Colonel William Plunkett, a physician by profession, had rendered valuable aid to the settlers of the upper reaches of Loyalsock Creek and further down during the colonial period, and because of his medical skill was regarded as a valuable man in the community. In reward for these services he was given a grant of land on Loyalsock Creek, although during the Revolutionary war his status was somewhat questionable, some regarding him as an outright tory.

In 1838 a wild and mountainous region near the mouth of Bear Creek was taken from Davidson Township in Sullivan County and Franklin Township in Lycoming and erected into a new township and when the time came for a name to be selected that of Plunkett was suggested. It met with determined opposition from John Barbour, one of the prominent men of the section, he claiming that Plunkett was not loyal to the colonies during the Revolutionary war. After considerable discussion, Barbour finally consented to the name if the word "Creek" was added. And so the township of Plunkett’s Creek came into being. It is the fifteenth in size and contains 17,600 acres.

It is a mountainous region and except along the creek bottoms is poorly adapted to farming. It was a famous lumber center in the days of that industry as some of the finest timber to be found anywhere grew on its mountains.

Both branches of Loyalsock Creek run through it and also Big and Little Bear and Plunkett’s Creek, all good sized streams.

Among the first settlers were Louis Donelly and Charles Smith who located near the mouth of Big Bear Creek at an early day. Subsequently John Barbour came to the mouth of Plunkett’s Creek and established a settlement and his memory is perpetuated to this day in the village of Barbours which took his name. He was a public spirited citizen and built a school house, store and saw mill at the mouth of Plunkett’s Creek. Barbours was established as a postoffice July 19, 1839 and John Barbour was the first postmaster.

In 1868 a large tannery was erected in the township by Thomas A. Proctor and for many years did an enormous business, giving employment to a large number of men. The town of Proctor was named for the owner of the tannery.

Plunkett’s Creek Township, by reason of its many mountain streams and pure water, has always been a paradise for trout fishing and many club houses and summer cabins are located in the mountains and along the streams.

Churches and schools flourish in Plunkett’s Creek Township although, owing to the paucity of the population, not many are needed. In 1920 the township had a population of only 330.