| [CHAPTER I.] | |
|---|---|
| PAGE | |
| The Plant Family—Birth of Henry Bradley Plant—Mr. Plant’sParents—Ancestors Came from England in 1639—DavidPlant Occupied Many Positions of Honor and Trust—A.P. Plant’s Successful Business Career—H. B. Plant on hisMother’s Side is Descended from Joseph Frisbee, a Majorin Washington’s Army—Reverend Levi Frisbee, Father ofProfessor Levi Frisbee of Harvard College—Connectionwith Sir William Pepperell, Bart.—The Historian of theFrisbee Family—Richard of the Second Generation Wentfrom Virginia to Connecticut, and Settled at Branford, 1644—Sketchof Oliver Libby Frisbee, Historian of his Family—SenatorHoar’s Relations to the Frisbee Family—FrisbeePatriotism and Services to their Country—They Were Good,Church-going People, mostly of the Puritan Belief—Probabilitythat the Frisbees Came from Wales | [1-14] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| Branford, Connecticut, Purchased by the New Haven Colonistsfrom the Totokett Indians in 1638—First Settlements WereMade in 1644—First Church of Logs Surrounded by Stockadeto Protect from Indians—Guards at the Gate during Service—Churchand Town Records Preserved at Branford—JohnPlum, the First Town Clerk—Style of the Second ChurchBuilding and Character of its Services—Rev. Timothy Gillettits Pastor—He Taught an Academy in Addition to hisPastoral Work—Prominent Families of Branford—IntelligentCharacter of the People—De Tocqueville’s High Estimateof this “Leetle State”—Branford in 1779 | [15-22] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| The Blackstone Family—The Ancestor Came from England before1630—His Name Was William Blaxton—Settled firstin Massachusetts, afterwards Went to Rhode Island—HisBeautiful Character and Numerous Descendants—Originof Yale College of Branford—The Blackstone MemorialLibrary | [23-34] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| The Plants Came from England to Branford, between TwoHundred and Three Hundred Years ago—Still Own theLands first Acquired—Henry’s Father Died of TyphusFever when Henry Was about Six Years Old—His TenderRecollection of his Mother—Henry’s First Day at School—HisNatural Diffidence—Mr. Plant’s After-dinner Speeches—HisMother’s Second Marriage—Stepfather Kind to Henry—Thrownby a Plough Horse and nearly Killed—AttendedSchool at Branford—Engaged on Steamboat Line Runningbetween New Haven and New York—On Leaving, Promiseda Captaincy—Marriage—Express Business—Leaves NewHaven and Goes to New York—Romantic Experience inFlorida | [35-50] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| Mr. Plant Goes from New Haven to New York—Captain Stone’sFriendship—Mrs. Plant’s Health Fails again—Returns to theSouth—Is Appointed Superintendent of Adams ExpressCompany—His Great Executive Ability—The Civil War—Mrs.Plant’s Death—Mr. Plant Buys out the Adams ExpressCompany | [51-55] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| Relations to the Confederate Government—Jefferson DavisGives him Charge of Confederate Funds—Mr. Plant Buys aSlave, who afterward Nursed him through a Severe Sickness—ImpairedHealth—Goes to Bermuda, New York, Canada,and Europe—Second Marriage | [56-67] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| Education from Books and from Experience—Keen Intuitions—Abreastof the Progress—Mr. Plant’s After-dinner Speechat Tampa Banquet Given him by Tampa Board of Trade,March 18, 1886—Location of Tampa—In Territorial DaysHad a Military Reservation—In 1884 Population about SevenHundred—Its Cosmopolitan Population now—Many Cubansand Spaniards in Tampa—Tobacco Industry—PhosphateAbounds in this Part of the State—Much of it Shipped tothe North and to Europe—Plant System Gives Impetus tothe Prosperity of the Place—Its Progress the Last Five orSix Years | [68-86] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| Florida Mr. Plant’s Hobby—Banquet at Ocala—Mr. Plant’sSpeech—Sail on Lakes Harrison and Griffin—Banquet atLeesburg—Visit to Eustis—Cheering Words to a YoungEditor—Make the Best of the Frost—It may be a Blessingin Disguise—Must Cultivate Other Fruits (and Cereals) besidesOranges—Importance of Honesty—Sense of Justice—Considerationfor the Workmen—Unconscious Moulding-Powerover Associates and Employees—Letter of HonorableRufus B. Bullock | [87-101] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| Mr. Plant’s Industry and Power to Endure Continuous Strain—Laborof Examining and Answering his Enormous Mail—Letterfrom Japan—Mail Delivered Regularly to him atHome and Abroad—His Private Car, its Style, Structure,Hospitality, and Cheering Presence—Numerous Calls—TheSecret of his Endurance—The Esteem and Love of theSouthern Express Company for its President—Mr. PlantEnjoys Social Life—He is a Great Lover of almost all Kindsof Music—Mr. Plant a Medical Benefactor—Some of theProgress Made in the Healing Art—Bishop of Winchester’sHigh Estimate of the Value of Health—Dr. Long’s Opinionof the Gulf Coast as a Health Restorer—Unrecognized Medicinesin Restoring Lost Health—Nervousness among theAmerican People—The Soothing and Strengthening Effectof Florida Climate—Mr. Plant’s Part in Facilitating Traveland Providing Comfortable Accommodations for the Invalid | [102-116] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| Reason for Submitting Press Sketches of Mr. Plant—DescriptiveAmerica, December, 1886—City Items, December, 1886—RailroadTopics—Home Journal, New York, March, 1896—F.G. De Fontain in same Journal—Ocala Evening Times,June, 1896—Express Gazette | [117-140] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| Mr. Plant’s Close and Constant Contact with the Great Systemas Seen in the Following Letters—Letter Written on Boardthe Steamer Comal—Letters on Trip to Jamaica, WestIndies, March 15, 1893, and Published in the Home Journal | [141-149] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT PLANT SYSTEMWORTHY OF ADMIRATION AND IMITATION | [150-156] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| Plant Day at the Cotton States and International Exposition of1895 at Atlanta, Georgia—Preparations for its Celebration—ImpressiveObservances of Mr. Plant’s Birthday at theAragon Hotel—Mr. Plant’s Remarks in AcknowledgingPresentation of Gifts | [157-182] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| Tampa Bay Hotel, One of the Modern Wonders of the World—ItsArchitecture, Furniture, Works of Art, Decorations,Tapestries, Paintings, Inlaid Table and Three Ebony andGold Cabinets from the Tuileries, a Sofa and Two Chairsonce Owned by Marie Antoinette—The Dream of De SotoRealized—A Palace of Art for the Delight and Joy of Thosewho are in Health, and an Elysium for the Sad and Sorrowful | [183-203] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| Programme of Plant Day Ceremonies—Ringing of the LibertyBell—Presentation of Addresses to Mr. Plant in the GreatAuditorium—His Reply—Resolutions from the DifferentDepartments of the System, from the Savannah Board ofTrade, etc.—Mr. Morton F. Plant’s Acknowledgments | [204-226] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| Banquet at the Aragon Hotel Ends the Festivities of the Day—Sketchof the Southern Express Company—DistinguishedCallers on President Plant during the Day—Many Telegramsand Letters of Congratulation Received—ManyPress Notices of the Day, and many Tributes of Respect andEsteem for him who Called it forth | [227-263] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| Some Changes that have Taken Place in the Configuration ofthe Globe—Islands Born and Buried—French Revolution—Napoleon’sInfluence on Europe—England’s Long Wars—BarbarousTreatment of Prisoners—Slavery Abolished—EnglishProfanity and Intemperance—Temperance Movements—Duelling—PennyPostage—Expansion of the Press—Canals,Erie and Suez—Railroads in England and theUnited States—First Steamer to Cross the Atlantic—FirstSteamship Line | [264-278] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| Railroads Established—Engineering Progress—Steel, Iron Steamships—HorseRailroad—Kerosene Oil in Use 1830—SewingMachines—Agricultural Implements 1831-51—SanitaryProgress—Philanthropic and Christian Progress—HigherEducation—Medical Progress—Humane Care of the Insane—Sailors’and Seamen’s Home—World’s Fairs—ReligiousReciprocity—Arbitration—Numerous Inventions and Discoveries—HenryB. Plant in War and in Peace—TestimonialPresented to Mr. and Mrs. Plant on the Twenty-fifthAnniversary of their Wedding | [279-306] |
| [Plant Genealogy] | [307-337] |
| [Index:][A],[B],[C],[D],[E],[F],[N],[P],[R],[S],[T],[W]. | [339-344] |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
The author takes pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to many of the Southern Express and “Plant System” officials for their prompt and valuable assistance in the preparation of a biography of their able and esteemed President. Chief among those to whom thanks are due may be mentioned Messrs. A. P. C. Ryan, M. J. O’ Brien, D. F. Jack, B. W. Wrenn, and G. H. Tilley. The last named furnished not only much material in manuscript and print, but many valuable suggestions as to their use. The letter of Ex-Governor Bullock of Georgia, published in the volume reveals the noble nature which penned it, far more eloquently than any words which can be written here, and is alike honorable to its distinguished subject and its eminent author.
Acknowledgment is due also to the papers from which extracts have been taken.