“The first account we have of him is only a meagre record of his school days. He never went to college, but had to content his ambitious young spirit with a good academic course, supplemented by a brief term of finishing study under a thoroughly competent tutor. This, however, was only a theoretical disadvantage, from the fact that the termination of his school days was no interruption to his mental acquirements. He was born with an ambition for knowledge, and does not to this day feel himself too old, or too wise, to learn. “Mr. Plant’s first experience in business, was when, a mere boy, he secured employment on one of that line of steamboats, then running between New Haven and New York. Although very young, he appreciated even then that the only way to learn any business thoroughly was by beginning at the bottom. Accordingly he took his first lessons in steamboat life in a humble position. It was not long, however, before, by faithfulness and efficiency, he lifted himself into higher and more responsible places. That first and prompt promotion was the initial sign of what his life would be, and from then till now, he has steadily marched onward and upward, overcoming obstacles and mastering difficulties with heroic energy, and winning success in the various lines of his broadening operations with positive brilliancy. “While employed by the New York and New Haven Steamboat Company, one of the first express lines ever established in this country was inaugurated between New Haven and New York, and the enterprise at once fascinated young Plant. He bent every energy toward the acquirement of a small interest in the new express company, and in reasonable time accomplished his purpose. From that day to this, express business has been his best love throughout the wide range of his material interests. His first important connection in that line was with the Adams Express Company about 1847. In that corporation he became a leading spirit and holds such position to-day. His special pet, however, among the various express systems with which he is identified is the Southern Express Company which he established in 1862. This child of his wisdom has grown to be a giant, and is to-day one of the richest, most influential, and ably managed corporations in this country. It traverses all the Southern States, and is, for all practical purposes, permanently established on nearly every important railroad system in the South.