Plumb, Preston B., 1837-1891

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Preston Plumb was born October 12, 1837 at Berkshire, Delaware County, Ohio. He was the first born of, David and Hannah Marie (Bierce) Plumb. He later added the middle name to improve the appearance of his signature. David was a wagon maker and Preston worked with him in his shop. The family moved to Berlin Township in 1843 and then to Marysville, Union County, Ohio in 1846. Preston attended prep school for three years. Preston attended Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio by working in the printing office. After three years he returned to Marysville and worked as compositor on the Tribune. In 1854, as a sixteen year old, both he and a partner established the Xenia News on February 24. He studied law with Colonel Low while he published the paper. In 1856 he traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas and then Lawrence, and Lecompton. He encountered the Border Ruffians and was kept safe by Colonel Philip D. Elkins, a fellow Ohioan. Once back in Ohio, Plumb watched Kansas events with keen interest. Preston returned to Xenia and then left for Chicago. He offered his services to the National Kansas Committee who sent him to Iowa City. Preston formed a company which sent arms and ammunition into Kansas Territory. Preston then got a job in Lawrence with the Kansas Herald of Freedom. He established the Kanzas News (Emporia) in June of 1857. His parents followed him there. At age twenty he was not only running his own newspaper, he was becoming a community leader too. His paper vigorously advocated the Free State cause. Plumb served as a delegate to the Leavenworth Constitutional Convention (1858).

From the description of Preston B. Plumb papers, 1856-1910. (Kansas State Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 52316676

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn George C. Angle papers, 1874-1906, 1874-1906 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Brown, George W. (George Washington), 1820-1915. Papers, 1903-1913. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Papers, 1867-1910 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Ware, Eugene Fitch, 1841-1911. Papers, 1859-1939 (bulk 1895-1911). Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Ware, Eugene Fitch, 1841-1911. Abby Ware Nies collection, 1859-1939 (bulk 1895-1911). Kansas State Historical Society
creatorOf Plumb, Preston B., 1837-1891. Preston B. Plumb papers, 1856-1910. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Connelley, William Elsey, 1855-1930. William Elsey Connelley papers, 1878-1931. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Correspondence, 1868-1892 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
creatorOf Ross, Edmund G. (Edmund Gibson), 1826-1907. Papers ; Hugh Cameron letters (1907), 1856-1933. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Gleed, Charles S. (Charles Sumner), 1856-1920. Charles Sumner Gleed papers, 1872-1928 (bulk 1880-1920). Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Stevens, Walter B. (Walter Barlow), 1848-1939. Scrapbooks. No. 42 and 260, 1879-1935. Kansas State Historical Society
referencedIn Correspondence, business forms, receipts, and petitions., 1862-1913 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
creatorOf The Preston B. Plumb letters. Wichita State University, Ablah Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Angle, George C. person
correspondedWith Baird, Spencer F. person
associatedWith Brown, George W. (George Washington), 1820-1915. person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith Connelley, William Elsey, 1855-1930. person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Gilmore, John S., 1848-1913 person
associatedWith Gleed, Charles S. (Charles Sumner), 1856-1920. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Horton, Albert Howell, 1837-1902 person
associatedWith Kansas. corporateBody
associatedWith Kansas. Constitutional Convention (1858) corporateBody
associatedWith Kansas. Legislature. House of Representatives. corporateBody
associatedWith Kansas U.S. Senators' Papers. corporateBody
associatedWith King, Clarence person
associatedWith Ross, Edmund G. (Edmund Gibson), 1826-1907. person
associatedWith Stevens, Walter B. (Walter Barlow), 1848-1939. person
associatedWith United States. Army. Kansas Cavalry Regiment, 11th (1862-1865) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith Ware, Eugene Fitch, 1841-1911. person
associatedWith Wheeler, George Montague person
correspondedWith Young, J. A. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Emporia (Kan.)
Kansas
Subject
American letters
American letters
Bankers
Exchanges Of Publications
Lawyers
Legislators
Natural history
Newspaper publishing
Scientific publications
Smithsonian Publications
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1837-10-12

Death 1891-12-20

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