By Muriel Bristol | October 29, 2023
Lyman Plummer was born in Milton, August 3, 1912, son of Bard B., Jr., and Ruth Lyman (Fall) Plummer.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN MILTON. Man and Four Children Have Narrow Escape When Auto Struck by Express Train. Porter Street crossing at Milton on the Conway branch of the Boston & Maine was the scene of another accident on Monday when the Boston and White Mountain express train No. 2012, due in this city at 12.48 p.m., struck an automobile containing Plummer and four children. Mr. Plummer, who had been to Rochester on a business trip, had as passengers Lyman and Lillian Plummer, Plummer’s Ridge, and Paul and Dorothy Plummer of Billerica, Mass. The children’s ages ranged from 6 to 16 years. He was returning home and was almost on the Porter street crossing, scene of many fatal accidents in last few years, when he saw the express approaching. He swerved his machine and the front end struck of the coaches, damaging the steps the car, then ripping the handles and steps from the Pullman cars. The automobile was smashed and all the occupants thrown out. The injured were treated by Dr. M.A. Hart. Mr. Plummer escaped with cuts on his hands; Lyman Plummer was cut and bruised about the face. The others had cuts and bruises not of a serious nature (Portsmouth Herald, July 15, 1924).
Future father-in-law Frank I. Whitehouse died of pulmonary tuberculosis on North Street in Farmington, NH, July 12, 1928, aged forty-three years, two months, and six days. He was a merchant. J.L. McLaughlin, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Lyman Plummer received $3.00 from the Town of Milton, in 1928, for “cleaning up ashes.”
Bard B. Plummer, a farmer (general farming), aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-six years), Ruth L. [(Fall)] Plummer, aged forty-three years (b. NH), and his children, Bard Plummer, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Lyman Plummer, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Dorothy Plummer, aged eleven years (b. NH), and Jane Plummer, aged seven years (b. NH). Bard B. Plummer owned their farm on Plummer’s Ridge, which was valued at $10,000. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Fred P. Jones, a farmer (general farming), aged seventy years (b. NH), and Mary B. [(Plummer)] Wallingford, a widow, aged eighty-five years (b. NH).
UNION. Mrs. Grace Littlefield, Mrs. Beatrice Kingman, Miss Virginia Littlefield, Bard and Lyman Plummer attended the joint installation at Wolfeboro on Tuesday evening (Farmington News, February 1, 1935).
Lyman Plummer received $15.60 from the Town of Milton, in 1935, for “minor repairs and expenses.”
UNION. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Drew, Miss Pauline Lord and Lyman Plummer motored through the mountains, Sunday (Farmington News, October 30, 1936).
Milton sent Lyman Plummer to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative for the 1939-40 biennium.
In the first year of his term, Rep. Plummer asked NH Attorney General Thomas P. Cheney whether he could simultaneously accept an appointment as a Strafford County Deputy Sheriff.
Hon. Lyman Plummer, Member of the House of Representatives, Milton, New Hampshire.
Dear Mr. Plummer:
Replying to your inquiry as to whether you can accept an appointment as a deputy sheriff without affecting your right to your seat in the House of Representatives, it is my opinion that the two offices are not incompatible and that there is no legal limitation of your right to hold both offices at the same time. While in any manner concerning the right to a seat in the House of Representatives, we must always have in mind that the house is the judge of its own membership. I do not believe that you need have any hesitation in accepting an appointment as deputy sheriff if you so desire. The powers and duties of the two offices are not the same. The word “sheriff” as used in Article 95 does not include “deputy sheriff” and it is my opinion that this constitutional provision does not relate to the office of deputy sheriff.
Your truly, THOMAS P. CHENEY, Attorney General (NH Attorney General, 1940).
Lizzie L. [(Lyman)] Fall, a widow, aged eighty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. Her household included her grandson, Lyman Plummer, a county deputy sheriff, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). Lizzie L. Fall owned their house on the Main Road, which was valued at $2,000. Their house appeared in the enumeration between those of Franklin B. Dickson, a finishing dept. foreman, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), and Gertrude [(Gertrude)] Brailey, a widow, aged sixty-six years (b. NH).
Lyman Plummer registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, October 16, 1940. He was aged twenty-eight years (b. Milton, August 3, 1912), and was employed by the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office. His address was Union R.F.D. #1 and his telephone number was Milton-43-2. He stood 6′ tall, weighed 180 pounds, and had green eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. His father, Mr. Bard Burge Plummer was his next of kin.
SURPRISE SHOWER TO MISS RUTH WHITEHOUSE. In honor of her approaching marriage to Lyman Plummer of Milton, a surprise shower was tendered Miss Ruth Whitehouse last Thursday evening, February 28, at the home of Mrs. Leslie Chase in Milton. Miss Whitehouse was greeted by approximately forty girl friends with whom she has become acquainted during her employment in that town. The home was attractively decorated with white wedding bells and beneath a large bell hanging over the dining room table were placed numerous useful gifts. The evening was devoted to the opening and admiring of these remembrances. The hostess served homemade Ice cream, fancy cakes, cookies and coffee. Miss Whitehouse’s mother, Mrs. Fannie Whitehouse of this town, was the only out of town attendant (Farmington News, March 6, 1942).
Lyman Plummer married in Farmington, NH, March 21, 1942, Ruth Evelyn Whitehouse. He was a motor vehicle department employee, aged twenty-nine years, and she was a secretary, aged twenty-six years. Rev. Leland L. Maxfield performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, May 13, 1915, daughter of Frank I. and Fannie C. (Fall) Whitehouse.
PLUMMER-WHITEHOUSE. In a quiet home wedding last Saturday afternoon at four o’clock, Miss Ruth Whitehouse, daughter of Mrs. Frank I. Whitehouse o this town became the bride of Lyman Plummer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bard B. Plummer of Plummer’s Ridge, Milton. About twenty-five relatives assembled at the home of the bride where, the double ring service was performed by Rev. Leland B. Maxfield, pastor of the Milton Community church. The bride wore a navy blue ensemble, with a corsage of gardenias. Her bridesmaid was Miss Jane Plummer, sister of the groom, who was gowned in blue print and wore a corsage of modernistic daybreak carnations. The groom was attended by his brother, Bard Plummer. Beautiful cut flowers decorated the home for the occasion and following the ceremony a nice lunch was served and a three-tier wedding cake was cut by the bride. After a short period for the expression of good wishes from the guests the newlyweds left for a brief honeymoon trip to Boston. The bride always has lived in Farmington, where she graduated from the high school with the class of 1933. For some time she has been employed as a private secretary for Harlan Bryant in Milton and in that town she has added more to the wide circle of friendship which she enjoys in her home town. She has been one of the popular young ladies of this vicinity and among her fraternal associations during last year she was the presiding officer in Fraternal Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Plummer is a graduate of Nute high school in Milton, class of 1930, and is employed at the State House in Concord, in the motor vehicle department. These young people have a great many friends over a wide area who are expressing best wishes for a long and happy married life (Farmington News, March 27, 1942).
Lyman Plummer enlisted in the U.S. Army in Manchester, NH, August 7, 1942. He was a salesman, born in 1912. He stood 71 inches (5 feet, 11 inches) in height and weighed 171 pounds.
THREE LOCAL SELECTEES ACCEPTED BY U.S. ARMY. Raymond Cook and Woodrow Wilson Woode of Farmington are among the young men who have qualified for entrance into the United States armed forces and will leave town for Dort Devens, Mass., on Friday, August 21. Also in the group from this district will be Lyman Plummer of Milton, who is intimately known in Farmington (Farmington News, August 17, 1942).
Rochester. 23 Men Leave For Devens Induction. The following men, after acceptance for military service two weeks ago, when they passed their physical at Manchester, were sent yesterday by District Draft board No. 17 to Fort Devens for induction: Leon J. Gilbert, L.J.C. Camire, Herbert W. Varney, Robert J. Goupil, Fred L. Brown, Harry F. Lemke, Clarence W. Horne, John C. Hurd, James M. Wright and Robert H. Moore of Rochester, Harlan W. Copp of East Rochester. Joseph O. Ayotte, Raphael D. Ferland, Herbert A. Ramsey, and Robert C. Stevenson of Gonic, Lyman Plummer of Milton. Jeremiah H. Donovan, Ovilla Nadeau, Raymond W. Desmarais and Arthur J. Trombley of Somersworth, Woodrow W. Woods and Raymond R. Cook of Farmington and Arthur Evans of Laconia, a transfer (Portsmouth Herald, August 22, 1942).
PERSONAL. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Plummer spent the week-end in Boston. Mr. Plummer, who is in the U.S. army, is stationed at Wakefield, Mass. (Farmington News, September 25, 1942).
PERSONAL. Private Lyman Plummer of Wakefield, Mass., spent the week-end at home with his wife, the former Miss Ruth Whitehouse (Farmington News, October 9, 1942).
PERSONAL. Private Lyman Plummer, of Boston, enjoyed a week-end leave at home with his wife (Farmington News, January 15, 1943).
PERSONAL. First class Lyman Plummer arrived home from Boston, Tuesday evening, for a short leave of absence from army duties. He will return to Boston Thursday and will be accompanied by his wife who will spend the week-end in that city (Farmington News, February 12, 1943).
PERSONAL. Mrs. Lyman Plummer spent the week-end in Boston with her husband, Private Plummer (Farmington News, May 21, 1943).
Rochester. Rochester Briefs. Pvt. Lyman Plummer, USA, stationed in Boston, called on Rochester friends Saturday. He had been called home to Farmington by the death of a relative (Portsmouth Herald, June 8, 1943).
Lyman (Ruth) Plummer appeared in the Boston, MA, directory of 1944, as a soldier – USA [U.S. Army) – with his house at 25 Allston street, Allston.
PERSONAL. Mrs. Lyman Plummer of Allston, Mass, spent several days in town this week visiting her mother [-in-law], Mrs. Lyman [Ruth] Plummer (Farmington News, April 21, 1944).
LETTERS FROM FARMINGTON MEN IN MILITARY SERVICE. Manilla, July 19, 1945. Dear Carl, Arrived here in the Philippines a short time ago and am sending along my new address, so you can start the paper my way again. I sure have missed reading the “News” since I left the States and it will mean more than ever now. Was very surprised to run into Lyman Plummer the other day. It was nice to talk to someone from home. The country and people here are interesting, and I got a kick out of watching them plow in mud with water buffalo. Manilla itself is pretty well ruined, but is being cleaned up fast. Please remember me to Bide, Abbie, and Bernice, and all the News staff, and many thanks for the paper. As ever, Pvt. Neal A. Irish, 31377524, 3rd Plat., 282 Repl. Co., 17th Bn., Care Postmaster, San Francisco, Cal. (Farmington News, August 3, 1945).
Lyman Plummer filed the last will of Harry T. Jones (1879-1947), who died of generalized carcinomatosis in Farmington, NH, July 15, 1947, aged sixty-seven years, eleven months, and eighteen days.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. To the Honorable Judge of Probate for the County of Strafford. Your petitioner, Lyman Plummer, in said County, respectfully represents that at a Court of Probate holden in Rochester in said County, on the 24th day of July, A.D., 1947, a certain instrument, purporting to be the last will and testament of Harry T. Jones, late of Farmington, in said County, deceased, was offered by Lyman Plummer, the executor therein named, for probate; that the same was proved, approved, and allowed as the last will and testament of said Harry T. Jones, in common form and without notice; that no appeal has been prosecuted or claimed, and that your petitioner is executor and legatee under the will of said deceased and interested in said will. Wherefore he prays that the probate of said will may be reexamined and the same proved in solemn form before the Court of Probate for said County, and that the former probate thereof be decreed void or affirmed, as to law and justice shall appertain, agreeably to the laws of said State. Dated the 24th of July, A.D., 1947. Lyman Plummer (Farmington News, August 1, 1947).
Summoned by State Motor Vehicle Inspector Lyman Plummer for having an overloaded truck, Roger Larravierre of the Dover road entered a plea of guilty. Inspector Plummer said the truck was registered for 8,500 pounds, but was carrying a load of 11,720 pounds. Judge Emery imposed a fine of $25 and costs of $6.70 (Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME), April 29, 1948).
Somerville Trio Shaken by N.H. Steering Mishap. ROCHESTER, N.H., Aug. 17 – Roy W. Douglas, 30, of 131 Orchard st., Somerville, had a narrow escape today while enroute to Fryeburg to attend funeral services for his father, when the steering gear of his car broke on Route 16 just north of here. He told patrolman Clarence A. Woods and State Motor Vehicle Inspector Lyman Plummer that he was about a mile north of Rochester when the steering gear failed, and the machine headed for a pole. He pulled the wheel and it caught enough to send the machine across the road where it left the highway, went down an embankment and plowed into high bushes, 40 feet off the road. The front fender was damaged badly. The occupants of the car, Douglas, his wife and an uncle, escaped with minor injuries. A passing motorist gave the Douglas party a ride to Fryeburg where they arrived in time for the service (Boston Globe, August 18, 1949).
Lyman Plummer, a motor vehicle inspector (state motor vehicle dept.), aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ruth E. [(Whitehouse)] Plummer, aged thirty-four years, his daughter, Caroline F. Plummer, age two years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Fannie C. [(Fall)] Whitehouse, a repairer (shoe factory), aged sixty-two years. They resided in the “2nd house on right” when “proceeding north on State Highway No. 16 from point where State Highway crosses Great Brook to intersection of Farmington Road on left and Mill St. on right.”
Lyman and Ruth W. Plummer paid property taxes of $4,000 to the Town of Milton, in 1959. The properties (and their taxes) were the 60-acre Lizzie L. Fall farm ($3,500), the 55-acre Beechan lot ($250), and the 55-acre J.B. Lyman lot ($250). He and Stanley C. Tanner together paid property taxes on the 15-acre Littlefield lot ($50). The New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. [N.E. Tel & Tel. Co.] paid $100 in property taxes on Lyman Plummer land; presumably they were leasing it from him.
Lyman Plummer died of coronary thrombosis in his home on NH Rte. 16 in Milton, August 29, 1959, aged forty-seven years. He was an inspector for the NH Motor Vehicle Department and a WW II veteran. Percy C. Grigg, M.D., of Rochester, NH, signed the death certificate.
Deaths. LYMAN PLUMMER. MILTON, Aug. 31. (AP). Funeral Services will be held tomorrow for Lyman Plummer, 47, a widely known state motor vehicle inspector. He died at his home here Saturday night (Concord Monitor (Concord, NH), August 31, 1959).
The NH House of Representatives voted to extend its sympathy to Mrs. Ruth E. (Whitehouse) Plummer and her family after the death of its former member.
Mr. Reid of Milton offered the following resolutions: We have learned with regret of the death of Lyman Plummer of Milton, and Whereas, he was a former Representative from Milton, and at the time of his death a law enforcement officer for the Motor Vehicle Department, therefore be it Resolved, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the General Court of New Hampshire, pay tribute to his services to his town, county, and state, and extend our sympathy to his family in its bereavement, and be it further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House transmit a copy of these resolutions to his widow, Mrs. Plummer. On a viva voce vote the resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Mother Ruth L. (Fall) Plummer died of coronary thrombosis in Milton, July 11, 1960, aged seventy-three years. Percy C. Grigg, M.D., of Rochester, NH, signed the death certificate.
Local Lines. DEATHS. MRS. BARD PLUMMER. Funeral is scheduled Thursday, July 14, for Mrs. Ruth L. Plummer, 73, who died Monday at her Plummer’s Ridge home after a long illness. Rev. Bradley Limes will officiate at services in the Community church. Burial will be in the Plummer-Palmer cemetery here. Mrs. Plummet was a lifelong resident of Milton. She served as school treasurer for 35 years and has been town clerk here for the past 15 years. She was a past matron and a 15-year member of Unity Chapter. She leaves her husband, Bard B. Plummer; a son, Bard Plummer, Jr., both of Milton; two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Harrison of Somerville, Mass., Mrs. James Lovejoy of Acton, Me.; and five grandchildren (Farmington News, July 14, 1960).
Mother-in-law Fannie C. (Fall) Whitehouse died of circulatory failure at the Academy Nursing Home in Rochester, NH, July 27, 1961, aged seventy-three years. Percy C. Grigg, M.D., of Rochester, NH, signed the death certificate.
MILTON NEWS. WOMEN’S UNION. Mrs. Lyman Plummer served as hostess to the members of the Women’s Union of the Community Church for the monthly meeting. … A gift of money from Mrs. Catherine Gathmann and Mrs. Lyman Plummer will be used to purchase artificial flowers for use in the church on Sunday mornings. … Members are planning to hold a Maundy Thursday candlelight service in conjunction with the interim minister, Harold Roberts. Besides the choir, Mrs. Marguerite Brown, Mrs. Robert Taatjes, Mrs. Edwin Boggs, Mrs. Lyman Plummer, and Mrs. Edward Osgood, and Mrs. Harold Pinkham will participate. … Mrs. Lyman Plummer, the librarian of the Nute Library, recommended three books available for circulation, A biography of Howard Thurman, “Portrait of a Dreamer” by Elizabeth Yates, another biography “Eighth Moon,” and “Duet for a Lifetime,” about the original Siamese twins. Refreshments of cake, coffee, and tea were served by Mrs. Norris Provencher and Mrs. Ernest Pierce (Farmington News, March 25, 1965).
Father Bard B. Plummer, Jr., died of myocardial infarction at Frisbee Memorial Hospital in Rochester, November 20, 1970, aged ninety-one years. He was a farmer. Peter M. Ejarque, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Milton Woman’s Club. Twenty-two years ago, Milton Woman’s Club was seeing more red ink than black ink until a former Farmington resident, Mrs. Lyman Plummer (Ruth Whitehouse) came up with a brilliant idea – a bazaar. Over the years the bazaar has seen many changes. No longer is admission charged. No longer is there an exhibit. No longer is it two or even three days. No longer does it offer entertainment. No longer is it open evenings. No longer does it even last until three o’clock. In four hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14, the club women will earn their 1971-72 budget. Like Apollo 15 the colors will be patriotic and the theme – Patriotism on Parade – will POP up everywhere through decorations, the dress of the workers, and even some of the items to be sold. (Farmington News, August 12, 1971).
Ruth E. (Whitehouse) Plummer died in Rochester, NH, October 10, 1992, aged seventy-seven years.
References:
Find a Grave. (2022, February 4). Bard B. Plumer, Jr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/236491146/bard-b-plumer
Find a Grave. (2022, February 4). Lyman Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/236491524/lyman-plumer
Find a Grave. (2015, August 3). Frank I. Whitehouse. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150165616/frank-i-whitehouse
NH Attorney General. (1940). Report of the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General of the State of New Hampshire. Concord, NH.
Milton Observer 