| CHAPTER I. |
| | PAGE |
| The Plant Family—Birth of Henry Bradley Plant—Mr. Plant’s Parents—Ancestors Came from England in 1639—David Plant Occupied Many Positions of Honor and Trust—A. P. Plant’s Successful Business Career—H. B. Plant on his Mother’s Side is Descended from Joseph Frisbee, a Major in Washington’s Army—Reverend Levi Frisbee, Father of Professor Levi Frisbee of Harvard College—Connection with Sir William Pepperell, Bart.—The Historian of the Frisbee Family—Richard of the Second Generation Went from Virginia to Connecticut, and Settled at Branford, 1644—Sketch of Oliver Libby Frisbee, Historian of his Family—Senator Hoar’s Relations to the Frisbee Family—Frisbee Patriotism and Services to their Country—They Were Good, Church-going People, mostly of the Puritan Belief—Probability that the Frisbees Came from Wales | 1-14 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| Branford, Connecticut, Purchased by the New Haven Colonists from the Totokett Indians in 1638—First Settlements Were Made in 1644—First Church of Logs Surrounded by Stockade to Protect from Indians—Guards at the Gate during Service—Church and Town Records Preserved at Branford—John Plum, the First Town Clerk—Style of the Second Church Building and Character of its Services—Rev. Timothy Gillett its Pastor—He Taught an Academy in Addition to his Pastoral Work—Prominent Families of Branford—Intelligent Character of the People—De Tocqueville’s High Estimate of this “Leetle State”—Branford in 1779 | 15-22 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| The Blackstone Family—The Ancestor Came from England before 1630—His Name Was William Blaxton—Settled first in Massachusetts, afterwards Went to Rhode Island—His Beautiful Character and Numerous Descendants—Origin of Yale College of Branford—The Blackstone Memorial Library | 23-34 |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| The Plants Came from England to Branford, between Two Hundred and Three Hundred Years ago—Still Own the Lands first Acquired—Henry’s Father Died of Typhus Fever when Henry Was about Six Years Old—His Tender Recollection of his Mother—Henry’s First Day at School—His Natural Diffidence—Mr. Plant’s After-dinner Speeches—His Mother’s Second Marriage—Stepfather Kind to Henry—Thrown by a Plough Horse and nearly Killed—Attended School at Branford—Engaged on Steamboat Line Running between New Haven and New York—On Leaving, Promised a Captaincy—Marriage—Express Business—Leaves New Haven and Goes to New York—Romantic Experience in Florida | 35-50 |
| CHAPTER V. |
| Mr. Plant Goes from New Haven to New York—Captain Stone’s Friendship—Mrs. Plant’s Health Fails again—Returns to the South—Is Appointed Superintendent of Adams Express Company—His Great Executive Ability—The Civil War—Mrs. Plant’s Death—Mr. Plant Buys out the Adams Express Company | 51-55 |
| CHAPTER VI. |
| Relations to the Confederate Government—Jefferson Davis Gives him Charge of Confederate Funds—Mr. Plant Buys a Slave, who afterward Nursed him through a Severe Sickness—Impaired Health—Goes to Bermuda, New York, Canada, and Europe—Second Marriage | 56-67 |
| CHAPTER VII. |
| Education from Books and from Experience—Keen Intuitions—Abreast of the Progress—Mr. Plant’s After-dinner Speech at Tampa Banquet Given him by Tampa Board of Trade, March 18, 1886—Location of Tampa—In Territorial Days Had a Military Reservation—In 1884 Population about Seven Hundred—Its Cosmopolitan Population now—Many Cubans and Spaniards in Tampa—Tobacco Industry—Phosphate Abounds in this Part of the State—Much of it Shipped to the North and to Europe—Plant System Gives Impetus to the Prosperity of the Place—Its Progress the Last Five or Six Years | 68-86 |
| CHAPTER VIII. |
| Florida Mr. Plant’s Hobby—Banquet at Ocala—Mr. Plant’s Speech—Sail on Lakes Harrison and Griffin—Banquet at Leesburg—Visit to Eustis—Cheering Words to a Young Editor—Make the Best of the Frost—It may be a Blessing in Disguise—Must Cultivate Other Fruits (and Cereals) besides Oranges—Importance of Honesty—Sense of Justice—Consideration for the Workmen—Unconscious Moulding-Power over Associates and Employees—Letter of Honorable Rufus B. Bullock | 87-101 |
| CHAPTER IX. |
| Mr. Plant’s Industry and Power to Endure Continuous Strain—Labor of Examining and Answering his Enormous Mail—Letter from Japan—Mail Delivered Regularly to him at Home and Abroad—His Private Car, its Style, Structure, Hospitality, and Cheering Presence—Numerous Calls—The Secret of his Endurance—The Esteem and Love of the Southern Express Company for its President—Mr. Plant Enjoys Social Life—He is a Great Lover of almost all Kinds of Music—Mr. Plant a Medical Benefactor—Some of the Progress Made in the Healing Art—Bishop of Winchester’s High Estimate of the Value of Health—Dr. Long’s Opinion of the Gulf Coast as a Health Restorer—Unrecognized Medicines in Restoring Lost Health—Nervousness among the American People—The Soothing and Strengthening Effect of Florida Climate—Mr. Plant’s Part in Facilitating Travel and Providing Comfortable Accommodations for the Invalid | 102-116 |
| CHAPTER X. |
| Reason for Submitting Press Sketches of Mr. Plant—Descriptive America, December, 1886—City Items, December, 1886—Railroad Topics—Home Journal, New York, March, 1896—F. G. De Fontain in same Journal—Ocala Evening Times, June, 1896—Express Gazette | 117-140 |
| CHAPTER XI. |
| Mr. Plant’s Close and Constant Contact with the Great System as Seen in the Following Letters—Letter Written on Board the Steamer Comal—Letters on Trip to Jamaica, West Indies, March 15, 1893, and Published in the Home Journal | 141-149 |
| CHAPTER XII. |
| MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT PLANT SYSTEM WORTHY OF ADMIRATION AND IMITATION | 150-156 |
| CHAPTER XIII. |
| Plant Day at the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895 at Atlanta, Georgia—Preparations for its Celebration—Impressive Observances of Mr. Plant’s Birthday at the Aragon Hotel—Mr. Plant’s Remarks in Acknowledging Presentation of Gifts | 157-182 |
| CHAPTER XIV. |
| Tampa Bay Hotel, One of the Modern Wonders of the World—Its Architecture, Furniture, Works of Art, Decorations, Tapestries, Paintings, Inlaid Table and Three Ebony and Gold Cabinets from the Tuileries, a Sofa and Two Chairs once Owned by Marie Antoinette—The Dream of De Soto Realized—A Palace of Art for the Delight and Joy of Those who are in Health, and an Elysium for the Sad and Sorrowful | 183-203 |
| CHAPTER XV. |
| Programme of Plant Day Ceremonies—Ringing of the Liberty Bell—Presentation of Addresses to Mr. Plant in the Great Auditorium—His Reply—Resolutions from the Different Departments of the System, from the Savannah Board of Trade, etc.—Mr. Morton F. Plant’s Acknowledgments | 204-226 |
| CHAPTER XVI. |
| Banquet at the Aragon Hotel Ends the Festivities of the Day—Sketch of the Southern Express Company—Distinguished Callers on President Plant during the Day—Many Telegrams and Letters of Congratulation Received—Many Press Notices of the Day, and many Tributes of Respect and Esteem for him who Called it forth | 227-263 |
| CHAPTER XVII. |
| Some Changes that have Taken Place in the Configuration of the Globe—Islands Born and Buried—French Revolution—Napoleon’s Influence on Europe—England’s Long Wars—Barbarous Treatment of Prisoners—Slavery Abolished—English Profanity and Intemperance—Temperance Movements—Duelling—Penny Postage—Expansion of the Press—Canals, Erie and Suez—Railroads in England and the United States—First Steamer to Cross the Atlantic—First Steamship Line | 264-278 |
| CHAPTER XVIII. |
| Railroads Established—Engineering Progress—Steel, Iron Steamships—Horse Railroad—Kerosene Oil in Use 1830—Sewing Machines—Agricultural Implements 1831-51—Sanitary Progress—Philanthropic and Christian Progress—Higher Education—Medical Progress—Humane Care of the Insane—Sailors’ and Seamen’s Home—World’s Fairs—Religious Reciprocity—Arbitration—Numerous Inventions and Discoveries—Henry B. Plant in War and in Peace—Testimonial Presented to Mr. and Mrs. Plant on the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of their Wedding | 279-306 |
| Plant Genealogy | 307-337 |
| Index: A, B, C, D, E, F, N, P, R, S, T, W. | 339-344 |
