A.B. GLEASON. – This gentleman is the son of Parsons Gleason, and is now one of the active business men of the state. He was born May 22, 1829, in Ripley county, Indiana. In 1849 he entered upon life as boatman on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and in 1851 came with his father to the Pacific coast. The trip through Illinois and Missouri he made by himself with ox-teams, while the rest of the family performed this portion of the journey by water. With a train of twelve wagons, and numbering among their companions Mr. Clinton ad Reverend Mr. Chandler, they made the memorable journey, having excellent fortune the entire distance, – a splendid trip.
Arriving in our state, young Gleason made an excursion to the Rogue river mines, and returning took, in 1853, a tour of the Puget Sound country, finding at length employment with Governor Stevens as superintendent of his farm. In 1855, however, he relinquished this position to volunteer in the service against the Indians, becoming a member of Captain Hay’s company. After a three months’ service, he returned for a short visit to his father’s home, and soon made what was then the adventurous trip to the Atlantic states via Nicaragua. Visiting in Iowa he was there married to Miss Clarissa Town, and soon after returning via Panama to is Oregon home. Two years he lived on his claim, but found business more congenial, and has up to the present time been engaged in milling, merchandising and dealing in grain at various points in the state.
In 1870 he became the pioneer and in a measure the founder of the town of Hubbard, building there the first house, and conducting the entire business of the railroad company at that point. He is there at present engaged in merchandising, handling grain, and shipping produce, having an interesting family, and owning a handsome residence. Of his four daughters, two are married, one being the wife of the well-known G.W. Dimick. The others and the son are still at home.
