In 1851, several German pioneer families migrated from near California, Missouri to
Southwestern Iowa, settling in Oak Township, located in Mills County. The leader
among these pioneers was Johann Heinrich Plumer (01 October 1795 - 02 April 1883, photo at
right courtesy of Mary Plumer - click on the photo for a larger version), born in
Tchobrink (Aschen), Kingdom of Hanover, Germany. Johann sent word to his former
neighbors in Missouri of the rich land here. Many of them later followed, also building
their log cabins. The area became known as "The Plumer
Settlement. Until about 1850, the area had been mainly inhabited by
Indians and by Mormons on their way westward. (more history...)
These
pioneer families, and those who later followed, built "The
Salem German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession in
Plumer's Settlement in Mills and Pottawattamie County, Iowa" in 1867. Here they found strength and inspiration for their rugged
existence. The church, although no longer regularly used except for an annual
Memorial Day service, was restored in the Fall/Winter of 2001/2002. (more about Salem Lutheran Church...)
NEW (April 2012) - The Plumer Schoolhouse was originally a log cabin constructed in about 1857 and served as a meetinghouse,
church, and school. The log cabin building was later replaced. It was renamed from Plumer School to
Oak Bluff #2 during the 1899-1900 school year. The school was used until May, 1955. (list of teachers and more...)
First burials in the Plumer Settlement were made in "Saar's Field" on a farm
owned by Henry Saar until the cemetery across the road from Salem Lutheran Church was
established in 1872-1874. The "Plumer Settlement Cemetery" is
well-maintained and is still being used for burials. (burial list and more...)
This web site was designed, and is maintained, by Keith Brandt in honor of ancestors and pioneers of the Plumer Settlement. (more about Keith and Susie Brandt, site acknowledgments...)
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