- JOHN E. GLEASON. The pioneers of Wisconsin were a sturdy
race of men, descendants of
- early settlers in the Eastern States. Some came West in their
youth, their only capital consisting of active brain, strong
muscle and a cheery willingness to attain independence through
the avenue of hard labor. The subject of this review is a fine
specimen of the self-made and prosperous farmer of Rock County,
in which he has resided since 1856. He was born in Chautauqua
County, N.Y., Jan. 19, 1836, son of William and Polly (SMITH)
GLEASON.
- Jacob GLEASON, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was
a native of Massachusetts, of
- English ancestry, migrated to Chautauqua County, N.Y., and
there died at about the age of eighty years. He was a trader
by occupation. He married Mehitabel HUDSON, and had a family
of seven daughters and one son.
- Daniel SMITH, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was
also a native of Massachusetts, but
- of Dutch descent. He was likewise a trader, and lived to
the age of ninety-seven years. He had two sons, John and Daniel,
and three daughters, all of whom lived in Massachusetts.
- William GLEASON, our subject's father, was born March 11,
1799, in Massachusetts, and was
- a stone-mason by trade. He migrated to Chautauqua County,
N.Y., and there died at the age of seventy-three years. His wife,
who was born July 20, 1799, died at the age of sixty-eight years.
She was a Methodist in religious faith, while her husband was
a Universalist. To their union were born eleven children, six
sons and five daughters, of whom six are now living, namely:
Betsey, widow of Philo GREEN, of Erie, Penn.; Matilda, wife of
O. C. MOON, of Sharon, Wis.; Charles S., of near Jackson, Mich.;
John E., our subject; George H., of Cassadaga, Chautauqua Co.,
N.Y.; and Daniel L., of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- John E. GLEASON, our subject, was reared in Chautauqua County,
where he attended the
- common schools. At the age of twenty years he came West to
seek his fortune in the new country, and reached Janesville,
Rock Co., Wis., March 24, 1856. He began his career as a farm
laborer in Harmony township, and worked by the month for three
years. Then, in 1859, he bought forty acres of land in the town
of La Prairie. With this beginning he has acquired a splendid
property of 200 acres, located in Sections 15 and 16, La Prairie
township, his home being in Section 16. Mr. GLEASON has brought
all this property to a high state of cultivation. He has erected
a fine residence, good barns, and other buildings, and ranks
as one of the most successful and progressive farmers of the
township.
- On Feb. 29, 1860, Mr. GLEASON married Miss Achasah A. GOODSON,
daughter of William
- and Esther (COOK) GOODSON, English farming people who migrated
with their large family to America, locating first in Madison
County, N.Y., and in 1856 coming to Wisconsin, where they arrived
March 24. For a year he lived in Jefferson County, then moved
to Rock County, where he died in 1875, aged eighty-eight years,
surviving his wife a number of years. To Mr. and Mrs. GLEASON
were born five children: (1) Livona C., a teacher, lives with
her father. (2) Urban E., who married Elizabeth BENEDICT, is
a farmer, and lives in Section 15, La Prairie township. They
have two sons, Ray and Jay. (3) Ruby L., a teacher, is now teaching
at Shopiere. (4) Nellie, who married Edward H. PAUL, of Janesville,
has five children, Ora, Stanley, Clayton, Norman, and Kennith.
(5) William E. lives at home with his father. Mrs. Achsah A.
GLEASON died June 30, 1898, aged fifty-six years.
- Politically Mr. GLEASON is a Republican. He is chairman of
the town board of supervisors, in
- which office he is now serving his sixth year; for many years
he has served as school director and also as school treasurer
and clerk; and has been eight years president of the Rock County
Agricultural Society. Fraternally Mr. GLEASON is a member of
Janesville Lodge, No. 35, F. & A.M. He is not only one of
the old settlers of La Prairie township, but one of its most
prominent and influential citizens, intimately associated with
its official history, and zealous in the promotion and preservation
of all good measures for the public welfare.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 79-80.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|