Bio: Plumer, Hon. Daniel Longfellow (1837 -?)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Plumer, Longfellow, Cilley, Silverthorn, Draper

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Plumer, Hon. Daniel Longfellow (3 July 1837 -?)

One of the pioneers who have witnessed the progress of Marathon County from its wild and uncultivated state to its present proud position as one of the foremost counties as regards agriculture, industries and general culture, and who had his full share in the accomplishments of these results, is Hon. D. L. Plumer of Marathon County.  

He came to the village of Wausau from his native state, New Hampshire, in 1857, when the whole county, including Merrill and all territory north to the state line, had less than 500 inhabitants. He started in life as a surveyor and the reliability of his work recommended him to town and county authorities for making all needful surveys. His work soon took him into the northern parts of the state and thus he became early familiar with the resources of central and northern Wisconsin, and a strong believer in its future greatness. When after years of hard work, and through his personal efforts, fortune began to smile upon him; he was always ready to assist with his means any enterprise promising to benefit the people of this community. The larger part of his manhood was spent in public service as related in the pages of this book. In political creed Mr. Plumer is a Democrat and on many occasions has been called upon for active service by his party. For seven years he was supervisor of the village of Wausau and mayor, many more years’ county surveyor, served as member of assembly and as delegate at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1900, and for six years served as member of the Board of Regents of the State University.

He is president of the First National Bank of Wausau, president of the Northern Chief Iron Company, and one of Wausau's most substantial citizens and has been identified with its interests since 1857. He was born in Rockingham county, New Hampshire, July 3, 1837, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Longfellow) (Cilley) Plumer.

The first of the Plumer family to come to the American colonies was Francis Plumer, in 1633, and his descendants settled in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, taking part in the early Indian troubles, in the War of the Revolution and later in the War of 1812. On the maternal side: Gen. Bradberry Cilley was a distinguished officer in the War of the Revolution. The later generations of the family cared less for military life, and the father of Daniel L. Plumer spent his days as an agriculturist. In his family of seven children, the fourth born was named Daniel Longfellow.

After his school days were over, Daniel L. Plumer prepared for a future career by learning civil engineering. He came to Wisconsin and located at Wausau in 1857, starting to work at lumbering and became interested mainly in timber lands and the manufacture of lumber until 1890. As early, however, as 1867 he started a private bank, doing a brokerage business with the Bank of Marshall & Ilsley of Milwaukee as correspondents and after a couple of years he with W. C. Silverthorn and George Silverthorn opened a regular bank, doing business under firm name of Silverthorn & Plumer, which bank was reorganized as the First National Bank of Wausau in 1882. Mr. D. L. Plumer has been president of this bank since its organization, but his banking record covers a period of forty-five years. It was mainly through his influence that the First National Bank erected its splendid banking house, beginning building in the fall of 1890 and had it ready for occupancy after New Year, 1892, which was at the time and is yet, the finest bank and office building in Wausau.

D. L. Plumer has other interests, being financially interested in many important enterprises, and is president of the Northern Chief Iron Company, which corporation owns extensive iron ore mines on the Gogebic range in Wisconsin.

In 1869 Mr. D. L. Plumer married Miss Mary Jane Draper, a daughter of Josiah Draper of Otsego County, N. Y. One son was born to them, Abraham L., who died in infancy. Mrs D. L. Plumer has taken great interest in all the work of the Ladies' Literary Society, and in the public library of Wausau, of which she has been an active working member for years, and in a quiet retiring manner extends needful help where needed. In political creed Mr. Plumer is a Democrat and on many occasions has been honored by his party. He served one term as a member of the Legislature of Wisconsin, three terms as mayor of Wausau, many years as county surveyor, and for six years was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin. He has witnessed the growth of Wausau from a town of 500 inhabitants to a city of 18,000.