History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Gleason, Salem one of the best known pioneers of Lincoln County, after whom the village of Gleason was named, was born in Westfield, Medina County, Ohio, April 8, 1844. The father and mother were respectively of Scotch and Irish descent, but were married in the state of Ohio. The father died when Salem, the youngest child, was seven years old, and the widow moved to Wisconsin, settling in Calumet County. There Salem grew up; having but limited educational opportunities, but in time developing a love of reading, his favorite study being history. In April, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company B, Fourth Wisconsin Infantry, in which he served until after the close of the war. His brother Henry, who answered President's first call, for three months men, re-enlisted at the end of the three months, becoming first lieutenant of Company B., and subsequently captain of Company M, Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was killed in 1864 while on reconnoitering duty at Baton Rouge. Salem GLEASON, whose service as a soldier was largely under Sheridan, came home broken in health, but slowly recovered. On July 4, 1867, he married Sarah J. HUNT, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah HUNT of Stockbridge, Calumet County. Her father, like himself, had been a soldier of the Union. In 1871 Mr. GLEASON moved with his family to a farm in Redwood County, Minnesota, but being unsuccessful there owing to drought and grasshoppers, they returned in October, 1874, to Calumet County, Wisconsin. A year later they rented a farm in Outagamie County, but after two years there came to Merrill, Lincoln County, and from Merrill to the site of Gleason locating on a homestead of 160 acres and building a pioneer house on the 40 which now includes the site of the Gleason High School. He had two sons, to each of whom he gave a "forty" the south "forty" he sold to a Mr. LEVY, and the other 40 he kept for himeself and cleared. Mr. GLEASON'S wife Sarah, who was born in Rome, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1847, was for some time an invalid and died at Gleason in 1911. Mr. GLEASON survived her some years, passing away July 5, 1916. He was a worthy citizen of good pioneer qualities, who fought for his country in her greatest hour of trial and left his mark on the community in which he finally made his home. He served for a number of years as s supervisor of his town and for seven years was a member of the school board for District No. 1. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post at Merrill. In religion he was Baptist, while his wife was a Presbyterian, and as there was no Baptist congregation at Gleason, he helped to build the Presbyterian Church, rendering efficient service on the building committee, and he subsequently attended the church with his wife. They had six children, Emma, Minnie B., James, Frank E., Leona M., and Charles F. Reserving mention of Emma until the last, it may be briefly said that Minnie B., born Dec. 12, 1873, at Redwood, Minn., is now Mrs. Theodore LEE of the town of Russell, Lincoln County, Wis.; James was born at Gleason, this county, May 17, 1876; Frank E., was born at Shiocton, Outagamie County, Sept. 23, 1878; Leona M., born April 26, 1882, is now Mrs. Sidney DREW of the town of Russell, Lincoln County, and Charles F., born June 4, 1890, died March 10, 1911. Emma GLEASON, born Aug. 13, 1871, was married at Gleason, Dec. 23, 1899 to Henry A. BEHRENS. Mr. BEHRENS was born in Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. 15, 1874, and is a carpenter by trade. He served in the United States' army in the war with Spain in 1898. Mrs. BEHRENS, who was formerly a school teacher in Langlade County, is now in charge of the Gleason telephone office, which is located in her residence. She and her husband are the parents of four children: Leona M., born Feb. 24, 1901; Delia F., born Feb. 18, 1903; Edith V., born Feb. 1, 1906; Henry S., June 15, 1911. Leona M. BEHRENS, who married Oscar HARTEL, of Merrill, has two children, Loraine M. and Mildred.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 615-616; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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