The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-24
HEAD OF PLANT SYSTEM
OF NUMEROUS RAILROAD AND
STEAMSHIP LINES.
A CAREER OF WONDERFUL SUCCESSES
Though he Had Been III for sefera 'ays, Dea b
Was not Expected and Came Ap.
paren,ly as Result Of
Heart Failure.

New York. June 23.-Henry Bradley
Plant, President of the Plant Invest
ment Company. controlling the great
system of hotels and railroads on the
West Coast of Florida, and the line of
steamers from Tampa to Havana, died
suddenly tonight at his residence in this
city.
Mr. Plant. who was in his eightieth
year. had not been i'm the best of health
for several years, but except during
brief intervals of illness was actively en-
gagged in the direction of his vast enter
prises up to within few hours of his
death
On Thursday evening when he arrived
home at the usual time, Mr.. Plant COM
planned of suffering from internal pain
and some disorder. from which he had
long been suffering. His condition was
somewhat worse during the night. but
no alarming symptoms manifested
themselves until a few minutes after
noon today, when it became apparent
that he was sinking. He soon lapsed
into Inconsistencies. heart failure de-
veloped and he passed quietly away.
Mrs. Plant was with her husband at
the last. His only son, Morton Freeman
Plant. was out of the city, but was in
formed of his fathers death and will
arrive in New York in the morning.
Mr.. Plant was born in Branford.
Conn.,. October 9th, 1919. He came of
distinguished lineage, running back in
this country to 1886. His great grand
father on the paternal side, was an Off
Ger in Washington's army and was one
of the guards of the execution of Major
Andree. After attending. the public
school of Branford. Mr.. Plant began life
in the transportation industry to which
his whole career was devoted. He en-
tered the service of the New Haven
Steamship Company, when is years old
and was rapidly promoted to the express
department of the company. When the
New York and New Haven Railroad
was completed. he took charge of the
express business. and on the reorganiza-
ton of the Adams Express Company
he was sent South in its service. be-
coming in 1851 the general superinten-
den Of the Southern Division. which
post he held until 1861. when he organ
lied the Southern Express Company, of
which he has since been President. To
this position he added. in 1861. the post
of President of the Express Company.
IT was not until 1879 that Mr.. Plant
became interested in Florida railroads
and laid the foundation of the great sys-
TEN bearing his name. The first rail-
roads purchased by him were the At
lantic and Gulf, now known as the Sa-
vannah. Florida and Western. and the
Charleston and Savannah. Since then
many lines have been acquired, and
numerous connecting links constructed.
now all embraced in the corporation
chartered in 1882 by the Legislature OF
Connecticut as the Plant Investment
Company. experimenting the railroad
properties are several steamship lines.
the most important of which is that
running from Tampa and Key West TO
Havana. which has been in operation
since 1884.
Mr.. Plants first wife was Ellen Eliza
beth Blackstone. of Branford. lineal
descendant of Thomas Blackstone. VINO
settled in Boston in 1884 She died in
1861 and in 1878 Mr.. Plant married Miss
Margaret Josephine Loughnlan. of New
York. who with her only child, Morton
Freeman Plant survives him.
Mr.. Plants vast business interests will
continue to be managed by the corpo-
ration that bears his name.