Orlando Plummer

Orlando Pleasant Shields Plummer (April 13, 1836 – December 7, 1913) was an American physician and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Pennsylvania, he started practicing medicine in Illinois before moving to Portland, Oregon. In Oregon, he continued his medical work as well as working for several telegraph companies. A Republican, Plummer was also a member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, a medical professor, fruit farmer, and Portland city council member. His drug store in downtown had the first telephone in Portland.

Early life Orlando Pleasant Shields Plummer (often O.P.S. Plummer) was born in Greenville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1836, to Elizabeth (née Craig) and John Boyd Plummer. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Plummer received his early education at the local public schools and at the Greenville Academy. Martha was fourteen years younger than Orlando, and they had five children; Grace, Agnes, Ross, Hildegarde, and Marion.

In 1877, Plummer returned to Portland to practice medicine and opened a drug store at First and Salmon streets in what is today Downtown Portland. Plummer left the school after three years to concentrate on his drug store. He won re-election to a second two-year term in 1882, but represented District 39 during that session. He only served during the 1880 and 1882 legislative sessions. Plummer also served as chairman of the Republicans' city and county conventions for one year.

Later years and legacy Plummer was a horticulturalist and owned a fruit farm that was then southwest of Portland. There he introduced the Italian prune to the state. In 1865, he helped found the First Presbyterian Church and Society of the City of Portland. Plummer was an elder at the church for decades, and also helped organize another Presbyterian Church in South Portland. He was a member of the Masons and of the Al Kader Temple. Orlando Plummer died on December 7, 1913, in Portland at the age of 77.