Lieut. Arnold Adam Plumer, Jr. (USA)

Banker (census 1900)

"He was educated in the Franklin Academy and in Jefferson College, Canonsburg, PA, later merged into Washington and Jefferson College, of Washington, PA. When the Civil war broke out he yielded to the patriotic fervor that was his instinctively by inheritance from a sterling Revolutionary ancestry, on Oct. 14, 1861, enlisting in Company H, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Capt. James H. Pennell. Soon after entering the service he received a commission as first lieutenant and battalion adjutant. In July, 1862, when the cavalry was reorganized, the battalion adjutants were mustered out, but Lieutenant Plumer remained with the regiment for three months longer, and on Sept.. 17, 1862, commanded Company H at the battle of Antietam, although he had been mustered out three months prior to that battle. Shortly after this engagement he returned to Franklin, where from 1865 to 1885 he was engaged in the hardware business with his cousin, G. W. Plumer. At all times until the beginning of his invalidism Mr. Plumer was active in business and an influential factor in promoting the material and social welfare of the community. For years he was prominently connected with the direction of the First National Bank of Franklin and of the First National Bank of Oil City and identified with other financial and industrial enterprises. Clear-headed, open-handed and broad-minded, he commanded the respect and confidence of all who were associated with him in business affairs. Through well directed employment of his substantial qualities and business capacity he greatly expanded his large patrimony, attaining a place among the wealthiest men of his locality. From early manhood Mr. Plumer took an active interest in politics, in the better sense of the term. He had no inclination to the modern game of politics. He was a sincere advocate of the principles of the Democratic Party, and did much to promote its welfare and success, his wise and safe counsels being widely sought by the leaders of the party. He could never be persuaded to take office, though such was his popularity that he could easily have secured preferment and official honors. In his participation in politics, as in all the affairs of his life, he evinced firmness of principle and a courage that never turned its back on friend or foe. His true place was in the arena of the better order of politics, in which his distinguished father had shone so conspicuously and honorably. Mr. Plumer was a member of Maj. William B. Mays Post, No. 220, Department of Pennsylvania, G. A. R., and of the Military Order, Loyal Legion of the United States. He was also a Mason, belonging to Myrtle Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M., and Franklin Commandery, No. 44, K. T., and was for many years a member of the Duquesne Club, one of the leading social organizations of the country. He was an adherent and generous supporter of the Episcopal Church. [CAB, 434]"

(another similar account from a family history)

Arnold A. Plumer, second son of Honorable Arnold and Margaret McClelland Plumer, was born March 25, 1839. He was educated in the Franklin Academy and in Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., now Washington and Jefferson College. When the Civil War broke out he yielded to the patriotic fervor that was instinctively his by inheritance from a sterling Revolutionary ancestry. In October 14, 1861 he enlisted in Company H of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry under Captain James H. Pennel. Soon after entering the service he received a commission as First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant. In July 1862, when the cavalry was reorganized, the battalion adjutants were mustered out, but Lieutenant Plumer remained with the regiment for three months thereafter. On September 17, 1862 he commanded Company H at the Battle of Antietam, although he had been mustered out three months prior to that battle. Shortly after the Battle of Antietam, Lieutenant Plumer returned to Franklin, and from 1865 to 1885 was engaged in the hardware business with his cousin G.W. Plumer. At all times until the beginning of his invalidism he was active in business and was an influential factor in promoting the material and social welfare of the community. For years he was prominently connected with the direction of the First National Bank of Franklin and of First National Bank of Oil City, and identified with other financial and industrial enterprises. Clear headed, open handed, and broad minded, he commanded the respect and confidence of all who were associated with him in business affairs. As a logical sequence of his character and business capacities he greatly expanded his large patrimony until he came to be considered one of the wealthiest men of the locality with which he was identified. From early manhood Mr. Plumer took an active interest politics in a better sense of the term. He was a sincere advocate of the principles of the Democratic Party, and did much to promote its welfare and success. His wise and safe counsel was widely sought by the leaders of the party. He could never be persuaded to take office, though such was his popularity that he could easily have secured preferment and official honors. He had no inclination to the modern game of politics. In his participation in politics, as in all the affairs of his life, he evinced a firmness of principle and courage that never turned its back on friend or foe. His true place was in the arena of the better order of politics in which his distinguished father had shown so conspicuously and honorably. He was a member of Major William B. Mays, Post No. 220, Department of Pennsylvania, G.A.R. and of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He was also a member of the Myrtle Lodge No. 316F, and A.M. and of Franklin Commendary No. 44, Knights Templar, and was for many years a member of the Duquesne Club, one of the leading social organizations of the country. He was an adherent and generous supporter of the Episcopal Church. He died September 20, 1904. He married December 28, 1865 Rachel L. Smith, daughter of Daniel and Hannah Smith of Uniontown, Pa. She died September 6, 1901.