Christianity is exerting a mighty influence in various forms. Throughout
the world this is shown by the multitudes it has lifted out of barbarism
in India, China, Japan, Australia, Africa, and made them law-abiding,
peace-loving, and self-governing Christian peoples. Cannibalism and
human sacrifice have now disappeared from the earth, with many other
practices too horrible to name. For the care of the poor and
unfortunate, New York City alone spends annually more than $6,000,000.
It has homes for the aged, for orphans and for half-orphaned children,
also for crippled, and the deformed. Poor women about to become mothers
may go to a suitable institute where medical attendance and trained
nursing are furnished free, or they may have both free in their own
homes. The advance in the higher education, as well as great improvement
in our common-school system, is a marked feature of our times. Most of
our colleges have greatly raised the course of study, and several have
become fully equipped universities, while other new universities have
been added to the number; one in Chicago, two in Washington City, one in
California, and one in Baltimore. Probably the most marked feature in
the education of our time is the throwing open the doors of so many
colleges and universities to women. These have flocked thither to take
equal stand with the men, who have had a monopoly of these privileges
since colleges and universities were founded: and they have entered the
learned professions of medicine, law, and divinity, professions once
thought to be forever barred against their sex. Co-education, the higher
education of women, and their aspiration to lead a professional life,
fifty years ago would have been considered the dream of fanatics only.
Some even now doubt the wisdom of the movement, but, good or bad, it is
here to stay, and will advance with ever increasing velocity.
There are homes for incurables where their hopeless condition receives
such treatment as not unfrequently returns them to their homes restored
to a measure of health. The blind, deaf, and dumb are kindly cared for,
educated, and made useful members of society. That class once considered
hopeless, women fallen from virtue, are sought out, cared for, and
restored frequently to society, and often become rescuers of their own
sex from like degredation. Discharged criminals are looked after and
provided with temporary homes, and work is sought out for them. The
children of the street are taken up, taught, and placed in homes in the
West, away from the city temptations that were destroying them. For
young men, and now for young women, coming from the country to our large
cities, the Christian Associations find safe lodgings, work, schools,
and churches, and throw around them every safeguard. The reading-room,
gymnasium, lecture course, evening classes, and devotional meetings are
all intellectual and moral forces in character building, and in
preparation for the great work of life.
The higher education of medical science has made rapid progress during
the last century, and especially during the last half of it. Health
boards have done much in the way of sanitation to prevent disease and
protect communities against epidemics and virulent plagues that have
scourged the world for centuries. The use of anæsthetics has saved an
incalculable amount of agony, and has greatly aided physicians in
improved methods of surgery. Operations are now performed, with almost
universal success, which would not have been thought of fifty years ago.
Improved medical apparatus and instruments for examining the body have
proved of great value in the treatment of bronchial and internal
affections. The Roentgen Ray, which can bring to light the whole inside
of a man, is the latest and greatest discovery of the period under
consideration. The discovery of disease-producing germs or microbes is
worthy of mention in this connection. Pasteur’s cure for hydrophobia has
lessened the dread of one of the most terrible maladies that has
afflicted the human family.
It might be supposed that humane treatment of those most unfortunate
beings who have been deprived of their reason would be found even in the
least civilized period of the world’s history, but alas! the opposite
has been true. Until within a comparatively recent date it was customary
to confine these poor creatures in jail, along with the vilest
criminals, a custom still prevailing in some places. “In 1826, a young
clergyman, rendered insane by overwork, was found in the Bridewell
Prison of New York, herded with ruffians and murderers. At that time
there was in the prisons of Massachusetts thirty lunatics. One had been
in his cell nine years, had a wreath of rags around his body, and
another around his neck. This was all his clothing. He had no bed,
chair, or bench; a heap of filthy straw like the nest of a swine was in
the corner. He had built a bird’s-nest of mud in the iron grate of his
den.” Many were chained, kept in cages, “whipped, scourged, ironed, shut
in close cells, and left for years in filth, naked, hungry, exposed to
bitter cold, frozen,” had lost toes or feet, and suffered torture until
death ended their misery. All this is happily changed, and medical skill
and intelligent, humane care, have taken its place, with some exceptions
perhaps. Sailors were once the legitimate prey of the worst class of men
and women the world ever produced, when they landed in large cities,
often after most tempestuous voyages, and dangers most terrible to
contemplate. In so-called sailor’s boarding houses they were drugged,
robbed, stripped naked, and thrown out on the street at midnight to
groan and suffer and die.
Seamen’s Friends Societies and Sailors’ Homes, with hospitals,
libraries, Christian ministry of godly men, and kindly care for the
sick, disabled, or aged sailor until he enters the haven of eternal
rest, is now in all Christian countries the provision made for this
brave man to whom the world owes so much. Similar provision is made for
the old or disabled soldier who has fought his country’s battles. The
“Soldier’s Home” is one of the institutions for which America has reason
to be proud.
The World’s Fairs, first organized by Prince Albert in London in the
year 1851 and continued in different countries until the present time,
the last and greatest of them all held at Chicago in the United States
in 1893, have done much to stimulate progress in every department of
life, and to strengthen the spirit of friendly reciprocity that should
bind the human family closer together in mutual helpfulness and
good-will. The international congress of all religions held at the
Chicago Fair, the first and only congress of the kind ever held, was in
the line of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.
The bitterness of the sectarian spirit among all Christian denominations
is happily passing away, and a desire for closer relations, even for a
union of all peoples of the Christian faiths, is fast taking its place.
The Roman Catholic Church through its head, Leo XIII., and the Episcopal
Church through its Bishops have both expressed their desire for the
union of all Christian peoples. Arbitration for the settlement of
disputes between labor and capital, and even between nations, is
advancing towards a blessed consummation, and the day cannot be far
distant when peace and good-will among men shall become universal, and
Jesus of Nazareth shall reign, Prince of Peace and King of Nations
through the whole world. Who knows but that the six hundred and one
thousand miles of telegraph in the United States and the one hundred and
sixty thousand miles of submarine telegraph in the world, shall soon
flash the news round the globe, “The Lord is come.”
The following item taken by permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons from
_The Last Quarter of the Century_, by Andrews, is significant in this
connection:
“During the great Electrical Exposition in New York City, May,
1896, a message was transmitted round the world and back in
fifty-five minutes. It was dictated by Hon. Chauncey Depew, and
read--‘God creates, Nature treasures, Science utilizes electrical
power for the grandeur of nations and the peace of the world.’
Starting at eight thirty-five these words sped over the land lines
to San Francisco, thence back to Canso, Nova Scotia, where they
plunged under the sea to London. A click of the key four minutes
later announced the completion of this part of the journey.
“Cannon were fired in honor of the achievement, while the throng on
the floor of the Exhibition Building cheered.
“Meantime, the general manager of the Western Union Company had
despatched the same message over his lines to Los Angeles,
Galveston, City of Mexico, Valparaiso, Buenos Ayres, Pernambuco,
across the Atlantic to Lisbon, and back to New York by way of
London, a journey of ten thousand miles, in eleven and one half
minutes.
“At nine twenty-five, just fifty minutes from the start, the
receiving instrument clicked and Mr. Edison, for the nonce again a
simple telegraph operator as of yore, copied from it the Depew
message.
“It had travelled from London to Lisbon, thence to Suez, Aden,
Bombay, Madras, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki, and
Tokio, returning by the same route to New York, having traversed a
distance of 27,500 miles.”
We have thus tabulated, in the briefest manner, a few of the advances
made in various departments of life during the period covered by this
biography: and we have done so because Mr. Plant loves to recount the
progress of the human family. He has kept in touch with it all, enjoyed
it all, and has himself contributed no small share to its furtherance.
It enhances one’s estimate of the marvellous progress of the age in
which we are living when we think how much has been accomplished in the
comparatively brief period of one life. It gives ground for believing,
too, that the next decade will surpass any that has preceded it, and
that the twentieth century will outstrip the nineteenth as far as the
nineteenth has outstripped any of its predecessors. It inspires the
wish, also, that the subject of this biography may live to enjoy much of
the world’s era of peace and progress in science, art, industry,
philanthropy, and Christian alleviation and uplifting power. May this
very imperfect history of a very instructive life prove helpful to those
taking their place in the onward march of the race towards its great and
final destiny.
The wish expressed above for the continued health and life of the
subject of this biography was written one year ago, and what follows
affords strong hope of its realization.
The winter after the Atlanta Exposition found Mr. Plant with signs of
failing health, somewhat alleviated by his sojourn in the South; but on
his arrival in New York in the spring of 1896, he was taken violently
ill and was constantly under the doctor’s care for four or five months.
The next winter he passed in the South, resulting in marked evidences of
improved health. The next spring, however, another malady developed,
greatly impairing health and threatening life for several weeks. Early
in the spring he had so far recovered that he went by rail to San
Francisco, in his own private car, thence by ocean to Japan and China,
and, returning to Japan, spent a large part of the summer there, from
whence he sailed for San Francisco and returned to New York early in
November, nearly all evidences of past diseases having disappeared, and
he has passed his seventy-eight birthday in apparently good health.
It is needless to say that honors, courtesies, and kindnesses were
liberally tendered him throughout his whole trip in the East, which he
enjoyed to the full.
The following incident is one among many that occurred to Mr. Plant
during his very interesting tour in the land of the Rising Sun, and
shows how promptly he improved every opportunity that came in his way,
not only for learning all about the customs, manners, and ways of the
Japanese, but of recalling old acquaintances, and renewing old
friendships of his early boyhood in his native State, and town of
Branford. On his return voyage via the Hawaiian Islands, the steamer
stopped for a few hours at Honolulu. Mr. Plant at once set out to find a
Branford lady who had long been a resident in these islands. Soon his
search was rewarded by finding Mrs. Mary Parker, widow of a missionary
of that name, and now in the ninety-fourth year of her age. Mr. Plant
was present at the marriage of this good lady in Branford, Connecticut,
when only a boy of seven, and doubtless some of the happy boyhood
emotions of that occasion came back to him when he clasped the hand of
this aged woman so far away from their native Branford.
HENRY B. PLANT IN WAR AND IN PEACE.
Few men are more blessed with a peaceful disposition and an inborn
dislike of the antagonisms that arise so frequently between men and
nations than is the subject of this sketch. Nor has it fallen to the lot
of many to take such an important part in the two greatest wars of our
country. In the former chapters of this biography we have spoken of the
valuable services rendered to both sides of the contestants in our Civil
War by the Plant System, then only in its embryo state of development.
At the banquet given to Mr. Plant at the Atlanta Exposition we heard,
from some of the representative men of the South, patriotic speeches
full of native eloquence, that thrilled us in every fibre of our being.
“Mr. Plant,” said one of the distinguished speakers, “you have done more
to bring the North and South together than any other man living.” Mr.
Plant has been privileged to have a large part in the present conflict
that has completely cemented the whole nation as never before. This is
by no means the smallest benefit that has come to our country out of
this great conflict, for it is as true now as when it was uttered by one
of the greatest American statesmen, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
The following description of the facilities afforded for shipment at
Port Tampa is from the pen of one who is well acquainted with every
foot of land and water about which he writes.
“The war with Spain directed attention more to Port Tampa than any one
place in the United States. This was for the reason that the largest
military expedition that ever left the shores of the United States was
loaded and sailed from the docks there. The work was done in a very
short time, considering the lack of experience of the government
officials in charge.
“So much has been said and written about the loading of General
Shafter’s expedition, with its fleet of thirty-six steamships, that the
public will appreciate some detailed information about the immense
facilities which are found ready for use at Port Tampa. This was through
the foresight and business sagacity of the head of the Plant System, for
he built largely for the great business that must pass through that port
at no distant day.
“The railroad yards of over thirty-six miles of track, at Port Tampa,
Port Tampa City, and Tampa, belong to the Plant System, and have a
capacity of over two thousand cars, leaving working room for all the
business that this number of cars would bring to the place. The tracks
are perfectly arranged, and experienced railroad men say that no
railroad yard in the South will compare with this for conveniences in
handling a big business. The business is in the hands of railroad men
of experience, and no delays were traceable to them. Between Tampa and
Port Tampa is a stretch of nine miles. To illustrate the perfect system
employed in handling the business, it is only necessary to say that from
six o’clock in the morning until 11:40 at night, twenty-six passenger
trains passed over this nine miles every day. Besides this, the freight
trains numbered more than this, comprising the various sections of
regular trains and the large number of troop and supply-trains for the
movement. There was no delay and not an accident.
“Of the facilities at the docks, as much can be said. It is the only
port in the country where vessels drawing twenty-four feet of water can
come alongside and load in such numbers. There is room for twenty-four
vessels of that draught, three hundred and twenty feet long, to lie end
for end, and receive cargoes at the same time. These steamers are all
loaded from the railroad tracks, just twenty feet removed from the edge
of the pier, and nothing stands in the way of the quick work. Vessels of
less length make it possible to increase the number, and at one time
there were thirteen vessels loading end to end at one side of the pier.
According to this calculation, thirty-two vessels could be accommodated.
At these docks are to be found berths for phosphate vessels where their
cargoes are loaded from electric elevators, which are the latest
improved. Just across the slip is the government coal dock, and here are
electric elevators for handling this business. A large amount of coal is
now stored in these docks for the government.
“It was not necessary to provide any of these facilities for the
especial purpose of handling the government war business. They were all
there and in use before the war, and the government used them in sending
off this fleet of thirty-six vessels, under convoy of a large number of
war vessels. It was one of the most imposing sights of the age to see
this great fleet steaming down the bay; flags flying and bands playing,
and sixteen thousand American soldiers cheering as they felt the vessels
move over the waters of Tampa Bay, all bound for a victorious campaign
against the enemy.
“The Plant System has done well its part in the great modern war, and is
equally well prepared to do its part in carrying on the great commerce
between the United States, Cuba, the West India Islands, and all of the
South American countries.”
The _Marine Journal_ of New York of July 9, 1898, has the following
editorial:
“PORT TAMPA--Phœnix-like Rose and Met the Occasion--Over Thirty
Troop Ships Loaded and Departed from its Piers--The Largest War
Fleet ever Sent from One Port at One Time in the Nation’s
History--The Port’s Immense Facilities.
“It would take the entire reading space of the _Marine Journal_ to
describe the great amount of work done at Port Tampa, Fla., in getting
Gen. Shafter’s army afloat, and the exhaustive facilities that were
found by the government to exist there available for this purpose; in
fact, only those who have visited the West coast of Florida within ten
years past have any idea of the extensive improvements that have been
made at Port Tampa by the Plant System with a view to bringing the
commerce of the United States within close communication with the Island
of Cuba, Jamaica, and other nearby Gulf ports. Millions of dollars have
been expended by Henry B. Plant and associates under the supervision of
the best known experts in railroad and harbor improvements that could be
obtained for this object, and the work was near completion when war was
declared with Spain, and the Island of Cuba became the base of
hostilities.
“Fortunately the government was well informed as to the superior
facilities already in operation at Port Tampa, and the Quartermaster’s
Department of the Army was not slow in recommending this place for the
mobilization of troops and their preparation and embarkation to Cuba
therefrom. The vexatious delays caused by inexperience in handling such
a large body of men and munitions of war, reports of spook Spanish
fleets, etc., are more or less familiar to our readers, as well as the
detail of the fitting out and embarking of over 12,000 troops and their
supplies which were loaded on board over thirty transports at Port Tampa
in a very short space of time. The wharf facilities at some times
accommodated as many as thirteen of these troop ships strung along end
on.
“Let the _Marine Journal_ readers imagine for a moment that the Florida
terminus of the Plant System of railroads at Port Tampa extends out into
the harbor nearly a mile on two solidly built piers of sheet piling,
earth, and rocks between which is a canal or basin with twenty-five feet
depth of water its entire length, where a fleet of ships can lie and
load or unload from or into cars night and day. The south pier is
seventy feet wide, and has three tracks laid upon it, twenty feet of
this width is set apart for working cargo from car to ship, and vice
versa, also a promenade its entire length, midway of which is the famous
“Inn,” built out over the water, where passengers in transit to Cuba and
Key West, as well as tourists, can enjoy a cool, delightful rest after a
trip by sea or land. One can hardly imagine the amount of transportation
facilities afforded at this immense terminus, with its mile in length
railroad-yard, and Port Tampa is but twenty-four hours sail from Havana
by steamers of fair average speed. The _Olivette_, of the Plant Line,
has frequently made the trip in nineteen and a half hours.
“There is twenty feet of water on the shoalest part of the bar at the
entrance of the (thirty feet) harbor of Port Tampa, and a very small
expense in dredging, which is now being arranged for, will enable
vessels to enter drawing twenty-five feet. Outside of the harbor, in
Tampa Bay, is a roadstead where the entire naval and transport fleet of
the United States could ride safely at anchor in the fiercest hurricane,
thereby adding another valuable argument for Port Tampa as a naval as
well as an army base.
“It is a well-known fact to mariners who are familiar with West Indian
and Gulf navigation, that after July 15th, it is necessary to keep an
eye to windward for hurricanes up to the middle of September; then more
or less heavy weather occurs until the middle of March. And here comes
in another great advantage in favor of Port Tampa as against all other
ports in the United States as regards safety from the elements. With the
present able weather bureau, and its complete arrangements for signaling
the conditions of the weather from all important points, there is not
the slightest danger of encountering a hurricane between Port Tampa and
Cuba. The weather reports available make it not only easy to avoid them
through reliable information of their coming, but enables the mariner to
prepare for them in the harbor of Port Tampa or Key West if there isn’t
time to reach Cuba. If the government is wise it will ship no more
troops to Cuba or Porto Rico this season from north or south of
Hatteras, as there is no need of subjecting them to the risk of
hurricanes. Our soldier boys should have as short and comfortable a sea
voyage as possible, and that is only obtainable in first-class shape
from Port Tampa, following down the west coast of Florida, always under
the lee of the land in case of an eastern gale or hurricane.”
The caution contained in the above against storms, and the desire for a
safe and comfortable passage for our soldier boys, will find a tender
response in many hearts for him who facilitated the embarkation of the
brave men going from their native land to fight a foreign foe.
TESTIMONIAL ACCOMPANYING A SILVER SERVICE PRESENTED
BY THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE
SOUTHERN EXPRESS COMPANY TO MR. AND MRS. H. B.
PLANT ON THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR TWENTY-FIFTH
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
“NEW YORK, July 2d, 1898.
“TO MR. AND MRS. H. B. PLANT.
“_The following officers and employees of the Southern Express
Company ask that you accept this ‘SERVICE’ as an evidence of the
affectionate regard in which they hold their honored President and
his Wife._
“_It has appeared to them that upon a day commemorative of the
ceremony which twenty-five years ago united in affection your
lives, they should give some enduring expression of the esteem in
which they hold you both._
“_They gratefully recognize the wise direction, the patient
forbearance and the friendly counsel of their President, which has
done so much to guide and aid them, in their respective spheres of
duty, and they are equally sensible of the fact that under
advancing years, and multiplicity of duties, only the ceaseless
care and affectionate heed of a devoted Wife has made this
possible._
“_They beg that you accept the testimonial in the spirit which has
prompted it, and with the assurance that to your ‘wedded love’ is
indissolubly linked their respect, admiration and affection._
“H. Dempsey, J. Cronin, N. S. Woodward, W. J. Crosswell, C. A.
Pardue, Mark J. O’Brien, W. A. Dewees, W. W. Allen, F. G. du
Bignon, W. A. Blankenship, A. M. Richardson, H. E. Williamson, L.
H. Black, J. L. S. Albright, L. Spaulding, A. Montgomery, J. B.
Hockaday, G. C. Crom, F. de C. Sullivan, W. Buckner, W. E. McGill,
G. A. Wilkinson, S. C. Hargis, G. W. Bacot, G. Sadler, C. C.
Wolfe, P. B. Wilkes, W. J. Brown, F. R. Osborne, O. M. Sadler, C.
T. Campbell, V. Spalding, H. C. Fisher, M. F. Plant, F. J. Virgin,
C. Pink, C. L. Loop, W. C. Agee, F. Q. Brown, J. C. Stuart, L.
Minor, R. B. Smith, W. B. Menzies, John Lovette, E. J. Loughman, J.
T. James, W. H. Hendee, S. R. Golibart, E. M. Williams, J. C.
Barry, W. R. Twyman, E. C. Spence, L. Kuder, C. R. Smith, J. B.
Gartrell, M. Culliny, A. Welsh, G. W. Agee, C. L. Myers, W. K.
Haile, W. A. Mehegan, R. G. Erwin, C. H. Albright, W. M. Shoemaker,
H. C. Mendenhall, G. H. Tilley, A. McD. Mullings, J. W. Gaines, T.
W. Leary, C. G. McCormick, W. W. Hulbert, K. C. Barrett, M. F.
Loughman, E. F. Gary, J. J. Crosswell, E. J. Michelin, T. T.
Weltch, Thomas Grier, R. A. Buckner, H. M. Smith, M. J. O’Brien, W.
S. McFarland, E. G. Williams.”
MR. AND MRS. PLANT’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TESTIMONIAL
AND SERVICE.
“NEW YORK, July 2nd, 1898.
“ESTEEMED FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES:
“_Twenty-five years ago, this second day of July, was a very happy
one for us, and, to-day, on our Silver Anniversary, we are most
pleasantly reminded of the occasion by the unexpected receipt of a
handsome token indicative of the affection in which we are held by
those who, during the last quarter of a century, have surrounded
us as friends as well as business associates._
“_The sentiments embodied in the testimonial accompanying the very
beautiful ‘Service’ are highly appreciated and accepted by us as an
evidence of the sincere feelings prompting your thoughtful
recollection of this memorable mile-stone in our lives._
“_In returning our deep gratitude for your remembrance and kind
expressions, we indulge the hope that we will have many years
together to enjoy the gift which your generosity has provided, and
that while life lasts we may have the friendship of those whose
acts in the past and present have brought them so near to us._
“_Very sincerely_,
“HENRY B. PLANT,
“MARGARET J. PLANT.”
[Illustration: text decoration] PLANT GENEALOGY
PREPARED BY
G. S. DICKERMAN
THE PLANTS IN GENERAL
There are many families of the Plant name. This will be seen on looking
into city directories and running the eye over lists there given.
Accounts show that these families have come from several progenitors who
arrived in this country at different times.
Attention is paid here more particularly to the descendants of John
Plant, of Branford, Connecticut. But it may be of interest to glance at
certain other families.
The Plants of St. Louis, Missouri, have occupied an honorable place in
the history of that city during the last fifty years. One of their
number[2] tells of having traced their ancestry back some three hundred
years to the County Palatine, of Chester, in England, where, about 1600,
were two brothers, Samuel Plant and John Plant. From the latter of these
they are descended in the following line: John,^{1} Thomas,^{2}
George,^{3} Samuel,^{4} who married Ann Haigh and lived in
Macclesfield, England, Samuel,^{5} who came to Boston, Massachusetts,
between 1790 and 1800, and married there Mary D. Poignaud, a Boston lady
of Huguenot ancestry.
This Samuel^{5} Plant was sent out by his uncle, Mr. Haigh, a
manufacturer of woollen cloths at Leeds, to sell his goods, which he
did, with his headquarters at Boston, though he travelled extensively,
going once as far as Charleston, South Carolina. Some years later he
brought over from England plans for cotton machinery and built, in
1808-9, the first cotton factory in Worcester County, Massachusetts, at
Clinton.
He was the father of six sons and six daughters. The sons were George
P.,^{6} Frederick William,^{6} Samuel,^{6} Alfred,^{6} William M.,^{6}
and Henry,^{6} who all removed to St. Louis, and have been identified
with the enterprise and development of that city since 1840. Of these
sons Mr. Alfred^{6} Plant is the only survivor.
Another family has a representative[3] in Chicago, who writes that his
branch came from Ireland to Massachusetts early in this century. His
father’s name was Thomas Plant and he had an uncle Robert, who also
settled in Massachusetts.
Again the name appears in the annals of Newbury, New Hampshire, where
the Rev. Matthias Plant was rector of Queen Anne’s Chapel from April,
1722, till his death on December 23, 1751, a period of twenty-nine
years.[4] Previous to his time the church had been weak, but under his
ministry its position became secure. St. Paul’s Church was built in
another part of the town from Queen Anne’s, and he officiated there
also. His wife was the youngest daughter of Samuel Bartlett, of Newbury.
No further knowledge of this family has been obtained.
The name occurs twice in lists of persons embarking from England in
early times to settle in the colonies.[5] In one list William Plant is
reported to have died on a plantation in Virginia in 1624. In another
Matthew Plant, who was then twenty-three years old, was enrolled to sail
on the _Assurance_ from Gravesend for Virginia, July 24, 1635. Under the
term “Virginia,” in those times, were included the New England colonies
as well as those in the South, so that it is quite supposable that
Matthew Plant may have settled in New England.
THE PLANT FAMILY
OF BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT.
John^{1} Plant, the progenitor of this family, was a soldier in the
Narragansett war. The Connecticut General Assembly, in October, 1696,
bestowed on the “English Volunteers” in this struggle a tract of
territory six miles square, to be divided among them, which was located
in New London County, and has since borne the name of Voluntown. In the
list of those receiving these grants John^{1} Plant was numbered 59 in
the drawing of “Cedar Swamp Lots.”[6]
The Narragansett war ended in 1676. Soon after this the name of John^{1}
Plant appears on the records of the town of Branford, January 21, 1677,
when a lot of two acres was granted to him on condition that he should
build upon it within three years. It seems unlikely that he was at
Branford much before this date, for the reason that his name is not in
the lists of residents enrolled in January, 1676. Nor do we find any
others of the Plant name previous to this date. Subsequently his name
occurs a number of times in connection with grants of land.[7]
He died about 1691, as evidenced by the inventory of his estate taken
June 4, 1691. The valuation of his property was £130 8_s._ 9_d._
The indications concerning his family are not altogether clear.[8] He
had a son John,^{2} concerning whom accounts are somewhat full. There
was a Martha Plant enrolled among the members of the church in 1704. She
may have been his daughter. There was also an Elizabeth Plant,[9] who
may have been another daughter.
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
OF JOHN^{2} AND HANNAH (WHEDON) PLANT.
| HANNAH PLANT |Reuben Whedon
| born July, 16, 1708 |William Whedon
| married |Noah Whedon
| ABRAHAM WHEDON |Hannah Whedon
| |Martha Whedon
| |Submit Whedon
| |Sarah Whedon
| |Deborah Whedon
+---------------------------+----------------
| JOHN PLANT |
| born September 19, 1711 |
+---------------------------+----------------
| JONATHAN PLANT |
| born July 29, 1714 |
--------------------------+---------------------------+----------------
JOHN PLANT, JR. | JAMES PLANT |Solomon Plant
baptized March 3, 1678 | born November 4, 1716 |James Plant
died February 10, 1752 | died February 7, 1795 |Samuel Plant
married |married September 22, 1740 |Stephen Plant
HANNAH WHEDON | BATHSHEBA PAGE |Lois Plant
died Nov. 5, 1754, aged 69| |Ebenezer Plant
| |Sarah Plant
| |Moses Plant
--------------------------+---------------------------+----------------
| ELIZABETH PLANT |Josiah Parrish
| born August 1, 1720 |Elizabeth Parrish
|married September 21, 1748 |Sibil Parrish
| JOSIAH PARRISH |Hannah Parrish
| |Mary Parrish
| |John Parrish
+---------------------------+----------------
| TIMOTHY PLANT |Lucy Plant
| born April 6, 1724 |Hannah Plant
| married February 12, 1745 |Timothy Plant
| LUCY PARRISH |Joel Plant
| |Ithiel Plant
+---------------------------+----------------
| ABRAHAM PLANT |Eli Plant
|baptized September 23, 1727|Electa Plant
| married (1) |Lydia Plant
| HANNAH HOADLEY |Abraham Plant
| married (2) |Anne Plant
| TAMAR FRISBIE |Hannah Plant
| |Elizabeth Plant
| |Rebecca Plant
| |Jason Plant
+---------------------------+----------------
| BENJAMIN PLANT |Hannah Plant
| born 1732 |John Plant
| died August 11, 1808 |Benjamin Plant
| married (1) |Anderson Plant
| LORANA BECKWITH |Lorana Plant
| married (2) |Peggy Plant
| ABIGAIL PALMER |Samuel Plant
| married (3) |Elias Plant
| LOIS FRISBIE |
JOHN^{2} PLANT, JR.--HANNAH WHEDON.
John^{2} Plant, Jr., son of John^{1} Plant, was baptized at Branford,
March 3, 1678; died February 10, 1752, aged seventy-four; married Hannah
Whedon, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Barnes) Whedon, who was born in
1686; died November 5, 1754, aged sixty-nine.[10]
Their children were born in Branford, and were as follows:
I. Hannah^{3} Plant, born July 16, 1708; baptized August 7, 1715;
married Abraham Whedon, who died about 1762.[11]
II. John^{3} Plant, born September 19, 1711; baptized August 7, 1715;
died about 1788.[12]
III. Jonathan^{3} Plant, born July 29, 1714; baptized August 7, 1715;
living in Branford May 29, 1753, as shown by the “ear mark” for his
cattle entered on the records, May 29, 1753; died before October 7,
1772.[13]
IV. James^{3} Plant, born November 4, 1716; baptized November 18, 1716;
died February 7, 1795; married, September 22, 1740, Bathsheba Page,
daughter of Samuel and Mindwell Page, of Branford; born January 25,
1715-16; died, at Stratford, January 5, 1803. _Account continued on page
315._
V. Elizabeth^{3} Plant, born August 1, 1720; baptized August, 1720;
married, September 21, 1748, Josiah Parrish, son of John and Hannah
Parrish, of Branford.[14]
1. Josiah^{4} Parrish, born April 6, 1749; married, December 25, 1770,
Thankful Plant, perhaps the widow of Samuel Plant.
2. Elizabeth^{4} Parrish, born August 3, 1751.
3. Sibil^{4} Parrish, born March 28, 1753.
4. Hannah^{4} Parrish, born July 11, 1756.
5. Mary^{4} Parrish, born June 7, 1759.
6. John^{4} Parrish, born May 16. 1762.
VI. Timothy^{3} Plant, born April 6, 1724; baptized May 17, 1724;
married, at Branford, Lucy Parrish. _Account continued on page 317._
VII. Abraham^{3} Plant, baptized September 23, 1727; married (1), May
(or March) 9, 1751, Hannah^{4} Hoadley, daughter of John^{3} and Lydia
(Rogers) Hoadley (John^{2}, William^{1}); born May 8, 1733; died April
4, 1755; married (2), January 12, 1763, Tamar Frisbie; born about 1740;
died 1793, aged 53. Children by second marriage, and born at Branford.
1. Eli^{4} Plant, born August 4, 1763; married, July 8, 1787, Sarah
Stent.
2. Electa^{4} Plant, born September 27, 1765.
3. Lydia^{4} Plant, born December 20, 1767; baptized, with the younger
children, May 2, 1784.
4. Abraham^{4} Plant, born August 3 or 4, 1770.
5. Anne^{4} Plant, born August 3 or 4, 1770, twin with Abraham.
6. Hannah^{4} Plant, born March 14, 1773.
7. Elizabeth^{4} Plant, born October 12, 1775.
8. Rebecca^{4} Plant, born March 7, 1777.
9. Jason^{4} Plant, born August 11, 1782.
VIII. Benjamin^{3} Plant, born about 1732; died August 11, 1808, aged
76; married (1), April 5, 1758, Lorana Beckwith, of Lyme; born about
1736; died March 16, 1789, aged 53; married (2), June 17, 1790, Abigail
Palmer; married (3), December 6, 1797, Lois Frisbie. _Account continued
on page 318._
_Authorities._--New Haven and Branford Town and Church Records; Probate
Records at New Haven, Branford, and Guilford; _Atwater’s History of New
Haven Colony_; Orcutt’s _History of Stratford_.
JAMES^{3} PLANT--BATHSHEBA PAGE.
James^{3} Plant, son of John^{2} and Hannah (Whedon) Plant (John^{1});
born November 4, 1716; baptized November 18, 1716, at Branford; died
there February 7, 1795; married, September 22, 1740, Bathsheba Page,
daughter of Samuel and Mindwell Page, of Branford; born January 25,
1715-16; died January 5, 1803, at Stratford, Connecticut. _See page
313._
He had a farm near the head of Lake Saltonstall and raised a family,
most of whom left Branford. He was drowned while crossing the lake on
the ice, and his farm was sold by John and Samuel Plant to George
Townsend, of East Haven. His widow seems to have passed the closing
years of her life with their oldest son in the home he had made at
Stratford.
I. Solomon^{4} Plant, born May 1, 1741; died May 20, 1822; married (1),
November 16, 1769, Sarah Bennett, of Stratford, who died September 15,
1815; married (2), November 19, 1816, Mrs. Esther (Frost) Botsford.
_Account continued on page 320._
II. James^{4} Plant, born September 10, 1742; living at Southington,
Connecticut, as late as June 15, 1813, when he deeded land to his son
Ebenezer^{5}; married, January 9, 1772, at New Haven, Lucy Judd,
daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Thompson) Judd, of that place. _Account
continued on page 321._
III. Samuel^{4} Plant, baptized February 10, 1745; married, July 2,
1769, Thankful Towner, of Branford. He was lost at sea.
IV. Stephen^{4} Plant, baptized March 8, 1747; died before February 3,
1808, when his estate was admitted to probate in Litchfield,
Connecticut, and his widow was appointed administratrix. _Account
continued on page 322._
V. Lois^{4} Plant, baptized April 2, 1749; died April 21, 1833, aged 84,
at South Hill, Onondaga County, New York; married Obed Fellows, of
Canaan, Connecticut. Their son, Ephraim^{5} Fellows, was the father of
Lucy^{6} Fellows, who became the wife of William Agur^{6} Plant. _See
page 328._
VI. Ebenezer^{4} Plant, born October 26, 1751; baptized December 15,
1751; died April or May, 1796; married, August 17, 1774, Esther^{6}
Bassett, daughter of Lieutenant John^{5} and Naomi (Wooster) Bassett
(Samuel,^{6} Robert,^{3} Robert,^{2} John^{1}), residence, Derby,
Connecticut.[15]
Captain Samuel^{5} Plant, his son, died at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1815.
His wife was Dorothy^{8} Gorham, daughter of Isaac^{7} and Sarah
(Atwater) Gorham (John,^{4} Isaac,^{5} Jabez,^{4} John,^{3} Ralph^{2},
James^{1}), born February 22, 1775; died August 4, 1832, aged 57. Their
daughter, Sarah Atwater^{6} Plant (born December 4, 1800, died June 16,
1880), married Nathaniel Jocelyn, of New Haven (born January 31, 1796,
died January 18, 1881).
VII. Sarah^{4} Plant, born May 6, 1754; baptized June 9, 1754.
VIII. Moses^{4} Plant, born March 17, 1760; supposed to have settled at
Niagara, New York, and died there. He was in the Revolutionary War,
Sixth regiment, Connecticut line, Captain James Prentice, of New Haven;
enlisted, April 20, 1777, for eight months; discharged, January 1, 1778;
also enlisted, February 21, 1778, in the regiment of Artificers, from
Branford, for three years.
_Authorities._--New Haven, Branford, Guilford, Litchfield, and
Southington Town and Probate Records; Branford Church Records; Orcutt’s
_History of Stratford_; Orcutt’s _History of Derby_; _The Tuttle
Family_; gravestones in Grove Street Cemetery at New Haven; private
records of Hon. Livingston W. Cleaveland, of New Haven, a grandson of
Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Jocelyn.
TIMOTHY^{3} PLANT--LUCY PARRISH.
Timothy^{3} Plant, son of John^{2} and Hannah (Whedon) Plant (John^{1}),
born April 6, 1724, at Branford; baptized May 17, 1724; married Lucy
Parrish, daughter of John and Hannah Parrish of that place. _See page
314._
I. Lucy^{4} Plant, born May 27, 1745; died February 26, 1825, aged 80,
at Saybrook, now Westbrook, Connecticut; married, December 24, 1764,
Daniel Dee, son of William Dee, of Saybrook; born about 1739; died
August 23, 1823, aged 84. Their gravestone is in the old cemetery at
Westbrook.
II. Hannah^{4} Plant, born March 15, 1747; married, at Saybrook, Jared
Baldwin, son of Jerjah Baldwin, of Milford, where they afterward lived
and are mentioned in the records, November 30, 1819, as occupying their
house with their daughter, Hannah Bassett. _See The Baldwin Genealogy._
III. Timothy^{4} Plant, born July 4, 1750; married, 1770, Mary Ann
Colberth, who died about 1788, residence, Litchfield, Connecticut.
_Account continued on page 323._
IV. Joel^{4} Plant, born March 25, 1753. He is supposed to have died
young.
V. Ithiel^{4} Plant, born in 1755; married, November 20, 1783, at
Saybrook, Connecticut, Hannah Denison, daughter of George and Jemima
(Post) Denison of that place; born October 25, 1758.[16]
_Authorities._--Town and Probate Records at Deep River; gravestone at
Westbrook; _Early Connecticut Marriages_, by F. W. Bailey; _The Baldwin
Genealogy_; _Record of Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution_;
United States Pension Records as given by Commissioner Evans.
BENJAMIN^{3} PLANT--LORANA BECKWITH.
Benjamin^{3} Plant, son of John^{2} and Hannah (Whedon) Plant
(John^{1}), born, about 1732, at Branford; died August 11, 1808, aged
76; married (1), April 5, 1758 (by Rev. Philemon Robbins), Lorana
Beckwith, of Lyme, Connecticut; born about 1736; died March 16, 1789,
aged 53; married (2), June 17, 1790, Abigail Palmer; married (3),
December 6, 1797, Lois Frisbie. He lived in Branford and his children
were born there. _See page 315._
I. Hannah^{4} Plant, born January 26, 1759; baptized April 25, 1759;
married, June 30, 1779, John Russell.
II. John^{4} Plant, born December 1, 1761; baptized January 17, 1762;
removed to Seneca Lake, New York; was twice married but left no
children.
III. Benjamin^{4} Plant, born October 1, 1763; died 1812; married, 1787,
Lucinda Potter, daughter of Captain Stephen and Sarah (Lindley) Potter;
born April 4, 1767, at Branford; died June 26, 1848. They removed to
Utica, New York, about 1795.
1. Sally^{5} Plant, born 1790; died 1808.
2. Stephen^{5} Plant, died 1793.
3. Benjamin^{5} Plant, born April 28, 1794; died August 7, 1876;
married, April 7, 1823, Sarah Mason, daughter of Arnold and Mercy Mason,
1798-1879.
4. James^{5} Plant, born June 16, 1798; died January 5, 1860; married,
November 27, 1833, Hannah A. Mason, daughter of Arnold and Mercy Mason;
born 1812.
5. John^{5} Plant, born June 16, 1789; died young.
6. Mary Eliza^{5} Plant, born June 9, 1800; died March 1, 1886; married,
September 9, 1820, Roswell Keeler, son of Timothy and Luranay (DeForest)
Keeler; 1791-1864.
7. Frederick^{5} Plant, born April 27, 1810; died January 31, 1884.
IV. Anderson^{4} Plant, born November 18, 1765; baptized November 24,
1765; was drowned in the Susquehanna River at the age of about 25.[17]
V. Lorana^{4} Plant, baptized August 30, 1767; married Henry Garret and
went to Trenton Falls, New York. Their son Orrin Garret was a printer,
and one of the early missionaries to the Sandwich Islands.
VI. Peggy^{4} Plant, born May 26, 1769; baptized June 4, 1769; married,
March 23, 1793, Jonathan Frisbie.
VII. Samuel^{4} Plant, born April 1, 1772; baptized April 12, 1772; died
July 29, 1862, aged 90; married, February 11, 1795, Sarah Frisbie; born
May 15, 1774; died August 25, 1841, aged 67. _Account continued on page
324._
VIII. Elias^{4} Plant, baptized August 7, 1774; married (1), March 31,
1799, Ruhama Hall, daughter of Elias and Ruhama Hall, and widow of
Thomas Trowbridge; born January 16, 1776; married (2), November 10,
1843, Lydia Linsley. _Account continued on page 325._
_Authorities._--Town, Church, and Probate Records at Branford and
Guilford; _History and Genealogy of the Potter Family_, Part V., p. 6.
SOLOMON^{4} PLANT--SARAH BENNETT.
Solomon^{4} Plant, son of James^{3} and Bathsheba (Page) Plant
(John,^{2} John^{1}), born, May 1, 1741, at Branford; died, May 20,
1822, at Stratford; married (1), November 16, 1769, Sarah Bennett, of
Stratford, who died September 15, 1815; married (2), November 19, 1816,
Mrs. Esther (Frost) Botsford.[18] _See page 315._
I. Hannah^{5} Plant, born October 25, 1770; married, October 7, 1787,
Asa Benjamin; born December 2, 1763.
II. Sarah^{5} Plant, born January 5, 1775; died August 14, 1857;
married, September 10, 1797, Daniel Judson; born November 24, 1763; died
October 4, 1847.
III. Cata^{5} Plant, born December 30, 1777; died January 16, 1778.
IV. David^{5} Plant, born March 29, 1783; died October 18, 1851;
married, December 5, 1810, Catharine^{6} Tomlinson; born October 9,
1787; died June 2, 1835. _Account continued on page 327._
_Authorities._--Rolls of Soldiers in the State of New York; Orcutt’s
_History of Stratford_.
JAMES^{4} PLANT--LUCY JUDD.
James^{4} Plant, son of James^{3} and Bathsheba (Page) Plant (John,^{2}
John^{1}), born September 10, 1742, at Branford; died May 16, 1814;
married, January 9, 1772, at New Haven, Lucy Judd, daughter of Joseph
and Ruth (Thompson) Judd; born 1742; died August 17, 1822. _See page
315._
I. Lucy^{5} Plant, born May 14, 1773; died May, 1863.
II. Joseph^{5} Plant, born March 26, 1775; died March 30, 1803.
III. Rebekah^{5} Plant, born February 6, 1778; died September, 1862.
IV. James^{5} Plant, born February 16, 1781; died March 23, 1806;
residence, Harwinton. Litchfield records say that he left a wife, Nancy,
and an infant daughter, Laura.
V. Sally^{5} Plant, born April 14, 1784; died May 23, 1874; married,
February 5, 1803, Zephi Brockett, son of Amos and Lucy (Dutton)
Brockett. _See “The Tuttle Family,” page 547._
VI. Ebenezer^{5} Plant, born January 10, 1787; died April 30, 1821, at
Southington, married, August 29, 1809, Lydia Neale, daughter of Jeremiah
and Anna (Fuller) Neale, of that place; born January 29, 1788; died
February 22, 1857. _Account continued on page 329._
VII. Vesta^{5} Plant, born March 23, 1791; died January 30, 1815.
_Authorities._--Town and Probate Records at Branford, Guilford, New
Haven, and Southington; gravestones in Quinnipiack Cemetery at
Plantsville; Letter of Mr. F. H.^{7} Plant.
STEPHEN^{4} PLANT--REBECCA ----.
Stephen^{4} Plant, son of James^{3} and Bathsheba (Page) Plant
(John,^{2} John^{1}), baptized March 8, 1747, at Branford; died before
February 3, 1808, when his estate was admitted to Probate in Litchfield,
Connecticut, and his widow, Rebecca Plant, was appointed
administratrix.[19] _See page 316._
I. Naomi^{5} Plant, born September 2, 1776.
II. Jerusha^{5} Plant, born May 17, 1778.
III. Orpah^{5} Plant, born July 24, 1780.
IV. Stephen^{5} Plant, born June 25, 1782.
V. Ruel^{5} Plant, born March 21, 1785; married (1), September 18, 1807,
Phebe Spinyer; married (2), October 30, 1842, Hutsah Williams. Children
by the first marriage, and born in Litchfield.
1. Isaac^{6} Plant, born August 13, 1808.
2. Maryan^{6} Plant, born February 7, 1811.
3. Hariot^{6} Plant, born March 10, 1814.
4. Stephen^{6} Plant, born January 31, 1817.
5. Jane^{6} Plant, born February 4, 1819.
6. David^{6} Plant, born January 30, 1821.
7. Phebe^{6} Plant, born September 1, 1823.
8. Charlotte^{6} Plant, born July 1, 1826.
9. Abigail^{6} Plant, born October 21, 1828.
VI. Rebecca^{5} Plant, born May 21, 1787.
VII. Ammi^{5} Plant, born November 5, 1789; married, December 7, 1820,
Mary Barney, of Litchfield, the service being by Rev. Isaac Jones, of
St. Michael’s Church.
VIII. Isaac^{5} Plant, born March 31, 1793.
TIMOTHY^{4} PLANT--MARY ANN COLBERTH.
Timothy^{4} Plant, son of Timothy^{3} and Lucy (Parrish) Plant
(John,^{2} John^{1}), born July 4, 1750, at Branford; died about 1777;
married, 1770, Mary Ann Colberth.[20] _See page 317._
I. Margaret^{5} Plant, born December 11, 1771; married a Gleason.
II. Timothy^{5} Plant, born January 3, 1773; died April 7, 1836, aged
63; married, January 3, 1795, Chloe Dickerman, of New Haven. _Account
continued on page 330._
III. Lucy Parrish^{5} Plant, born November 6, 1774; married a Dickinson
and went to the West.
IV. Joel^{5} Plant, born August 22 (or 24), 1776; died 1853, at
Meridian, New York. _Account continued on page 332._
V. Avis^{5} Plant, born 1777; unmarried; resided in Richmond, Virginia,
for some years and died there.
_Authorities._--Town and Probate Records at Litchfield; _Connecticut
Soldiers in the War of the Revolution_; Family Records and Traditions.
SAMUEL^{4} PLANT--SARAH FRISBIE.
Samuel^{4} Plant, son of Benjamin and Lorana (Beckwith) Plant, born
April 1, 1772; baptized April 12, 1772, at Branford; died July 29, 1862,
aged 90; married, February 11, 1795, Sarah^{6} Frisbie, daughter of
Joseph^{5} and Sarah (Rogers) Frisbie (Joseph,^{4} Joseph,^{3} John,^{2}
Edward^{1}); born May 15, 1774; died August 25, 1841, aged 67. They
lived at Branford. He served as a coastguard in the War of 1812. _See
page 320._
I. Anderson^{5} Plant, born January 2, 1796; died October 29, 1826, aged
30; married, December 23, 1818, Betsey Bradley, of Branford. _Account
continued on page 335._
II. Polly^{5} Plant, born October 16, 1798; died April 20, 1800.
III. Sally^{5} Plant, born September 17, 1801; married Judah Frisbie, a
merchant in New Haven.
IV. John^{5} Plant, born May 19, 1806; died May 22, 1881; married
Angelina Beach, daughter of Asher S. and Statira (Baldwin) Beach; born
October 9, 1807; died January 13, 1883. He was a deacon of the church.
1. Mary E.^{6} Plant, born October 13, 1826; died September 19, 1879;
married, November 9, 1852, William Norton.
2. Anderson W.^{6} Plant, born March 21, 1829; died June 22, 1847.
3. Sarah J.^{6} Plant, born July 24, 1831; died May 30, 1846.
4. George W.^{6} Plant, born March 12, 1833; married, October 6, 1857,
Eliza E. Lane, of New Haven; born November 16, 1832; she died March 17,
1895.
5. John B.^{6} Plant, born May 5, 1836; died December 28, 1836.
6. Angelina B.^{6} Plant, born December 24, 1838; died July 20, 1841.
7. Angelina B.^{6} Plant, married, October 5, 1858, Henry T. Swift.
8. Emily S.^{6} Plant, born August 9, 1842; died June 11, 1856.
9. Elizabeth R.^{6} Plant, baptized August 9, 1846; married, July 12,
1871, Edward A. Anketelle.
10. John A.^{6} Plant, born April 7, 1848; died September 16, 1852.
V. Mary R.^{5} Plant, born October 9, 1808; died October 1, 1825, aged
17.
VI. Samuel Orin^{5} Plant, born June 24, 1815; married, February 26,
1839, Mary Ann Blackstone, daughter of Captain James Blackstone.
1. Ellen Blackstone^{6} Plant.
2. Sarah Frisbie^{6} Plant, married Hon. Lynde Harrison, residence, New
Haven.
_Authorities._--Town and Church Records at Branford; gravestones at
Branford; Family Records; _Baldwin Genealogy_; Rokeby’s _History of New
Haven County_.
ELIAS^{4} PLANT--RUHAMAH HALL.
Elias^{4} Plant, son of Benjamin^{3} and Lorana (Beckwith) Plant
(John,^{2} John^{1}), baptized August 7, 1774, at Branford; married (1),
March 31, 1799, Ruhamah Hall, daughter of Elias and Ruhamah Hall,[21]
and widow of Thomas Trowbridge; born January 16, 1776; married (2),
November 10, 1843, Lydia Linsley. The children were by the first
marriage. _See page 320._
I. William^{5} Plant, born January 4, 1800; baptized with the four
younger children, September 30, 1810, at Branford; married Polly Beach,
daughter of Asher S. and Statira (Baldwin) Beach. Children born at
Branford.
1. Anna Louisa^{6} Plant, born February 14, 1832.
2. Alonzo Austin^{6} Plant, born October 27, 1834; married, July 2,
1857, Elizabeth Mary Hough, of New Haven.
3. Edwin Ezra^{6} Plant, born February 6, 1837.
4. Margaret^{6} Plant.
5. Lucerne^{6} Plant.
6. William^{6} Plant.
7. Albert E.^{6} Plant married Bessie Upson, of East Haven, and had two
children, Albert C. Plant and Mabel M. Plant.
II. Mary^{5} Plant, born September 3, 1801.
III. Thomas^{5} Plant, born April 14, 1804; died about 1873; married
Sarah Chidsey. His will, dated April 4, 1867, proved June 26, 1873,
appoints his brother James executor, and bequeaths all his estate to his
sister, Jane Maria^{5} Plant; residence, Guilford.
IV. Edward^{5} Plant, born September 8, 1806; married, September 13,
1831, Harriette Jennette^{7} Street, daughter of Elnathan^{6} and
Clarissa (Morris) Street (Nicholas,^{5} Elnathan,^{4} Samuel,^{3}
Samuel,^{2} Nicholas^{1}); born July 8, 1807; died June 14, 1866.
1. De Forest Edward^{6} Plant, born June 27, 1832; died March 7, 1875;
married, June 16, 1857, (by Rev. H. W. Beecher at Plymouth Church in
Brooklyn), Harriet Ely, daughter of C. H. Ely, of Hanover, New Jersey.
2. Harriet Evelina^{6} Plant, born January 18, 1834; died January 13,
1837.
3. Marian Albertina^{6} Plant, born April 1, 1839; died November, 1863;
married James La Hon.
4. Ella Alexina^{6} Plant, born July 29, 1849; died 1864.
V. Jane^{5} Plant, born March 1, 1808.
VI. James^{5} Plant, baptized April 28, 1811.
VII. Harriet^{5} Plant, baptized May 23, 1813; married, February 28,
1839, James Morris.
VIII. Julianna^{5} Plant, baptized July 22, 1815; married, August 6,
1839, James T. Leete.
IX. Elias^{5} Plant, baptized June 27, 1817; married, December 31, 1848,
Delia E. Beach. He died, and she married, November 24, 1874, Henry
Doolittle.
1. Jane Frances^{6} Plant, baptized September 3, 1851.
X. Jane Maria^{5} Plant, baptized July 4, 1819.
_Authorities._--Town and Probate Records; _The Trowbridge Family_; _Hall
Family Record_; _The Street Genealogy_.
DAVID^{5} PLANT--CATHARINE TOMLINSON.
David^{5} Plant, son of Solomon^{4} and Sarah (Bennett) Plant
(James,^{3} John,^{2} John^{1}), born March 29, 1783, at Stratford; died
October 18, 1851; married, December 5, 1810, Catharine^{6} Tomlinson,
daughter of Dr. William Agur^{5} and Phebe (Lewis) Tomlinson (Agur,^{4}
Zechariah,^{3} Agur,^{2} Henry^{1}); born October 9, 1787; died June 2,
1835.[22] _See page 321._
I. William Agur^{6} Plant, born November 21, 1811, at Stratford; died
January 29, 1898, aged 86, at Syracuse, New York; married (1), April 29,
1832, Lucy Fellows, daughter of Ephraim Fellows, and granddaughter of
Obed and Lois (Plant) Fellows; she died in 1883, after a married life of
over fifty-one years, and he married (2), September 5, 1886, Abbie
Healey.[23]
II. Catharine Tomlinson^{6} Plant, married John W. Sterling, son of
David and Deborah (Strong) Sterling, residence, Stratford, Connecticut.
III. Sarah Elizabeth^{6} Plant, married Lauren Beach, residence,
Marcellus, New York.
IV. Henry^{6} Plant, married Eudocia ----. He was prominent as a business
man in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
V. John David^{6} Plant, died February 29, 1860, at St. Anthony,
Minnesota, where he was in business.
_Authorities._--Orcutt’s _History of Stratford_; _The Syracuse Press_;
Letter of Mrs. W. T. Plant, of Syracuse.
EBENEZER^{5} PLANT--LYDIA NEALE.
Ebenezer^{5} Plant, son of James^{4} and Lucy (Judd) Plant (James,^{3}
John,^{2} John^{1}), born January 10, 1787; died April 30, 1821, at
Southington; married, August 29, 1809, Lydia Neale, daughter of Jeremiah
and Anna (Fuller) Neale, of that place; born January 29, 1788; died
February 22, 1857. _See page 321._
I. Harriett^{6} Plant, born May 29, 1810; died September 30, 1816.
II. Laura Ann^{6} Plant, born April 20, 1812; died January 4, 1871;
married, June 28, 1831, Alfred A. Hotchkiss.
1. Edwin P.^{7} Hotchkiss, a manufacturer at Plantsville.
III. Amzi Perrin^{6} Plant, born July 2, 1816; died July 24, 1874;
married (1), A. E. Shipman, who died April 3, 1849; married (2), March,
1850, Cornelia Dakin.
1. Adelia^{7} Plant, born June 22, 1843; died July 1, 1846.
2. Emily C.^{7} Plant, born May 4, 1853; died April 18, 1867.
3. William Perrin^{7} Plant, born February 8, 1857.
IV. Ebenezer Howard^{6} Plant, born February 25, 1821; died January 12,
1891; married, September 28, 1843, Hannah K. Ives, daughter of Samuel
and Abigail (Moss) Ives; born January 6, 1823; died August 17, 1873.
1. Frederick Howard^{7} Plant, born November 15, 1859.
Messrs. Amzi Perrin^{6} Plant and Ebenezer Howard^{6} Plant engaged in
manufactures in the southern part of Southington, which developed into
large industries, giving employment to many people. The village growing
up about these establishments received their name, and is known as
Plantsville.
_Authorities._--Southington Town and Probate Records; gravestones in
Southington; Trumbull’s _History of Hartford County_.
TIMOTHY^{5} PLANT--CHLOE DICKERMAN.
Timothy^{5} Plant, son of Timothy^{4} and Mary Ann (Colberth) Plant
(Timothy,^{3} John,^{2} John^{1}), born January 3, 1773, at Litchfield,
Connecticut; died April 7, 1836, aged 63, at New Haven; married, January
3, 1795, Chloe^{5} Dickerman, of New Haven, daughter of Stephen^{4} and
Eunice (Tuttle) Dickerman (Isaac,^{3} Abraham,^{2} Thomas^{1}); born
July 7, 1773; died May 17, 1850; residence, Litchfield and New Haven.
_See page 323._
I. Mary Ann^{6} Plant, born February 17, 1796; died 1852; married, May
19, 1816, Samuel Westcott, of Providence, Rhode Island, died January 28,
1824.
1. Susan^{7} Westcott.
2. Mary Ann^{7} Westcott.
3. Henry P.^{7} Westcott.
4. George^{7} Westcott.
II. Benjamin Dickerman^{6} Plant, born February 8, 1798; married,
November 6, 1828, Maria Kaigler, of South Carolina; born December 27,
1805. He was a bookseller in Columbia, South Carolina.
1. Caroline Elizabeth^{7} Plant, married Samuel Rumph; residence,
Marshallville, Georgia.
2. George Benjamin^{7} Plant, married Lætitia McGehee; residence,
Marshallville.
3. Emily Maria^{7} Plant, married William I. Greene; residence, Fort
Valley, Georgia.
III. Susan^{6} Plant, born September 19, 1800; died August 30, 1801.
IV. Susan^{6} Plant, born October 21, 1802; died January 20, 1831;
married, November 6, 1828, Timothy McCarthy.
V. Caroline^{6} Plant, born January 27, 1806; died July 14, 1879;
married, February 21, 1830, Fordyce Wrigley, son of Edward Wrigley, of
England; born January 25, 1803; died October 1, 1846; residence, Macon,
Georgia.
1. Benjamin Henry^{7} Wrigley, married, January 12, 1864, Lucy Knott.
2. Julia^{7} Wrigley, married, May 10, 1866, D. H. Peden; residence,
Griffin, Georgia.
3. Lucia^{7} Wrigley, married, October 31, 1888, A. W. Blake.
4. William^{7} Wrigley, married (1), November, 1866, Annie Mellard;
married (2), Ida McPherson.
VI. Timothy Henry^{6} Plant, born February 1, 1808; died January 4,
1871; married, August 28, 1834, Sarah Maria Peck, of Kensington,
Connecticut, born September 14, 1814. He and his brother, Increase
Cook^{6} Plant, were together at Columbia in the store of their older
brother, and from there went to Augusta, Georgia, and established a book
business under the firm name of “T. H. & I. C. Plant.”
1. Augusta M.^{7} Plant, residence, Macon, Georgia.
VII. Ebenezer^{6} Plant, born April 28, 1810; died November 26, 1876;
married Adeline Gibbs Nye, of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
1. Ida^{7} Plant.
2. Lucy^{7} Plant.
3. Annie^{7} Plant.
VIII. A child born April 8, 1812, died young.
IX. Increase Cook^{6} Plant, born February 27, 1814; died November 16,
1892; married (1), July 24, 1838, Charlotte Walker; married (2),
October 2, 1843, Elizabeth Mary Hazlehurst. _Account continued on page
335._
X. A daughter, twin of Increase Cook^{6} Plant, died young.
_Authorities._--_Families of Dickerman Ancestry;_ Private family
records.
JOEL^{5} PLANT--MARY JORDAN.
Joel^{5} Plant, born August 24, 1776, in Connecticut; died in 1853, at
Meridian, New York; married, November 27, 1800, at Litchfield,
Connecticut, Mary Jordan, of Woodstock; born December 4, 1776; died in
1846, at Peru, New York.[24] _See page 324._
I. John^{6} Plant, born June 26, 1801; married twice; a physician at
Hyde Park, Pennsylvania.
II. Lorenzo^{6} Plant, born April 17, 1803; died July 2, 1836, at
Orwell, Vermont; married (1), October 7, 1829, Louisa Hall, who died May
9, 1830, aged 21; married (2), October 11, 1831, Harriet M. Cook; born
December 29, 1812; died March 11, 1888, at Georgia, Vermont. (She
married (2), February 13, 1844, Noah R. Parker.)
1. Azro Melvin^{7} Plant, born May 25, 1835; married, November 29, 1864,
Annie Fairchild, of Milton, Vermont, born March 27, 1846. He was
Assistant Surgeon, 14th Regiment, Vermont Volunteers in the war, and
served in hospitals at Washington, after which he was a druggist at St.
Albans, Vermont. Residence, in 1898, Milton.
III. Alanson^{6} Plant, born March 28, 1805; died in 1844; married
Betsey Hiscock, of Onondaga Hill, New York; residence, Kenyonville, New
York.
IV. Althea Mariah^{6} Plant, born May 7, 1807; died June 27, 1862;
married William M. Taylor (died December, 1850), who had previously
married her sister Mary, who died; residence, Dudley, Massachusetts.
1. Mary P.^{7} Taylor, born August 11, 1839; died July 2, 1843.
2. William A.^{7} Taylor, born about 1841; died July 20, 1864.
3. Martha O.^{7} Taylor, born January 15, 1843; died August 2, 1848.
4. Mary A.^{7} Taylor, born November 2, 1844; married, October 19,
1871, ---- Prentice, Norwich, Connecticut.
5. Helen^{7} Taylor, born July 27, 1846; married Henry Holt; residence,
Hartford, Connecticut.
6. Hyram^{7} Taylor, born July 27, 1846; died July 22, 1863.
7. Annie Maria^{7} Taylor, born November 2, 1847; died July 19, 1849.
8. Lorenzo P.^{7} Taylor, born December, 1850; died March 30, 1851.
V. Almira^{6} Plant, born April 30, 1809; died December, 1891; married
A. G. Wheeler.
VI. Mary^{6} Plant, born March 8, 1811; died 1837, at New Boston,
Connecticut; married William M. Taylor.
VII. Lucy^{6} Plant, born June 26, 1813; died 1843, at Peru, New York.
VIII. A. Joel^{6} Plant, born May 15, 1815; died 1872, in Cortland
County, New York; married, 1845, Margaret Phillips, of Locke, New York.
1. Adin^{7} Plant, residence, Binghamton, New York.
2. Leona^{7} Plant, residence, Binghamton, New York.
IX. Lauren P.^{6} Plant, born March 7, 1817, in Rutland County, Vermont;
died at Cicero, New York, January 29, 1898; married, February 25, 1836,
Mrs. Sarah R. Smiley, of that place, who died there December 5, 1877. He
was a Republican in politics and held the offices, at different times,
of Town Clerk, Constable, and Deputy Sheriff.
1. Byron^{7} Plant, born April 29, 1839; married, September 25, 1861,
Minerva Saunders.
2. Mary Elizabeth^{7} Plant, born January 18, 1842, at Sullivan, New
York; died February 25, 1891; married, April 11, 1867, Job Fuller, of
Syracuse.
3. Almira^{7} Plant, born September 2, 1844, at Cicero; married, October
6, 1886, John S. Botsford, of Clay, New York.
X. Arunah H.^{6} Plant, born October 25, 1819; died September 5, 1873;
married, April 19, 1848, at Maumee, Ohio, Mrs. Amelia Lane. In 1866 he
wrote to his niece in Vermont, “I have not accumulated much of this
world’s goods, but have a pleasant home and am contented.”
1. Mary Sedate^{7} Plant, born December 31, 1848; married, January,
1885, J. M. McCann, of Toledo, Ohio.
2. Helen M.^{7} Plant, born September 12, 1850; married, September 1,
1880, Elijah Lee Jaquis.
_Authorities._--Letters from members of the family.
ANDERSON^{5} PLANT--BETSEY BRADLEY.
Anderson^{5} Plant, son of Samuel^{4} and Sarah (Frisbie) Plant
(Benjamin,^{3} John,^{2} John^{1}), born January 2, 1796, at Branford;
died there October 29, 1826[25]; married, December 23, 1818, Betsey^{6}
Bradley, daughter of Levi^{5} and Lydia (Beach) Bradley (Timothy,^{4}
Daniel,^{3} Isaac,^{2} Francis^{1}), born August 28, 1799; died January
20, 1886, at New Haven. She married (2), Philemon Hoadley, born March
31, 1797, at Southampton, Massachusetts; died January 28, 1862, at New
Haven. _See page 324._
I. Henry Bradley^{6} Plant, born October 27, 1819; married (1),
September 25, 1843, Ellen E. Blackstone, who died February 28, 1861;
married (2), July 2, 1873, Margaret Josephine Loughman, only daughter of
Martin Loughman of New York City. _Account continued on page 336._
II. Eliza Ann^{6} Plant, baptized September 26, 1824, died young.
_Authorities._--Branford and Guilford Town and Probate Records; _The
Hoadley Family_.
INCREASE COOK^{6} PLANT--MARY E. HAZLEHURST.
Increase Cook^{6} Plant, son of Timothy^{5} and Chloe (Dickerman) Plant
(Timothy,^{4} Timothy,^{3} John,^{2} John^{1}), born February 27, 1814,
at New Haven; died July 23, 1883, at Macon, Georgia; married (1), July
24, 1838, Charlotte Walker, of Leamingston, Vermont, who died March 12,
1839; married (2), October 2, 1843, Elizabeth Mary^{5} Hazlehurst,
daughter of Robert^{4} and Elizabeth Pettingale (Wilson) Hazlehurst
(Robert,^{3} Isaac,^{2} Robert^{1}), born April 20, 1819, at Brunswick,
Georgia; died July 23, 1883, at Macon.
Beginning business in a bookstore with his brother at Augusta, Georgia,
he soon entered upon a banking business, which he followed at Columbus
and Brunswick, and finally at Macon, where his name is held in honor not
only as a banker but as an influential, public-spirited citizen. _See
page 331._
I. Mary Hazlehurst^{7} Plant, married, October 6, 1875, Marshall de
Graffenried; residence, Atlanta, Georgia.
II. Robert Hazlehurst^{7} Plant, born December 21, 1847; married, July
25, 1871, Margaret Redding Ross, daughter of John Bennett and Martha
(Redding) Ross, of Macon. He succeeded his father in the banking
business, and has engaged in other enterpises, insurance and
manufacturing, which are highly prosperous.
III. George Henry^{7} Plant, married Minnie Leila Wood; residence,
Macon, where he is engaged in banking in the firm with his brother.
IV. Elizabeth Wilson^{7} Plant, married Alonzo D. Schofield; residence,
Macon.
HENRY BRADLEY^{6} PLANT--{ELLEN E. BLACKSTONE.
{MARGARET J. LOUGHMAN.
Henry Bradley^{6} Plant, son of Anderson^{5} and Betsey (Bradley) Plant
(Samuel,^{4} Benjamin,^{3} John,^{2} John^{1}), born October 27, 1819,
at Branford; married (1), September 25, 1843, Ellen E.^{7} Blackstone,
daughter of Captain James^{6} and Sarah (Beach) Blackstone (Timothy,^{5}
John,^{4} John,^{3} John,^{2} Rev. W. T.^{1}); born February 21, 1821;
died February 28, 1861; married (2), July 2, 1873, Margaret Josephine
Loughman, only daughter of Martin Loughman, of New York City. _See page
335._
I. A boy; ----, born ----, died June 17, 1846, aged 17 mo., 4 days.
II. Morton F.^{7} Plant, born August 18, 1852; married Nellie^{7}
Capron, daughter of Col. F. B.^{6}; Capron, of Baltimore, Md. They have
a son, Henry Bradley^{8} Plant, Jr., born May 18, 1895.
Banfield^{1} Capron, born in Chester, England, in 1640. In 1654 he came
to America, to Barrington, Mass.; married a lady named Callender, of
Rehoboth, Mass. They had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. He
died August 20, 1752; gravestone in Attleboro.
Jonathan^{2} Capron, farmer, sixth son, of Attleboro, Mass., born March
11, 1705; married Rebecca Morse, who died August 29, 1772. (See
gravestone, Attleboro.) They had eight children.
Elisha^{3} Capron, third son, married Abigail Makepeace, of Norton,
Mass., and resided at Attleboro, Mass.; had nine children.
Seth^{4} Capron, first son, born September 23, 1762; married Eunice
Mann, of Attleboro, Mass., daughter of Jesse Brown, of Cumberland, R. I.
They had six children. Fought in the Revolutionary War; died at Walden,
Orange County, N. Y., September 4, 1835.
Newton Mann^{5} Capron, first son, born August 24, 1791, at Cumberland,
R. I.; married Maria Brown, May 29, 1815; had two children.
Francis Brown^{6} Capron, first son, born May 17, 1816; married Olivia
Royston at Baltimore, Md., and had three children.
Nellie^{7} Capron, first daughter; married Morton Freeman^{7} Plant,
June 23, 1887.
[Illustration: text decoration]
[Illustration: text decoration] INDEX.
Adams Express Company, organized March, 1853, and April, 1854;
list of shareholders, 52;
in 1861 this company sold and transferred its entire interests in
the South to H. B. Plant, 54
Atlanta Exposition of 1895, object of, 157;
Mr. Plant’s interest in, and exhibit at, said Exposition, 157, 158;
“Plant Day” at the Exposition;
Mr. Plant’s seventy-eighth birthday;
importance of “Plant Day,” 159;
Plant System described, 160;
opening up of Florida by this System, 161;
purchase of railroads;
extending the System;
Plant Investment Company, 161, 162;
purchase of railroads and establishment of steamboat lines, 161-163;
steamship line to Canada, 164;
Exposition described by the press;
various newspaper accounts, 221-263;
Atlanta Exposition’s recognition of Mr. Plant’s services to
the Exposition, 253;
he is appreciated, feasted, and honored, 254;
Florida’s truest friend, 254
Blackstone family: William Blaxton
only one in State of Massachusetts;
lived in wilderness among wild beasts and savage men;
Boston Common;
Blackstone’s beautiful character, 23;
Captain Blackstone was father of Mr. Plant’s first wife;
his son Timothy’s gift of a library (memorial to his father);
his education and successful career, 26, 27;
history of Blackstone family in Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
and Branford, Connecticut, 29, 30;
five generations lived and died on the old family farm in Branford;
James a strong character in politics and patriotic service;
Timothy, his son, donor of library, 31-33;
Ellen Elizabeth, second daughter of James Blackstone, married
Henry B. Plant;
Sir William Blackstone, author of _Law Commentaries_, was fifth
cousin of James Blackstone, 34
Board of Trade, Savannah, resolutions, 221;
Mr. Wiley’s address, 222;
Mr. Plant’s acknowledgment, 226
Branford, Connecticut, purchased from Indians in 1638;
first settled, 1644, by people from New Haven, 15;
first church;
danger from Indians;
records of;
colony from, 16;
John Plum first town clerk;
resembles Harlem, N. Y., in customs, 2;
second church built, its architecture, seating, etc., 17;
its pulpit;
foot stoves, 18;
Rev. Timothy Gillett, its pastor, taught an academy also;
strained relations with his congregation, 19;
he and wife buried at Branford, 20;
this
town rendered patriotic service in Revolution, 20, 21;
once shipbuilding flourished;
seaport town;
seat of colonial governor, 22
Bullock, Ex-Governor: description of H. B. Plant, 99-101
Canals: Erie;
Suez, 276
Changes that have taken place in the configuration of the globe
during Mr. Plant’s lifetime, 264-269
Cotton States, development due largely to H. B. Plant, 165, 248-251
Cuba: scenery;
architecture, Moorish, Saxon, and Doric;
Morro Castle;
Santa Catalina warehouses;
mail service by the Plant line of steamers, 114-116
Duelling once legalized, 275
Engineering skill, great achievements of, 279
England’s bad laws;
favored the rich;
severe in punishing crime;
cruel treatment of prisoners, 271, 272;
war barbarities, inhuman treatment of soldiers, 272, 273;
educational progress, 275
Frisbee family, sketch of;
Edward Ebenezer;
Elisha;
Professor Levi;
James;
Richard;
John;
Joseph;
President Edward S., of Wells College;
O. L. Frisbee, 4-7
Nineteenth century: demonstration at its beginning, 269, 270;
political and social condition of France, 270;
Napoleon’s bad and good influence on Europe, 271
Penny postage originated, 275
Plant, A. P., his industry, religion, and success in life, 1-2
Plant, David, 2;
education and career, 3
Plant, Henry Bradley: birth and parentage, 1;
descended from J. Frisbee, a major in Washington’s army, 4;
right to join the “Sons of the American Revolution,” 13;
the Plants settled in Branford over two hundred years ago;
their descendants still own the lands of the first settlers;
Anderson Plant, father of Henry B., 35;
died when Henry was six years old, 36;
death of father’s sister, and also Henry’s sister;
Henry’s first recollections of his mother, 36;
enduring and tender impressions of an hour;
poem, 37;
poet’s mother, 38;
the boy Henry’s first day at school, 38;
his courage fails him, 39;
diffident all his life, 39;
his mother’s second marriage, 40;
moved from Branford to Martinsburg;
lived part of the time there with mother and stepfather,
and part with grandmother Plant at Branford, 40;
here he was thrown from a plow horse and badly injured, 40, 41;
testimony of A. P. B., “one of the noblest and best of men,” 41;
parents moved to New Haven, 41;
declined grandmother’s offer of a course in Yale College, 41;
studies under Rev. Gillett and John E. Lovell, 42;
his first attempts at business did not succeed, 42;
in 1837 began as captain’s boy on New York and New Haven
line of steamers, 42;
manly boy, 42, 43;
first experiences in express business, 43;
it was hard at first, but improved after a time, 44;
his development of Southern Express, 44;
enlargement of responsibility by addition of railroads,
steamship lines, and hotels, 45;
Captain Stone’s fondness for young Plant, 45;
marries Miss Blackstone in 1842;
first child died, aged eighteen months;
second son, Morton Freeman,
now associated with his father, 45;
removes from New Haven to New York;
is employed by Beecher Express Co., 46;
next by Adams Express Co., 46;
his mother banked his savings, 46;
bought some New Haven bank stock, which he still owns, 46;
buys a pew in a new church, 46;
stepfather died at New Haven in 1862 or 1863;
failure of his wife’s health takes him to Florida in 1853;
the journey took eight days by three different steamers, 47;
Mrs. Plant’s improved health and return to New York, 47;
landing at Jacksonville, and romantic experiences while in Florida, 48;
lost their way in the woods five miles from boarding-house;
sail in a “dug-out,” 48;
drive in a buggy;
Indian girl, 49;
boarding at the Judson Hotel, New York;
Captain Stone leaves his son in Mr. Plant’s care;
Plant returns South on account of wife’s failing health;
appointed superintendent of Harnden’s Express, at Savannah, 51;
appointed superintendent of Adams Express Company, 1854, 52;
large development of the company under his superintendence;
difficulty of the work, 53;
extent of business of the Southern and Texas Express Companies,
of which Mr. Plant is president, 54;
formed, and became president of, Southern Express Co. in 1861, 55;
death of wife at Augusta, Ga., February 28, 1861;
remains afterward removed to Branford, Conn., 55;
buys a slave, who proves a good nurse to Mr. Plant, 58;
impaired health, and change of climate ordered by doctor;
pass from President Davis to pass through Confederate lines
at any point, 59;
goes to Bermuda, Halifax, and Montreal;
son Morton brought to him;
visits his mother at New Haven, Conn.;
in fall sails for Liverpool;
a stranger in a strange land, 59;
goes to Paris;
courtesy of French officials in passport;
visits Rome, Naples, Leghorn, Barcelona, Milan, and Venice, 60;
travelled in Switzerland, 60, 61;
returned by way of Canada, and was in New York when President
Lincoln was assassinated, 61;
his second marriage and trip to Europe in 1873, accompanied by
his wife, mother, and son, 61;
his third visit to Europe, 1889;
represented the United States as juror in Class Six, at the
Paris Exposition, 61;
medals for Plant System, diploma to Mr. Plant, and many
courtesies extended, 61;
his busy life in Augusta;
difficulties of express work caused by the war;
bravely met and adjusted, 62;
hotel life in Augusta; letter of a friend, 63;
his health fails, 64;
rewards a kindness done to his wife and child thirty-six years ago 65;
his second wife Miss Loughman;
her ancestors;
her interest and impress on some achievements of the System, 67;
Mr. Plant’s intuitive knowledge and keen insight illustrated, 68, 69;
after-dinner speeches, Tampa Board of Trade banquet, 70-72;
Florida Mr. Plant’s hobby;
banquet given him at Ocala, in 1896, at Ocala Hotel, 87, 88;
his reply to many addresses of welcome on the subject,
“The Plant System,” 88-94;
reception, excursion, and banquet given Mr. Plant and
friends by the mayor and leading citizens of Leesburg, 95;
reception next day at Eustis, 95;
his words of cheer to the people who had suffered great
loss from the freeze of the previous winter destroying
their orange groves, 96;
their grateful appreciation of his visit, 96;
honesty, importance of;
testimonies to this quality of his character, 97, 98;
his power and influence over employees and associates, 99;
Ex-Gov. Bullock’s description of Mr. Plant’s ability,
fidelity, and gentlemanly character, 99, 100;
industry and power of endurance, 102-104;
character and manner of answering his large mail, 102-104;
missionary letter from Japan, 103;
his private car;
comfort, elegance of, 103;
old darkie “shining up 100,” 104;
keen intuition, and great power of self-control, 105;
calm, quiet spirit, kindly nature, and efficient performance
of all he does, 105;
testimony of an employee, of respect and appreciation of
Mr. Plant’s character and work for the South, 105, 106;
his calm and kindly spirit saved him the consuming force
of friction which grinds some men, 106;
not a pessimist or recluse;
loves music and social life, 107;
medical benefactor, 107, 108;
much pain saved by medical progress, 108;
Mr. Plant’s share in alleviating suffering, 109;
testimony of physicians to healthfulness of Florida for invalids, 110;
Mr. Plant facilitates travel, and provides hotels healthful
and luxurious, 111-113;
furnishes comfortable transit from Florida to Cuba and Jamaica;
press notices of Mr. Plant and his philanthropic work for
the South in railroads, steamship lines, hotels, etc., 121, 122;
promoted orange-growing by the facilities afforded for getting
the fruit soon and safe to market, 123;
railroads induced many people to settle in the South, 124;
various railroads bought, built, and combined in the Plant System, 126;
steamer _Mascotte_, elegant and comfortable, 127;
railroad topics;
notes, characteristics, and success of his life, 128;
largely a pioneer in his work of opening up the South, 131;
the Plant Investment Company’s president, 132;
his palatial residence in New York City, 132;
never speculates in Wall Street, 133;
analysis of his disposition, temper, spirit, and pleasant manner, 133, 134;
_Home Journal_;
Ocala _Evening Star_;
similar descriptions, 134-140;
his close and constant contact with the Plant System, 141;
notes of his voyage from New York to Key West, 142-146;
also from Port Tampa to Jamaica;
attentions of distinguished people, 146;
Lady Blake’s garden party at King’s House on February 1st, 146, 147;
entertainment and enjoyment at Jamaica, 147-149;
his economical management of the Plant System, 150;
riding in a baggage-car saw expressman handle carelessly
a box marked “glass,” etc.;
gentle rebuke;
saved the man from discharge by superior officer, 152, 153;
generous treatment of an honored employee, 153;
horrors of strikes contrasted with “Plant Day” at Atlanta
Exposition in 1896, 153;
spent over forty years of his life in developing the South, 166;
eulogies on his character and work, 166-168;
“Loving Cup” and other presentations, 169-178;
Mr. Plant’s response, 178-181;
programme of “Plant Day” at Atlanta Exposition, 204, 205;
ringing of the “Liberty Bell,” 206;
services at the Auditorium;
enthusiastic reception, 207;
music and speeches, 208-210;
Mayor King and others, 210-212;
Mr. Plant’s response, 212-217;
resolutions, complimentary,
217-220;
Judge Falligant’s speech, 220-221
Profanity and drunkenness lessened, 275
Railroads: waste of railroad strikes, 150;
losses to employers and employed, 150, 151;
damage to commerce, demoralization of labor, inconvenience
and losses to the public, 151;
no strikes on Plant System, 151;
due to President Plant, 152;
strikes contrasted with “Plant Day” at Atlanta Exposition, 153;
“Plant Day” as described by employees of the System, 154;
introduction to this description, 154-156;
railroads, introduction of in England, and United States, 277;
Edward Entwistle ran the first train in England, came to this country, 277;
railroad mileage in the United States increased from three
miles to 173, 453 in Mr. Plant’s lifetime, 278;
first steamship that crossed the Atlantic;
first regular line established, 278
Southern Express Company formed, 1861, 54, 55;
its relations to and services for the Southern Confederacy;
given the custody of all government funds, it collected
tariffs, and had soldiers detailed for its service, 56;
President Davis’ proclamation for all non-citizens of
Confederacy to leave its bounds;
permission given Mr. Plant to remain and conduct express business, 57:
generous service of the company to soldiers in the war, 65-66;
presentation of silver service by the company to its president, 66;
Southern development due largely to H. B. Plant, 165;
history of the company, 233-236;
the company’s building and exhibit on the fair grounds, 236;
reception in this building to Mr. Plant and friends, 237, 238;
thanks tendered the press, 239;
telegrams and congratulations, 239-241;
honors to Mr. Plant, 243;
list of employees present, 245;
sketch of Mr. Plant published in Atlanta _Chronicle_, 247-248;
slavery abolished, 273
Tampa, progress of, 70-72;
speech of Mr. Plant, 73, 74;
growth of Tampa, Mr. Plant’s share in its growth, 74, 75;
cigar-making industry, 76;
phosphate mines, 76;
the town as Mr. Plant found it in 1885, 77;
description of the great hotel, 78;
grounds, 80;
description of Tampa, streets, buildings, water supply, brickmaking, 81;
population, character of;
Spaniards, Cubans, colored, Americans, 81-82;
Ybor City, its tobacco factories, 82-83;
rapid increase of population and wealth, 83;
colored people thrifty and well-to-do, 84;
own their homes, have schools, churches, and are respected
by their white neighbors, 85;
Port Tampa, its inn, or hotel, open all the year, 85;
good fishing, bass, tarpon or silver king, 85;
Tampa’s boards of trade, health, and education, 86;
Tampa Bay Hotel,--described by W. C. Prime, 183-186;
also by Henry G. Parker, 187-192
Tampa Bay, De Soto’s dream, Aladdin’s Lamp, 192-195;
description of the Palace Hotel, architecture, furniture, 196-203
Tampa’s historical interest: De Soto landed here on May 25, 1539,
discovers the Mississippi River afterwards, 191;
Navarez obtains grant of land from Charles V. of Spain, 191
Temperance societies formed, 273-275
Tunnels, 279, 280
Varied progress: steel pens, steamships, iron, lucifer matches,
kerosene oil used, machine sewing, agriculture, 280;
Mr. Plant on roof of office in New York noting progress, 283;
sanitary progress, life lengthened by it, 282;
territorial extension of our country, increase of wealth, rapid
growth of cities, 283-284;
philanthropic and Christian progress;
higher education, better care of the insane, aged, orphans,
sailors, neglected children, seamen, and others by societies, 285, 286;
conventions for mutual counsel in reform and charitable work,
clubs multiplied, social, scientific, 286, 287;
female education, co-education, 287;
homes for all classes of dependent human beings, 288;
progress of medical science, lessening disease and suffering, 288-290
World’s Fairs, International, 291;
arbitration;
better Christian spirit, among all who bear the name, 291;
Electrical Exposition, 292;
message round the world in 55 minutes, 292, 293
[Illustration: text decoration]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] George Frisbie Hoar.
[2] Mr. Alfred Plant, of Webster Grove, Missouri, in a letter of
December 11, 1897.
[3] Mr. George D. Plant, Principal of the Seward School in Chicago.
[4] _New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg._, April 1886.
[5] _Lists of Emigrants_, by J. C. Hotten.
[6] _Soldiers in King Philip’s War_, by George M. Bodge, page 442.
[7] His name appears, November 6, 1677, as a witness on the record of
a payment. On February 20, 1683, he was given six acres on Mulliner’s
Hill, below the road, on condition of his improving it within two
years. On February 4, 1688, he was given six acres more “on the way
hill,” that is, half way to the iron works at the outlet of the lake.
He was sworn in as a freeman at Branford, April 8, 1690. His lot
was laid out below the path, bounded on the west corner by a great
white-oak-tree, on the north corner by a small walnut-, on the east by
a black-oak-, and by a walnut-tree at the south.
The original home of the Plants seems to have been near George Plant’s
present residence. The old Plant house was once used as a hotel and
again as a store. A tornado once tore down a fine orchard behind the
house, and overthrew a cider mill near it. John^{2} Plant, Jr., sold
the part of Mulliner’s Hill, which had formerly belonged to Thomas
Goodsell, to Deacon John Rose, July 13, 1713, and bought of John
Goodsell, in 1727, three acres at Mulliner’s Neck.
[8] Orcutt’s _History of Stratford_ says that John Plant’s wife
was Betty Roundkettle, and that he was probably of the Saltonstall
company, but the authority is not stated.
[9] Elizabeth Plant married, July 23, 1712, John Coach, also of
Branford, who died about 1728, as evidenced by the Probate Records.
She was appointed administrator, June 14, 1728. The inventory
exhibited June 26th following gives the valuation of his property at
£118 14_s._ 4_d._ The children are named, Sarah, about twelve years of
age, James, ten, Elizabeth, eight, Mary, five, John, three.
Sarah Coach married, September 20, 1738, Eleazer Stent.
Elizabeth Coach married, March 9, 1736, Jacob Carter.
[10] Thomas Whedon, the grandfather of Hannah Whedon, came to New
Haven with John Meigs, who, in 1648, bought the lot on the corner
of Chapel and Church Streets, where the Cutler building now stands.
Before leaving England Thomas Whedon had been bound to Meigs as an
apprentice to learn his art of tanner. He took the oath of fidelity
in 1657; married, May 24, 1651, Ann Harvey, at New Haven; moved to
Branford, and his name appears on the lists of proprietors, January
17, 1676, as having five children, and an estate valued at £96; he
died in 1691, leaving a wife and five children. Their son, Thomas
Whedon, Jr., was born May 31, 1663, at New Haven, and died in 1692;
his wife, Hannah Barnes, was the eldest daughter of John and Mercy
(Betts) Barnes, and was born December 23, 1670.
John^{2} Plant became a member of the church at Branford, September 2,
1716, and Hannah Plant, September 21, 1729. His will is in the Probate
Records at Guilford, Connecticut, dated February 29, 1752, proved
July 7, 1752. It names his wife, Hannah Plant, who was appointed
administratrix, daughters Hannah Whedon and Elizabeth Plant, and sons
John, Jonathan, James, Timothy, and Abraham. The inventory of the
estate places the valuation at £1007 6_s._ 1¼_d._ whereof £891 8_s._
11¼_d._ was real estate, of which one hundred acres of land was in
Litchfield. In the distribution, which was made December 19, 1752,
Elizabeth is called the wife of Josiah Parrish.
The will of Hannah Plant is also to be seen at Guilford, dated
November 31, 1752, proved December 18, 1753, presented by John Plant,
executor. It names sons John, Jonathan, James, Timothy, Abraham, and
Benjamin, and daughters Hannah Whedon and Elizabeth Parrish. The
distribution occurred February 18, 1754, when Hannah was called the
wife of Abraham Whedon, and Elizabeth the wife of Josiah Parrish.
Benjamin’s name occurs in his mother’s will, but is omitted in his
father’s.
[11] His will, dated December 22, 1761, proved September 7, 1762,
names wife Hannah Whedon, sons Reuben, William, and Noah, daughters
Hannah, Martha, Submit, Sarah, and “youngest daughter Deborah, that
still lives with me.” William and Noah were minors, and chose their
mother guardian.
Reuben Whedon’s will, signed March 20, 1806, proved September 23,
1806, names wife Rachel, son Abraham, of Bolton, grandson Daniel,
son of Abraham. The court appoints Captain William Whedon one of two
commissioners to divide the estate.
William Whedon’s will, dated February 6, 1821, names daughter Polly
Page, son Captain Ozias Whedon, grandsons William N., Charles R., and
Amaziah H., also five grandchildren, John, Catharine, Andrew, Noah,
and George, children of son Edward Whedon.
Guardian’s records of Amos Seward, January 20, 1822, and June 14,
1824, name Charles R. Whedon, minor son of Captain Noah Whedon, of
New Haven, and grandson of Captain William Whedon, with his brother
William N. Whedon, and Lucretia, the widow of Captain Noah Whedon.
[12] His will, signed at Branford, March 4, 1755, proved March 25,
1788, names his brother Benjamin executor and sole legatee.
[13] The deed of Timothy^{3} Plant to his son Timothy^{4} (page 313)
names “heirs of Samuel Baker, deceased, assignee of my late brother
Jonathan Plant, deceased.”
[14] The will of John Parrish, the father of Josiah and also of Lucy
Parrish, the wife of Timothy^{3} Plant, dated April 5, 1748, proved
April 14, 1748, names wife Hannah Parrish, son Josiah, two younger
sons, Gideon and Joel, and three daughters, Hannah, Lucia, and
Abigail. In the inventory his estate was valued at £471 10_s._ 8_d._
[15] On December 25, 1780, he was appointed by the town of Derby to
collect the assessments to raise recruits for the Continental army.
His will, dated April 1, 1796, proved July 3, 1796, names widow Esther
Plant, two sons, Samuel and David, daughters Lucy, Polly, and Sally.
The estate was appraised at £313 4_s._ 11_d._ and includes seventy
acres of land with a house and barn, in the parish of Great Hills.
[16] Ethan Plant, of Saybrook, is recorded as in the Revolutionary
army, from May 8, 1775, to December 18, of the same year.
Ethel Plant is also enrolled as enlisting at New London, May 24, 1778,
in the Third troop of light dragoons, and is described as “a cooper,
stature, 5 feet 8½ inches, complexion light, eyes light, hair dark.”
On June 5, 1813, Ethel Plant made application for a pension, being
at that time 63 years of age, and a resident of Delhi, New York. The
pension was allowed for six years’ actual service in the Connecticut
troops in the Revolutionary War.
The town clerk of Delhi writes, January 26, 1898, that no traces of
such a person are now to be found there.
His marriage was by the name of Ethiel Plant. The various spellings
were no doubt due to the unusualness of the name.
The home of this family seems to have passed from Branford to Saybrook
soon after the marriage of the elder daughter, devolving on her the
care of her younger sister and brothers. In a similar way, after the
marriage of Hannah Plant to Mr. Baldwin, her home in Milford may have
become a place of frequent resort for her brothers. This would account
in a measure for the marriage of Timothy to a person who seems to
have been of a Milford family, probably that of Humphrey and Margaret
Colebreath.
[17] Anderson Plant, of Branford, bought three acres of land in
Southington, October 3, 1787, and sold the same to Thomas Stow of
Middletown, April 7, 1788. Witnessed by John Plant.--_Southington Land
Records_, Vol. ii., pp. 302-321.
[18] He was a soldier in the French and Indian War, enlisted at the
age of 19, April 10, 1760, under Captain Jonathan Baker, in Suffolk
County, “from Brandford, New England, wheelwright.” He served in
Captain David Mulford’s company. On returning from the war he settled
in Stratford, where his children were born.
[19] On May 5, 1770, he, with John Smith, also of Branford, bought
of Joseph Pickett forty acres of land in Litchfield, for which they
paid £45. Soon after this he removed to Litchfield, and on July 13
following the land was divided, and he took the north half. Here he
seems to have lived and reared his family.
[20] He removed to Litchfield, Connecticut, about 1772, the occasion
for which was as follows: On June 26, 1734, his grandfather,
John^{2} Plant, bought of Josiah Rogers, of Branford, a tract of
one hundred acres of land in Litchfield on the west side of the
Waterbury River. This land remained undivided at the settlement of
John^{2} Plant’s estate, and passed in this manner to his six sons.
Of these, Timothy^{3} Plant sold his share of one sixth to his son
Timothy,^{4} October 7, 1772, for £17. A little later, January 13,
1773, Timothy^{4} Plant, Jr., bought also the share of his uncle
James, which had been previously sold to David Wooster. Then, May
23, 1774, he bought of Asa and Harris Hopkins two thirds of another
tract of one hundred acres. He afterward sold both of these tracts
at a considerable advance on their cost. But having made his home in
Litchfield, the family remained there.
In the Revolutionary War he entered the army, March 2, 1777, in the
Fifth regiment, Connecticut line, Captain J. A. Wright’s company, and
was reported missing at Germantown, October 4, 1777. Tradition says
that he was drafted, and that in the battle he was taken prisoner
and confined in “the old sugar house” at New York, or in “the prison
ship,” and died there, no word having ever come from him to his
family. The births of his children are registered in Litchfield,
except of the youngest, who must have been born after he went to the
war.
[21] Elias^{5} Hall was the eldest child of John^{4} and Abigail
(Russell) Hall; (John,^{3} John,^{2} John^{1}). Ruhamah was the only
child of his second wife, who died at her daughter’s birth. He served
in the French and Indian War in Colonel Whiting’s regiment, under Lord
Amherst, and was on duty at Ticonderoga and Crown Point until 1759.
He settled in Cheshire, Connecticut; removed in 1784 to Pittsford,
Vermont, and died October 30, 1821, at the house of his son Elias, at
Williston, Vermont.
[22] “He prepared himself for college at the Cheshire Academy, and
was graduated at Yale College in 1804, after which he studied law at
the Litchfield Law School. He was a classmate and friend of John C.
Calhoun, who was not only with him in college but also studied law at
Litchfield. In 1819 and 1820 Mr. Plant was Speaker of the Connecticut
House of Representatives, and in 1821 was elected to the Senate,
after which he was twice re-elected. He was Lieutenant-Governor from
1823 to 1827, and from 1827 to 1829 was a member of the United States
Congress. In politics he was a staunch Whig. Calhoun when Secretary
of State offered him, for friendship’s sake, any position within his
gift, but he declined to hold office under the dominant party. He was
one of the most influential men of his day in political circles of the
State of Connecticut.”
[23] For several years of his early life he was in mercantile business
in New York City. At the age of twenty he removed to Marcellus, New
York, and engaged in farming until 1872, when he made his home in
Syracuse, where he became a prominent member of the Brown Memorial M.
E. Church.
“He was a man of strong character, honorable and upright, with clear
intellect and much originality, fond of books, and well informed on
the events transpiring in his country and throughout the world.”
There were six children by his first marriage, two of whom were
Charles H.^{7} Plant and Mrs. W. R. Knowles, who died before him. The
four others are Dr. William T.^{7} Plant, Alfred D.^{7} Plant, and
Miss Ailda^{7} Plant, of Syracuse, and Mrs. I. W. Davey, of Marcellus.
William Tomlinson^{7} Plant, the eldest of these, was graduated from
the University of Michigan in 1860, and began practice as a physician
in Ithaca, New York. Early in the war he entered the United States
Navy as surgeon, and continued till October, 1865, when he resigned,
and in 1866 began the practice of medicine in Syracuse. This he
followed till about 1894, when paralysis compelled him to retire from
active life. He has filled many positions of honor and responsibility;
has been on the medical staff of a large hospital, doing duty there
four months in the year; was one of the founders of the Medical
College of Syracuse, in which he held the chair of Jurisprudence and
Pediatrics, and has contributed much to medical journals, having been
the editor of one such periodical.
He has one son, John W.^{8} Plant, who is in the graduating class of
Syracuse Medical College for 1898.
[24] A tradition represents him to have been the son of Joel^{4}
Plant, the brother of Timothy,^{4} but no records confirm this view,
while a number of points in his story seem to identify him with
Joel,^{5} the son of Timothy,^{4} born at Litchfield, according to
one entry there, August 22, 1776, and according to another, August
24, 1776. The following account is from his son, Mr. Lauren Plant, of
Cicero, New York, December 25, 1897.
“Timothy, the son of John Plant, married Lucy Parrish, settled in New
Haven, and was in the bookbinding business. Among their children were
two sons, Timothy, born July 4, 1750, who subsequently settled in
Litchfield; and Joel, born March 25, 1753, who was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, and died, or was killed, on Long Island in 1779,
leaving a wife and two children in New Haven. A daughter, Margaret,
afterward married Benoni Gleson and went to Vermont. Joel was born
August 24, 1776; his mother died when he was twelve years old, and at
the age of fourteen he was bound out to work in the bookbindery that
his grandfather had established long before. Not liking the business,
he ran away, at the age of seventeen, and went west to the banks of
the Susquehanna River, where he remained two seasons, returning to his
Uncle Tim’s in Litchfield and attending school in the winter, where he
made the acquaintance of Mary Jordan, whom he married. They lived two
or three years in Worthington, Massachusetts, then moved to Benson,
Rutland County, Vermont, and, in 1837, to Onondaga County, New York.”
[25] Anderson Plant’s estate was in probate, June 13, 1827. Mr. Samuel
Plant was chosen and appointed guardian of Henry Bradley Plant, who
with his mother, Mrs. Betsey Plant, were the only heirs.