The general area of Northeastern Pennsylvania of which La Plume is part was called Wyoming by the original Native American inhabitants, which meant “the beautiful.” The beginning of the Endless Mountains, it was the borderlands of the Iroquois and Delaware Indians, and covered by a primeval forest of massive trees. The valleys were intersected with clear, fish-filled streams and rivers, Tinkenpaugh and Tunkhannock Creeks being the main ones that remain today.

 Wildlife abounded, including the still common deer and turkey, as well as the long-gone passenger pigeon, elk, wolf, panther, moose and possibly wood buffalo. Although the native peoples had no settlements in La Plume, they used the area for hunting and gathering.  In 1753 settlers from Connecticut and Rhode Island began to move into the area where they could live with all the freedoms – religion, government, speech, etc.

Native Americans felt the settlers were unwelcome invaders who were killing off the game and destroying the forest, so drove off the first wave in 1762. More returned in 1769 and built a blockhouse at Forty Fort while others settled in the area and the conflicting claims led to actual fighting with the Indians, known as the Pennamite Wars, the first two of which were fought in 1769-1771 and 1775. 

The New Englanders had greater numbers so the conflict moved to the courts, then the number of European settlers increased to around 5,000. This greatly alarmed the Indians, and in 1778, encouraged by the British, they fought and defeated the Americans at the Battle of Wyoming, and massacred and drove off the survivors. In retaliation, General Sullivan was sent on a punitive expedition in the summer of 1779, which resulted in the destruction of every Indian village in the area and their permanent expulsion.