The Plunk presence in Tennessee began in 1824 when Jacob Plunk, his wife, seven sons and one daughter traveled from North Carolina to McNairy County, TN. Also in the pilgrimage was Jacob’s brother, John, his wife, five sons and several daughters. Those Plunk sons each had large families and . .
. well, you get the picture. That's a lot of Plunks, and that’s why Mike says that all Plunks are related. They can all be traced back to Jacob or John. The reunion Saturday was just for Plunks descended from Mike’s grandfather, David Simpson Plunk, who was the grandson of Jacob’s son, David.McNairy County is most famous, however, for producing Walking Tall, club-totin’ Sheriff Buford Pusser. The Plunks are twice related to the former sheriff through his mother, Helen Harris Pusser.
The younger Pusser was first police chief of Adamsville, McNairy County, and then elected McNairy County sheriff. The six and a half foot tall Pusser immediately declared a one-man war on the area’s organized crime that ranged from bootlegging and gambling to prostitution. He was relentless and was making a dent in the illegal activities as well as the skulls of some bad guys.
During his campaign against corruption, Pusser survived a bombing of his home and several assassination attempts including an ambush that killed his wife and shot off part of his jaw. In 1974 he died in a mysterious, one-car auto accident. His family and many others believe that his car had been tampered with.
Sheriff Pusser’s story, and fictionalized versions of it, has prompted several books, movies and a brief television series.
Buford was not the first lawman in his family. His father, Carl, had also been the Adamsville police chief.
Roll back to 1937. Newlyweds Hercial (pictured above) and Eloyce Plunk, Mike’s parents, attended a dance in McNairy County, which was Hercial’s home turf although the couple lived in Memphis. During the festivities, Hercial noticed that Carl Pusser was dancing with pretty, young Eloyce, and, in Hercial’s opinion, Carl was holding her a bit too close. Hercial was certainly not a troublemaker, but did strongly hold his opinions. Hercial marched onto the dance floor, separated Carl from Eloyce, and took a swing at Carl that landed solidly. Mike didn’t know until after his father’s death that the crooked pinky finger on his dad’s right hand had been broken on Pusser’s jaw.
11 comments:
Is it possible the Plunks who own the Plunk funeral home in Camden/Benton County TN, I`ve been curious since they opened a few years ago. My Mom was a Bivins her Dad Edgar and Mom Betty/Elizabeth Plunk. I've always enjoyed finding new/more family members
Betty Magdalene Plunk was my mother in law,s name
Ruby Plunk (daughter to Joseph Paul Plunk) was my grandmother.
Betty Magdealene Plunk Bivins is my mother
the Plunks who own the Funeral Home in Camden Tn are the sons of Walter Plunk son of Ervin Austin Plunk. Ervin Austin Plunk was my Grandfather and was the son of Jonathan David Plunk and Sarah Lilly.
Mary Ann Plunk, Rush
Hi How is Mary Harris Pusser related to the Plunks? I am related to Minnie Plunk. Thanks! Kim
My name is Richard Watson Bivins my father was Edgar Jackson Bivins my mother was Betty Magdealene Plunk Bivins I know my mother had 2 sisters Luler Plunk Younger and Niece and 2 brothers she died before we got any information on grand parents cousins and so on anyone can help I would love more info, I do know Beuford was a Cousin long before his movies met him in Adamsville once and again in Memphis at family affairs
Giles plunk was my uncle . was murdered for his refusal to sell his tavern .
His widow Dona sold it to them and moved to Peoria as did John Pusser .
What year did they move to Peoria and was it Peoria az
Giles Plunk is my grandfather. Buddy Plunk is my father and the oldest of Giles’ kids. If you are his nephew through Donna, we can’t figure out who you are. Then again, we don’t know a whole lot about Donna’s family since Giles was married to Fannie first. Fannie is my grandmother. Giles was murdered, but my understanding a mad customer came back and shot him when he was closing up.
Steve mcculloch son of Sharon Donas sister .
Donna said after they shot Plunk ( all called him that , me; uncle plunk not
Giles ) she said f...it , she said that alot , sold it to [ them] and her and kathy p and paralee p moved back to her home town of peoria il .
John pusser followed and open the Slipper Club Dance bar on rt29 between creve coure and east peoria .
I saw a b and w photo in her basement shelf cir1950 , an old car trunk open and guns . I asked.auntDona who it was , she said Giles and Bufford Pusser . I asked guns ? She said fuucckk ya Bufford loved then , sh had seen that trunk full of guns ... Steve mcculloch in central tn born in peoria
My family came to tn in 1790s . Donnas were Always yankees .
Plunk wasnt pretty but his face was nice because he smiled sincerly and big alot . He was not an agressive or violent man at all . He was a family man all the way all though he did admit to donna he cheated on her with the town skank . She loved him dearly but that hurt her deeply and never will go away ...
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