NtigS, known as the EmpOrtI NelcS,
ana retained his connection with It, either as editor,
Proprietor both until about the breaking ont OF
| the War OF the Rebellion As an editor he was re-
| markably successful, the vigor and effectiveness of
his writings receiving marked recognition from all
90 81, l a
snow OF themost readable and prosperous of Kan
| sas journals.
At this period the early history Of Kansas cleo
| tons we've held at least weekly, and constitutions
| conventions about once month. OF one OF these
| abOrtlve conventions Mr.. Plumb member,
| assisting In framing the Leavenworth constitution.
in 1858, which fell for of Congressional recogni
ton. or this convention James H. Lane presi
dent, and Thomas Ewing Marcus J. Parrot, Martlr
| f. Conway, and other we'll known men mem.
bers. Mr. Plumb also devoted himself to the study O
| the law aud was admitted to the bar In 1851. II,
member Of lower branch of the Legislature II
| 1862, ana was chairman OF the Judiciary Committee
lie was subsequently appointed the first reporter o.
| the Supreme Court, Thomas Ewing being the Chic
| Justice, which position he resigned to enter tbs
| Army.
| In tbs summer Of 1862 three additional regiments
were ordered to be raised In Kansas-the lIth, l2tl
and 18th and Plumb, raising company for the 18th,
was mustered In as second lieutenant August IL o.
| that year. On September he was appointed captain
| OF Co. c. aud the 25th Of the same month was
promoted to be major. The regiment performed very
| arduous service from the time OF Its muster to the
close Of the war being engaged In most Of the prime
pal contests in the Southwest aud along the Kansa
border. Mai. Plumb participated In the battles N
Old Fort Wayne, Cane I'M, and Prairie Grove, and
In that series Of stirring cOmbas-Big Blue LeXIng
ton, Little Blue, Westport, etc.-which followe,
Sterling Prices invasion Of Missouri and his at
tempted conquest Of kansas His military record 4
excellent and to 1t he Is Indebted for that large shar
of his political support which comes from the - sol
der element Of his State. In the summer OF 1856
| he promoted to he lieutenant colonel, and In tn
spring of 1865 was commissioned colonel but befOr
lie was able To muster In that rank the regiment wa
mustered out Of the service
Returning 10 EmpOria at the close Of the war, Col
Plumb resumed the practice of law, and estab
llshed profitable business. He was elected mem
ber of the Legislature OF 1867 and way chosen Speake
| of the House. lie was also a member In 1868, an,
his ability debaer and his success legisato
widely recognized Upon the retirement from tn
bench OF the late Judge Ruggles he formed part
nership with Col. Plumb, and the firm soon built u
G a practice which probably not equaled In yalu
by any other In the State. The junior partner exhib
itod his striking business capacity In various way
outside Of the llneOf profession, and Interested him
self In the requirement of real estate and Ia other
ters which have proved the basis Of his sue
. cess. His health becoming seriously impaired h
surrendered his professional practice In 1873, an
thereafter devoted himself wholly 10 business pur
suits. Iebecame president Of the Emporia Nations
Bank and also largely Interested in cattle an
ventures OF like character. lie took further actiy
| part In politics until the campaign of 1876 when
became understood that he would be candidate fC
the United States Senate before the next Legislator,
a lie chosen to that position In January, 1877
/ | Ex-Governor Osborn, now Minister to Brazil, el
O Governor and ex-senator Harvey, and other stron
, candidates.
Col. Plumb record IN the Senate has been such
to surprise even the friends who knew him best II
has shown himself to be debater Of great force an
clearness with an extensive knowledge Of praotlc
affairs. lie speaks eKemporaneousy, without orna
ment, driving directly at the point under discussion
, aud is especially at homo on economical question:
, As member OF the Committee on Appropriations h
had charge OF the Post once Appropriation BIZ at Il
present session. and II was surprising to note II
thorough understanding Of the vast and complex II
1 terests pertaining to our postal establishment II
q Is thoroughly posted on indian affairs rcgardln
a them from practical Western standpoint, and ha'
ing spent all the years of his manhood In the create
Of homestead States, lie has become so conyeTsa
with the land laws, aud executive rulings and COZ
strucllon Of them, that 1t Is doubtful II there
another man I'm tho Senate 50 well htted ho
| preside over tho important Committee on Publ
p Lands.
y In recent years senator Plumb is understood to ha
d become heavily interested In mining enterprises
i Colorado New Mexico, and Arizona, and to ha
Il acquired fortune so yarously estimated to g
II assurance that nobody but himself has any dehnl
G idea Of It's precise magnitude lie Is exceeding
l. | plain and uupTetentiOus In his mode OF life al
: methods Of business, aud being happily marie,
y surrounded by an interesting family and strong