1860 census of Calcasieu Parish list, George Plummer, 53yrs, born Maine, Lighthouse keeper, wife Arthenia 36yrs, William 15yrs, Otis 12yrs, Jesse 10yrs, Albert 8yrs, Frances f 6yrs, Hannah 4yrs, Venaner m 2yrs. Gowen Wilson was his correct name and he went south in early life after an unhappy first marriage with a Portland lady. He came back north during the civil war with his wife Arthemise and a large family of children. He was a planter and a lighthouse operator. In the 1830's he settled on the Sabine River, Louisiana side. He built a boat, part owner and was engaged in Texas-La. trade, which was illegal. A family legend is that he was a gun runner for Sam Houston during the Texas Revolution. He operated the lighthouse at Sabine Pass, was a loyal Unionist and employee of the US during the Civil War. After his oil was stolen by the rebels and with their lives in danger, Gowen took his family aboard Admiral Farraguts US Navy ship. He donated his three livable pine & Cypress houses, fences and all cut firewood and fencing, for fuel to the Union ships. He donated his livestock for food. The family sailed aboard the Navy ship until the ship returned to Maine. Gowen took his family home to live with Jesse and Abigail. In the early 1870's, they returned to Texas and live out their lives in Bolivar.
All of the family has searched for his grave but it is believed to have washed away during at storm.

The following text is a transcription if a letter written by Gowen Wison Plummer in Louisiana to his brother Otis Smith Plummer in Harrington, Maine. The letter contains no punctuation, and the spelling of a number of words is inconsistent with current usage. I have taken the liberty of adding punctuation and of "updating" the spelling. However, I have made no editorial changes: The words are those of the original writer. Gowen Wilson Plummer was born in 1806 in Maine and died in Texas in 1884: He is the Great, Great Grandfather of my wife Bertha Elizabeth Plummer.
Lloyd Carter; Clinton, Tennessee; 8 April 1979

Parish of Lafayette Louisiana
August of 29, 1839

Dear Brother, I take this opportunity to correspond with you as it has been very long since we have heard from one another. I have just recovered from a bed of sickness and am very weak and nervous, but I have enjoyed better health in Louisiana than I ever did in Maine. I have worked very hard this summer in Cyprus Swamp which I lay my sickness to, but thank kind heavern I am recovering as fast as time will admit. I have been living in Louisiana for better than a year and this is the first sickness that I have had. This is very fine country and a very easy country to live in, A poor man can make money very fast in many branches of business. This country abounds with extensive prairies or plains that are famous for keeping cattle, and it cost nothing but a little time in the Spring to mark and brand them. There are men here that have 10,000 head of cattle. I have been employed since last November building a small vessel of about 30 tons, and in June we lay her by for the planks to season. I expect we will commence her again in November. There has been no one worked on her but myself and the master workman. I expect to own a small part of her when done and intend to run out from the vermilion Bayou to some of the Rivers in Texas. I have told you my real situation as nigh as I can, and now will end by asking you questions and wishing you prosperity and happiness. I hope this time will find you well and happy. As for my own happiness, I have never taken any since 1828 when I used to be coasting in and out of Pleasant River, and if things had worked as they might, I would have been happy and a useful member of society. Brother, I now want to ask you some questions about my wife. I have never had a letter from her even one since I left home. There was some difference between us although I did my best of everything and after leaving kept our correspondence for more than a year and a half, but she would not answer me. I then give up writing as for myself. Expect I was at fault and she was in fault also. I want you to give me what information you can respecting her and what you have ever heard she said respecting me and the ten (?) letters. I can give you a better knowledge of our business. If I was responsible (and) the child was mine, I would be happy to see it, but as for that I do not know. If it is alive and I could see it now, I could tell if it was mine. I want you to write me as soon as you get this letter and direct it in this way: Parish of Lafayette, Lower Vermillion Perry's Bridge, Louisiana. You please give my love to all my brothers and sisters and mother and father, and, when you write, give me all the news and I shall ever remain in (?) Your Sincere Brother and Humble Servant, G. W. Plummer.

The letter was folded so that a clean portion of the paper was available for the address. It was addressed this way:

Perry'd Bridge, LA
Sept. II

Mr. O. S. Plummer
Harrington, County of Washington
State of Maine

On the Reverse Side of the Folded Letter from the address there was one word, "Adventure". Perhaps this is the name of the ship that transported the letter from Louisiana to Maine