Will County IL Archives Biographies.....PLANT, FRANCIS 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 18, 2007, 12:40 am

Author: GENEALOGICAL AND  BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

FRANCIS WILLIAM PLANT, A. M., was born in Utica, N. Y., September 13, 1843, a 

son of James and Hannah A. (Mason) Plant.  His father, also a native of Utica, 

born June 16, 1799, was a farmer in the suburbs of Utica until the growth of 

the city caused him to plat his land, which is now about the center of the 

town.  He died there January 5, 1860.  His wife was born May 19, 1812, and 

died August 1, 1890.  They had two children, Helen, wife of Thomas D. Catlin, 

of Ottawa, Ill., and Francis William.  James was a son of Benjamin Plant, who 

removed from Connecticut to New York; he married Lucinda, daughter of Stephen 

and Sarah (Lindsley) Potter.  Mr. Potter held a commission in the war of 1812 

as captain.  After graduating from Utica Academy in 1860 our subject entered 

Hamilton College in Clinton, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1864 with the 

degree of A. B.  He was a classmate of the present secretary of war, Elihu 

Root, and other men now well known.  For two years he was connected with a 

bank in Utica, after which he engaged in the book and stationery business as a 

member of the firm of Davis, Gilbert & Plant.  In 1869 he moved from Utica to 

Joliet, where he engaged in the lumber business with T. A. Mason and H. B. 

Plant.  At a subsequent date the firm became F. W. & H. B. Plant, and they 

engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds and built up a large 

planing mill business.  For many years he was also president of the People's 

Building & Loan Association.  In Brooklyn, N. Y., October 16, 1866, Mr. Plant 

married Miss Elizabeth Merle, who was born in New York City November 17, 1845, 

and died in Joliet April 23, 1889.  They had five children, Helen Merle, 

Laura, Grace, James Merle and Anna.  For years Mr. Plant was a member of the 

vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, and at the time of the building of the 

church he aided as a member of the building committee. Politically he is a 

Republican.  In 1867 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his alma 

mater.  Henry B. Plant, who was our subject's partner in business, was a son 

of Benjamin and Sarah (Mason) Plant, and was born January 11, 1831.  His first 

work was under his uncle, R. B. Mason, in the building of an eastern 

railroad.  After coming west he was employed on the surveying corps of the 

Illinois Central Railroad under his uncle; subsequently he was an officer with 

the Wabash Railroad Company.  For some time he carried on a bank business in 

Hastings, Minn.  During the Civil war he was a lieutenant in an Illinois 

battery.  Afterward he was in business in Cairo, Ill., and then came to 

Joliet, where he carried on a lumber business with our subject.  He held the 

receivership of the Taylor coal mine at Lasalle and later was manager of coal 

mines at What Cheer, Iowa.  His last years were spent on a ranch on the North 

Platte River in Nebraska.  His widow now makes her home in Champaign, Ill. 

Additional comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900


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