The writing of this biography is undertaken in the belief that there are many general readers to whom the record of such a life will be as welcome as it must be to those to whom, in his manifold activities, he has proved a benefactor and a friend. G. H. S. [Illustration: text decoration] 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.