William Plummer

William M. Plummer (1873–1943) was an African American cabinetmaker and inventor from Smyth County, Virginia. His decorative work is part of both the tradition of American decorative arts and of African American folk art. Early life and education William M. Plummer, commonly known as "Bill", was born to Claiburn and Seenah Plummer of Marion, Virginia. In 1897 he married Magdalene Floyd and they moved to Jeffersonville, Virginia. Bill and Magdalene started a family in Jeffersonville while he worked as a sawmill engineer. Career Bill spent most of his life in Smyth County with his wife and family, where he worked as a machinist in the automobile industry. While working he also built bicycles, a motorcycle, an airplane, furniture, an elaborately decorated phonograph cabinet and a banjo decorated with stars.