Perry Plummer: A Household Cook in Saranac, New York

Perry Plummer is known through a single historical record, the 1930 U.S. Federal Census, which documents him as a thirty-seven-year-old resident of Saranac, Clinton County, New York. Born about 1893 in New York, Perry was unmarried and lived at 11 Nashville Road in the household of Addison and Bercha Johnson, where he was employed as a servant. Also residing in the home were the Johnsons’ son, Addison, and a boarder, Frank E. Sherwood.

Perry worked as a cook for the Johnson family, an occupation classified by the census as employment in a private household. He was listed as a wage and salary worker, indicating that he was employed directly by the family rather than operating his own business. Domestic service was an important source of employment during the early twentieth century, particularly for individuals seeking stable work in private homes.

The census further recorded that Perry could read and write, although he had not attended school. His parents were both born in the United States, but no specific state of origin was provided. These details offer a limited but meaningful glimpse into his background and the opportunities available to working-class individuals during the period.

No additional records have been located for Perry Plummer beyond the 1930 census. While little is known about his life, his story preserves the history of domestic workers whose contributions supported North Country households but were often only briefly documented in historical records.

Jaqcal's Info

The working-class New Yorkans of the 18th – 20th century have impacted various cultures and their cultural contributions were both powerful and noteworthy. Therefore, it is our priority here at Jaqcal’s Info to provide in-depth stories that accurately portray the lives of various people of color who were among the working class in New York.