William Plumb was born in Tunnelton, Preston Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) on April 14, 1821. He was the eldest son of Jacob Mason Plum and Margaret “Mary” Fuller. It is not clear why or when William added the “b” to his name. By 1852, William was in Caldwell Co., Missouri when he married Mary E. McCartney on April 8, 1852. Three children were born to their union between 1855 and 1857. Margaret died about 1859.
In 1860, William married Ann Maria Knoch in Rockford Township, Caldwell Co., Missouri. The 1860 census shows that William had not added the “b” to his name. He was living with Maria, three children and his mother. William listed himself as a farmer and his Real Estate value was $4,000.
In 1862, William’s father died. On March 1, 1862 William Plumb was mustered into service in Co. B, 6th Missouri State Militia Cavalry in Cameron, Missouri. He had blue eyes, light hair, a fair complexion and he was 5 feet 9 inches tall. He listed his occupation as a farmer. William was elected 1st Lieutenant on February 25 and promoted to Captain on March 1.
William was in the Battle of Lone Jack, and he was wounded in the right shoulder but did not lose his horse valued at $100. He went home to recover, but he was listed as present on the September and October Company Muster Roll.
On September 25, 1863, William was commissioned Major. He was mustered out as Captain on November 7, 1863 to accept the promotion. William mustered out of service on March 1, 1865 in St. Louis.
On March 26, 1866 twin daughters were born into the family. On June 5, 1868, a son was added to the family.
On the 1870 census William and Maria were living in Kidder Township, Cadwell Co, Missouri with eight children and a 22-year-old farm laborer. The value of William’s Real Estate was $12,200 and he had 228 acres of farmland. Between 1871 and 1879, three daughters and two sons were added to the family. On May 17, 1879 William filed for a pension.
According to the 1880 census, the parents were living with eleven of their children and one nephew. William listed himself as a farmer. In 1882, the family lost a daughter. On October 22, 1886, William’s mother passed away.
In 1893, two of William’s sons were killed when they extinguished their gas light but failed to shut off the gas when they were staying at a boarding house in Chicago.
The 1900 census shows that William and Maria lived with two daughters, one son, a grandson and William’s mother-in-law. He listed himself as a farmer and owned his home on his farm. On December 10, 1905 William died. He is buried in the Kidder Cemetery in Caldwell Co., Missouri.