An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, 1902
published by Western Historical Publishing Company

WILLIAM H. GLEASON

Mr. Gleason was born in Canaan, Maine, on June 28, 1852, the son of Moses and Lydia (Fowler) Gleason, scions of old colonial families. He grew to manhood in his native town, receiving a common school training, but when he arrived at the age of twenty, he went to Michigan and engaged in the lumber business as an employee. He busies himself thus for about two years, then went back to Maine, where he lived for the ensuing seven years, his means of gaining a livelihood being agriculture. Going then to Wisconsin, he spent three more years in the lumbering industry, after which he came out to Oregon. He settled in Union county, on the Grande Ronde river, and resumed the line of activity he had before followed in Michigan and Wisconsin, continuing in the same until 1893. In that year, however, he removed to Sumpter and embarked in the meat market business, and in that he busied himself until 1899, since which year he has been practically out of all lines of activity except mining. He has interests in the Greenhorn district, on Cracker creek and on Deer creek, all of which are famous mining districts.

When the town of Sumpter was first incorporated, our subject was honored by being accorded a seat in its council chambers, and at the first general election he was the choice of the people for the mayoralty, the duties which office were discharged by him with great faithfulness and with ability and good judgement. After serving as mayor of the town for two years, he was elected county commissioner on the Democratic ticket, and that office is still his. Mr. Gleason is a thoroughly public spirited man and always has the interests of his town and county near his heart.

Fraternally our subject is affiliated with the time-honored order of Masons, in which he has attained to the Scottish Rite, his membership in this degree being in Portland. His marriage was solemnized in Baker City, on October 23,
1895, when Mrs. F. D. Farnham, of Maine, became his wife.

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