WILLIAM GLEASON is a wide-awake, energetic man, possessing good business qualifications, infinite tact and never-failing courtesy, which traits especially fit him for the responsible positions that he holds as station agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway at Savanna, and agent of the American Express Company at the same place. He is a native of New York, born near the town of Owego, in Tioga County. His father, Robert Gleason, was, it is supposed, born near Syracuse, N. Y., and our subject’s grandfather, Amasa Gleason, a native of New England, having been a pioneer of Western New York. In 1846 the latter came to Illinois, and spent his declining years with his daughter in Lake County.

The father of our subject was reared in his native State, and early learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed near Owego until 1844, when he came to Illinois, the removal being made by canal to Buffalo; thence on the Lakes to Chicago and from there by team to Lake County, where he resided with his family until 1846. In that year he made another move, and, going by team to Wisconsin, became an early settler of Green County, locating in Albany. He bought a tract of land four miles west of that town, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He had his land partly cleared and improved when his earthly career was brought to an untimely close by his death in 1847. He was a very capable, hard-working man, whom none knew but to respect and esteem, and his removal was a loss to the community. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Jones, was born in Owego, N. Y., a daughter of Solomon Jones. She survived her husband twenty-one years, dying in Albany, in 1868. There were nine children born to them, six of whom grew to maturity – Miner T., Cyrus S., William, Sarah S., Emily E., and Alfred T.

The subject of this sketch was thirteen years old when his father died, and, being thus early thrown on his own resources, he became a self-reliant, self-helpful and manly youth, not afraid of work, but anxious to make his own way in the world as creditably as possible. When he was fourteen he went to Lake County, Ill., and was there employed on a farm two years. He then returned to his home in Albany, Wis., from where, two years later, he returned to the place of his birth in the State of New York. He there secured work from his cousin, who owned large flocks of sheep and dealt extensively in wool. He remained with him two years, and was entrusted to buy and handle wool, etc. After that he returned again to Wisconsin, and engaged in driving stage from Beloit to Janesville, the latter town at that time being the western terminus of what is now the St. Paul Railway. He acted as stage-driver one summer, and then, proceeding to Chicago, engaged as clerk in a grocery store for one year. At the expiration of that time we again find him in his old home in Owego, N. Y., where he was a clerk for two years. He then accepted the position of clerk for the New York & Erie Railway Company. A year later he again went to Chicago, and was clerk in a grocery store until 1862. In that year he was appointed Sutler in the 13th Wisconsin Regiment, and went to Ft. Henry in that capacity, and later to Ft. Donelson, and from there to Stevenson, Ala., where he remained until the fall of 1863. He then went back to Chicago, and engaged in teaming in that city until 1865, when he once more took up his residence in Albany, Wis., and was there actively engaged in the general merchandise business until 1867. In that year he opened a flour and feed store in Monroe, which he operated profitably until 1870, when he returned to Albany, and, after remaining there six months, went to Portage, Wis., to act as clerk in the general office of the Madison & Portage Railway Company, his duty being to forward supplies, etc. When the road was completed, he accepted the position of station agent at Portage, and nine months later was transferred to Paynette to act in the same capacity. He remained there nine years, and was then sent to take charge of the West Yard Station in South Milwaukee, and was there until Jan. 1, 1886, when the company dispatched him to this point to look after their affairs here, and at the same time he was appointed agent for the American Express Company, to take charge of their business here. His employers find in him one of their most trusted and efficient employees, who is ever attentive to his duties and guards their interests as faithfully as if they were his own. Since he was first employed by the company he has not missed drawing a full month’s salary, and has lost but four days by sickness in the whole time.

Mr. Gleason was united in marriage to Miss Ann Tibbitts, in 1866, who has been to him a devoted wife, and has made their home cozy and comfortable. She was born in Ionia, Ionia Co., Mich., and is a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Dexter) Tibbitts. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gleason – Jennie E., Tessa R., and Mary. Mrs. Gleason is a member in good standing of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, at Milwaukee.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)