The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-18

ing, although he was privileged to finish
his formal education at the Lancasterian
school in New Haven. When he was 20,
he was employed as an express messen-
ger by the New Haven Steamboat COM
pany, and little later he was put in
charge Of the express business both Oh
the steamboats, which ply between New
Haven and New York and on the New
York and New Haven railroad. When
the Adams Express company was formed
in 1854, he was chosen as the proper
man to put in charge Of the southern
branch of the company's business. That
was Al years ago, and his interests have
been identical with those of the south
ever since. He remained in charge Of
this branch until 1861, the year Of the
breaking out OF the civil war, when the
southern business of the Adams COM
pany was turned over to the then newly
organized Southern Express company, of
which he was made the first president,
a responsible post which he still fills.
It was Mr.. Plant who first discerned
the place Florida was destined to fill as
a winter resort for the physically feeble.
In 1854, the first year of his residence
south, he took his wife, who was ailing,
to that state. Her life was prolonged
for years thereafter by the mild Florida
air. At the very beginning Mr.. Plant
saw the necessity of railroads in Florida,
and he was among the earliest pur-
chasers of stocks and bonds issued by
railroad companies in Georgia and Flor
ida, though he cut no figure as rail-
road manager until 1879.
Perhaps the most picturesque and in
teresting portion of his career came with
the breaking out of the civil war. Mr..
Plant was not a partisan of either side.
The Southern Express company had just
been established, and it became at once
apparent that the business, and perhaps
the very existence of the new corpora
ton, was in serious danger. So he went
to Jefferson Davis, president Of the Con-
federacy. To him the express manager
explained the situation, declaring frank
ly that he was not partisan, but lay
ing stress on the advantage it would be
to the south if the business of the ex-
press company could go on uninterrupt-
eddy. This would hardly be possible,
he added, unless he were personally al
lowed to go wherever he pleased with
out any hindrance whatever.
So convincingly did Mr.. Plant present
his case that Mr.. Davis gave him the
desired permission, issuing pass allow
ing the freest movement through the
lines, entrance to headquarters at will,
and in brief extending the greatest i'm
aginable freedom at all times and in all
circumstances to the bearer. 1t was by
reason Of this unusual pass that the
Southern Express company was enabled
to continue its business during all the
years of strife between the north and
the south. In 1867 the Texas Express
company was formed, and Mr. Plant
was made president thereof, which Office
he yet holds. In 1879 he purchased the
Atlantic and Gulf railroad of Georgia,
and then began his career as creator, re-
storer and manager of steamer and rail-
road lines.
Today he is at the head of the Plant
Investment company, which embraces 12
railroad corporations, with mileage of
1,941; the Southern and Texas Express
companies, with a mileage of 24.412,
and reaching into Is states, and of the
Plant steamboat and steamship lines,
doing business between the gulf ports
and the West Indies, and the Atlantic
ports of the United States and the Do
minion of Canada. The Investment COM
pany owns four of the great hotels of
Florida, and its stockholders and direct
ors include such men as 81. NJ. Flagler,
III. Z. Jesup, W. T. Walters, B. F.
| Newcomer. 3. B. Haskell and others.