The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-06-30

Mrs. Plant. Z
The day after reaching Jacksonville
Mr.. Plant secured home with a Flor !
idian six miles from Jacksonville, and
during the winter Mrs. Plants health
improved so much that he was able to
return north with her the next spring.
But during that time Mr.. Plant had
found the great health-giving qualities
there we're in the climate of the Pc
ninsula State, and within less than q
year he had again invaded the state
and made some investments, which
later turned out to have been judi
cious.
About this time the Adams Express
company was more fully organized
in the east, with some of the leading
capitalists of that section as stock
holders, and Mr.. Plant had a connec-
ton with the company. On his trips
south he found q new and large field |
for the work of the company, and in
short time had extended the business |
over the lines into many southern
cities, where an express company's
work had never been heard of. The
leading cities of the south wele brought
into the territory of the Adams Ex-
press company, and no more profitable
territory was to be found than that
discovered by Mr.. Plant.
The entire southern field was under
his direction, and when the civil war
came on the directors of the company
decided to dispose of the southern ter
ritory, believing that the work Of
transmitting valuables and packages
could not be carried on with safety.
Then it was that Mr.. Plant showed his
great and unlimited faith in this sec
ton and the people of it. He knew
the character of the people among
whom he had cast his lot, and as soon
as the old company was out of the way
he organized the Southern Express
Company and was elected its first
president.
During his residence in the south he
had won the confidence, esteem and
respect of all, and none were slow to
come to his support in the new enter
prise. notwithstanding the fact that
DIS it was generally known thatMr. Plants
svmpathies were against secession. In
short time after the new company
ce was formed the seat of the Confederate
lg government was at Montgomery, and
d. there President Davis and his cabinet
he were located. NJ. Plant was always
ch open and frank There was nothing
ut of the deceptive nature him, and be
la, fore entering upon the duties of apub
to lie carrier IN the new government h
ng decided to let the head of that govern
so ment and his advisers know just wher
EN- he stood.
By an attorney he presented hi
views and ideas to President Davis i
,ti- the presence of the entire Confederat
on cabinet. Mr.. Plant was known
+ each Of the gentlemen personally
md by reputation, and when his positio
Tho had been defined he was told to
the ahead with tire work, and that IL
'ac- government had every confidence
ing his honesty and integrity.
After the war Mr.. Plant continue
in the express company and was aga
lied and again elected its president, new
On being out of that Office from the tin
nd of its creation up to the time OF b
IS a death.
anne In the later seventies and cor
fes- eighties Mr.. Plant made two or thr
'ris trips to Europe, and it was while
Pep one of these trips that he conceiv
gave the idea of building palace steamt
SEN for his lines. How he carried {
was those plans the thousands who he
Q of ridden on his steamers know W
ces- enough.
they Along with his steamboat lines, 4
Plant projected system Of railrof
the whcih today reach far and wide.
j the Florida is touched by some Of
7 the lines, either a branch or a main st
side, tapping sections Of the entire sta
!, are Few roads are better equipped 6
the few employees find themselves so v
Mr. cared for as those on the Plant syst'
quite It was not until 1879 that Mr.. Pl
leath became interested in Florida railro
so i'll and laid the foundation of the q
hers system bearing his name. The
oc- railroads purchased by him were
Atlantic & Gulf, now known as
Savannah, Florida and Western,
with the Charleston and Savannah.
fami- Since then many lines have been
taken uuired and numerous connecting Il
ption constructed, now all embraced In
/ the corporation chartered by the
plish- islature of Connecticut as the Plant
,53, he vestment Company. Supplement
life on the railroad properties are sew
Char steamship lines, the most lmportal
Jack which is that running from Tampa