Henry Plummer in Montana Timeline

A Brief Timeline

1862
September
Henry Plummer and Charles Reeves come over from Elk City on the South Nez Perce Trail into the Bitteroot Valley.
October
Henry Plummer at Fort Benton looking for passage down the Missouri to the States. Joined by Jack Cleveland. No passage available.
James Vail hires Cleveland and Plummer to help guard the government demonstration farm at Sun River. Both Cleveland and Plummer fall in love with Electa Bryan, Martha Vail's twenty-one year old sister. Henry and Electa are engaged to be married next spring.
December
Both Cleveland and Plummer in Bannack.

1863

January
Cleveland and Plummer in a gunfight. Plummer tried by jury and acquitted. The jury agreed he had acted in self defense.
February/March
Henry Plummer and Hank Crawford start a bitter feud, each threatening to kill the other. Crawford shoots Plummer in the back, leaves town.
May
Plummer part owner of a rich mining claim. Elected Sheriff by a large majority of miners. Buys house and leaves for Sun River.
June
Henry and Electa married, return to Bannack end of June. Alder Gulch discovered while Henry at Sun River.
August
First murder conviction in Bannack, Peter Horan hanged on gallows built by Sheriff Plummer.
September
Electa leaves for the States, Henry rides with her to the Snake River. Sidney Edgerton and Wilbur Sanders and families arrive in Bannack. Edgerton buys a house at a Sheriff's auction conducted by Henry Plummer. Plummer signs the deed to Edgerton.
October
The first of two stage robberies. The Peabody stage is robbed by two masked men between Rattlesnake Ranch and Bannack.
November
The Henry Tilden episode.
The Oliver stage robbed near the Point of Rocks by three masked men.
Martha Vail & Henry Plummer entertain Sidney Edgerton, Wilbur Sanders and families at a lavish Thanksgiving dinner.
December
Tiebolt murdered. Ives tried, convicted and hanged for the murder.
Wilbur Sanders secretly swears in the "Montana Vigilance Committee."
Henry Plummer escorts a shipment of gold from Virginia City to Fort Benton missing the Ives trial.

1864

January
Jan 4: Red Yeager and George Brown hanged at night at a ranch on the Ruby River. No trial. No record of a confession.
Jan 10: Henry Plummer, Buck Stinson, Ned Ray, hanged by a vigilante mob at night at Bannack. No trial, no confession.

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Written by Louis Schmittroth. Last revised: February 21, 1999


1862		September Henry Plummer and Charles Reeves come over from Elk City on the South Nez Perce Trail into the Bitteroot Valley. October Henry Plummer at Fort Benton looking for passage down the Missouri to the States. Joined by Jack Cleveland. No passage available. James Vail hires Cleveland and Plummer to help guard the government demonstration farm at Sun River. Both Cleveland and Plummer fall in love with Electa Bryan, Martha Vail's twenty-one year old sister. Henry and Electa are engaged to be married next spring. December Both Cleveland and Plummer in Bannack.
1863		January Cleveland and Plummer in a gunfight. Plummer tried by jury and acquitted. The jury agreed he had acted in self defense. February/March Henry Plummer and Hank Crawford start a bitter feud, each threatening to kill the other. Crawford shoots Plummer in the back, leaves town. May Plummer part owner of a rich mining claim. Elected Sheriff by a large majority of miners. Buys house and leaves for Sun River. June Henry and Electa married, return to Bannack end of June. Alder Gulch discovered while Henry at Sun River. August First murder conviction in Bannack, Peter Horan hanged on gallows built by Sheriff Plummer. September Electa leaves for the States, Henry rides with her to the Snake River. Sidney Edgerton and Wilbur Sanders and families arrive in Bannack. Edgerton buys a house at a Sheriff's auction conducted by Henry Plummer. Plummer signs the deed to Edgerton. October The first of two stage robberies. The Peabody stage is robbed by two masked men between Rattlesnake Ranch and Bannack. November The Henry Tilden episode. The Oliver stage robbed near the Point of Rocks by three masked men. Martha Vail & Henry Plummer entertain Sidney Edgerton, Wilbur Sanders and families at a lavish Thanksgiving dinner. December Tiebolt murdered. Ives tried, convicted and hanged for the murder. Wilbur Sanders secretly swears in the "Montana Vigilance Committee." Henry Plummer escorts a shipment of gold from Virginia City to Fort Benton missing the Ives trial.
1864		January Jan 4: Red Yeager and George Brown hanged at night at a ranch on the Ruby River. No trial. No record of a confession. Jan 10: Henry Plummer, Buck Stinson, Ned Ray, hanged by a vigilante mob at night at Bannack. No trial, no confession.