This website was created to document the history of the Plumer Settlement as well as to cherish the memory of ancestors and pioneers who settled there.
Mary Plumer has been the main “font of knowledge” regarding the historical content of this site. Keith Brandt met with Mary one day “way back when” over the kitchen table in her apartment in Omaha, and sifted through boxes of her documents, photos, and records to come up with much of the site material. Thank you Mary for meticulously fact-checking everything and sharing so much of this wealth of Plumer Settlement history.
Thanks also to Clarinda Publishing Company for allowing use of the book “Mills County Iowa Cemeteries”, compiled by the Hastings Federated Woman's Club, for much of the source material in preparing the initial burial list on the Plumer Cemetery page. Also, thanks to Eloise Jepsen and Lowell Wiseman, who graciously granted permission to use material from their book, “The Familie Green of Slesvig”. Many others, too numerous to mention, have contributed photos and obituaries, have helped with dates, names, and verifying content. And finally, a special thank you to the Salem Lutheran Association Board for their continuing assistance and support in keeping this site online.
Meet the Site Team
Marcy Rappaport (Plumer), a descendant of Johann and Maria Plumer, is the “official Plumer historian” for this website, taking over from her mother, Mary Plumer. Marcy oversees the accuracy of the site’s historical content. She lives in California.
Keith Brandt, the original designer and creator of the site, is also a descendant of Johann and Maria Plumer. Keith's Brandt and Green ancestors were also among the original pioneers settling in the Plumer Settlement. Keith is married to Susanna “Susie” Beck, whose great-great grandparents were also early pioneers in the Plumer Settlement. Keith and Susie are retired and live in East Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains.
Randy Beck is a descendant of Asmus Beck and Elsabe Kiekbusch who were also original settlers of Plumer Settlement and are buried in the cemetery there. Randy is Keith and Susie Brandt's nephew. Along with Keith and John Brandt, Randy is responsible for maintaining the content of this website. Living nearby in Council Bluffs, Randy also periodically “walks the cemetery” to update gravestone photos.
John Brandt is the son of Keith and Susie Brandt. Working with Keith and Randy, John assists in maintaining the content of this website. John lives in Frederick, Maryland.