September 25, 2003

Confederate States Dollar Bill - loaned by Shawn Cagle

Pete Plunk (left) and brother John Plunk, sons of Jacob and Mattie Plunk

Jacob Plunk was born in 1807. When he was 32 years old, he married Mattie Jane Priest, a young Cherokee who was 16 years old. They settled in the Black Jack community on a farm that was owned a short while before by the Sophia Williams family.

During 1888, Jane Plunk paid a tax on the land which amounted to $5.40, this was 12 years before Jacob Plunk died.

The couple raised a large family of eight children. One of the Plunk’s daughters married T.B. Cagle. They also had a son named Pete and one named John. George Ann Plunk was born October 25, 1858.

The Plunks owned a nice sized spread of land just north of Black Jack Road and west of Belew Cemetery. I recall the old home that the Plunks lived in. It was constructed of boxed siding walls and had a full length porch on the east and west sides. It was on the side of a sloping hill and required large iron ore sand stones stacked on top of each other to make the house level. The old house faced the west on the hill, and on the east side of the house was so far off the ground that it was easy to walk under the house. This area was used for storage.

The house was located not far from the barn, and in the oak trees to the south of the house a large spring of water supplied water. The stream flowed almost to Elm Creek except during the hot months. The spring’s point of origin was in the Plunk’s yard, it came out of the earth in a solid rock that was somewhat larger than their house.

Through the years of household use the water holding area of the spring enlarged so much that three or four people could get into the spring of cool water and bathe, and within a short period the water would be replaced with fresh cool water that was pure and clean and ready for the next bathing crew.

I remember when we baled hay in the Elm Bottom, that our treat for the day was going to the Plunk place to get cooled off with the pure cold water. My granddaddy told me that the solid rock was an adventuring location for the Native Americans of the area before the area was settled by the Cherokees during the 1830's and 50's.

This area is a very historical area of Denton County. The road was closed by the County Commissioner 15-20 years ago.

When Jacob and Mattie Jane Priest Plunk settled in this area she was no different from any of the civilized Indians, she too disguised her identity except to next of kin, which was the custom of the entire Onega region.

You see, the local Native Americans were not too quick to reveal that they were of Native American descent, because it has only been fifteen years early when the great removal of Indians was ordered by the congress of the United States. Even today, the State of Texas and the Federal government don’t want to recognize that these tribes exist. It has been 150 years since the removal order for them to get west of the Mississippi River or face death.

Now it seems strange that we were told to get west of the Mississippi during the 1840's, and now the government won’t even recognize that we got west of the Mississippi like we were told, and year according to the government, we apparently don’t exist. You can understand why they denied their heritage then, and why it is so hard to be recognized as of this day. Also we can say very emphatically, "We are still here, for we never left."

Some of the local folks who now come into the hardware store, and tell me, "look, I have been here for more than eighty years, and I never heard history like you are telling it, but of course, I never ever hardly came into town." Another eighty-three-year-old said to me, "Keep up the good work Bouncer, and tell it like it is. I read your column every week, and look forward to getting the next copy."

There is a lot of information that I am digging into about the Plunks and Cagles. They are one of the most colorful families of our time and past.

Everyone be sure and be here in two weeks on Saturday, October 4, for the Parade and Peanut Festival. The Cagle Hill farm owned by Shawn Cagle is sponsoring a meeting for about fifty different Indian tribe chiefs which will establish a coalition of Native Americans. They will take away from their meeting long enough to attend the Peanut Festival and be a part of the Peanut Parade. The Texas Tribe Chief D.L. Hicks has been invited to serve as a grand marshall of the parade and the other Indian chiefs will also participate in the parade.

The Indian Coalition meeting is not open to the public. However, it would be very informative if you walked up to them while they are at the Peanut Festival and get acquainted and ask questions. I understand that we have Indians that are coming from all over the United States, and some from Canada.

I am sure that when the Plunks came to the village of Onega during the 1850's, their foresight would not have allowed them to think that such an event would be taking place in 2003.

So when you see Shawn, pat him on the back for hosting the Indian gatherings. Shawn is very interested in history and is an able contributor to the history of Onega.

Tell everyone about the Peanut Festival, and come on out because you may find a Cherokee taco to munch on while visiting.

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