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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
A History of Northwest Ohio
A Narrative Account of Its Historical
Progress and Development
from the First European Exploration of the Maumee and
Sandusky Valleys and the Adjacent Shores of
Lake Erie, down to the Present Time
By Nevin O. Winter, Litt. D.
Assisted by a Board of Advisory and Contributing Editors
ILLUSTRATED
Vol. I & II
The Lewis Publishing Company
Chicago and New York
1917
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LOFNIS EARL GLEASON.
The lumber interests of the flourishing city of Van Wert are capably
represented by Lofnis Earl Gleason, who, with associates, is
conducting a large and thriving business. This industry, one
of the leading commercial enterprises of the city, has for many
years been contributing factor in building up and developing Van
Wert and the surrounding country, and has enlisted the best
interests of a number of members of the Gleason family, men
bearing this name having long been prominent in various avenues of
activity in this part of Northwest Ohio.
Lofnis Earl Gleason was born Dec. 29, 1863, in
the Township of Pleasant, Van Wert County, Ohio, a son of Abram
Brown Gleason. The Gleason family, a history of
which was compiled by Joseph Gleason, of Cincinnati, Ohio,
and published by J. B. White, of Kansas City, traces its
ancestry back to Thomas Gleason, who emigrated from
Newcastle, England, to America, and was living at Cambridge,
Massachusetts, in 1657. Bezaleel Gleason, the
great-great-grandfather of Lifnis E. Gleason, is said to have
taken part with General Stark's Green Mountain Boys in the
battle of Bennington during the Revolutionary war. He married
Phebe Newberry, and among their children was Bezaleel
Gleason, Jr., who was born near Brattleboro, Vermont to New York
State, where he was one of the pioneers of Ontario County, and died
June 21, 1832. He married Abigail Howland, a Mayflower
descendant, and they had three sons and five daughters, namely:
Stephen, Joseph, Sarah, Phoebe, Clarissa, Mary, Eliza and
Benjamin. In 1837 the mother, accompanied by her children,
with the exception of Sarah and Phoebe, who had married,
removed to the wilds of Van Wert County, Ohio, and there the
remainder of her life was spent, her death occurring in Pleasant
Township, Jan. 29, 1851.
Joseph Gleason, the grandfather of Lofnis E.
Gleason, was born near Manchester, Ontario County, New York,,
Sept. 3, 1803. He acquired a good education and as a young man
engaged in teaching school during a part of the year, while the
remainder he devoted to farming and the lumber business. Thus
he continued until the year 1837 when, with his wife and three
children, he joined a colony and made an overland journey with teams
to Van Wert County, there entering a tract of Government land in
Pleasant township, which was organized that year. At that time
a great part of Northeast Ohio was a wilderness and much of the land
was owned by the Government and for sale at $1.25 per acre.
There were, however, no railroads or canals in this section, the
streams had not been dredged or placed under control, and been
dredged or placed under control, and water covered what is now some
of the best farming country in the United States. In the midst
of this wilderness the family lived in the covered wagon in which
the trip had been made until the father could erect a log cabin, and
the following two years he spent in clearing his land. Having
been elected county recorder, Mr. Gleason then moved to Van
Wert, and in the fall of 1839 he built the log tavern which was
located at what would now be about the northeast corner of Main and
Jefferson streets. Later on that site he erected a two-story
frame building, which was known for many years as the American
House, and which he conducted as a hotel, largely patronized by
travelers of the day. At one time Mr. Gleason held the
offices of county recorder, associate judge and justice of the peace
Later he formed a partnership with Thomas R. Kear and they
erected the first steam sawmill in Van Wert County, located at the
corner of Jackson and Jefferson streets. One year following
Mr. Gleason sold out to his partner, taking a lease of the mill
for three years as a part of the consideration, and at the
expiration of the lease he, with his brother, Stephen, built
what is now the Gleason Lumber Company's mill, of which he
subsequently became the sole owner. He operated with but
little help, save that of his four sons, for a number of years, and
the products of this industry did much toward the improvement of the
surrounding country. In the meantime having sold the hotel
building and become possessed of several farms in the vicinity of
Van Wert, he gradually withdrew from the lumber business to devote
his time to the improvement of his farms. In the latter line
he continued to be principally engaged until his death, which
occurred Feb. 2, 1883. Mr. Gleason married Harriet
Brown, who was born Feb. 26, 1811, at East Windsor, Connecticut,
a daughter of John and Elsie (Fish) Brown. Her parents
removed from Connecticut to Ontario County, New York, and thence to
Lorain County, Ohio, where they remained until their death.
Mrs. Gleason died July 26, 1888, the mother of four sons and
three daughters: Alonzo, Mariette, Andrew J., Abram Brown,
Julia, Frank J. and Ella.
Abram Brown Gleason was born at Van Wert, Ohio,
Apr. 10, 1840, and was given the best education that the schools of
the community afforded. When but a youth he commenced work in
his father's mill, and later he and his brother, Frank J.,
succeeded to the ownership of the business, in which Mr. Gleason
was active until his death, Feb. 7, 1911. He was married Feb.
6, 1862, to Lucretia J. Fox, who died Apr. 1, 1867, leaving
two children: Lofnis Earl, and Mittie E, who is the
wife of Dr. W. T. Chambers. Abram B. Gleason was
connected with various industries and enterprises. He became a
stockholder in the Van Wert County Bank in 1869, and in 1883 was ade
president of the Van Wert National Bank, was interested in the Ohio
Land and Livestock Company, the Eagle Stave Company and Van Wert's
first building and loan association, and was an extensive owner of
farming lands. In politics he was a democrat, but gave little
attention to public affairs, being too busy with personal interests,
although he served two terms, 1869 to 1873, as sheriff of Van Wert
County.
Lofnis Earl Gleason attended the public schools
of Van Wert and a commercial school at Dayton. He was reared
to habits of industry and upon completing his commercial course
commenced work at the lumber yards and thoroughly mastered every
detail of the business, working his way upwards from the bottom.
He has continued to be connected with his concern to the present
time and he and his sister, with F. H. and G. L. Capper, are
the present proprietors. Mr. Gleason is a director in
the first National Bank and is extensively interested in
agriculture, being at this time the manager of five farms. He
has taken an active part in promoting the enterprises which have
contributed to the development of Van Wert, and is known as an
honorable man of business and a public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Gleason married Miss Hettie Noble,
who was born at Saint Paris, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and
Clementine Noble, and to this union there has been born one
daughter: Hazel. Mr. Gleason is a member of Van
Wert Lodge No. 218, Free and Accepted Masons; Van Wert Chapter No.
71, Royal Arch Masons; Van Wert Council No. 73, Royal and Select
Masters, and Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templar.
Source: A History of Northwest Ohio, Publ. The Lewis
Publishing Co., Chicago & New York, 1917 - Page 740 |
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J. E. HATTERY, M. D. Source:
A History of Northwest Ohio, Publ. The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago
& New York, 1917 - Page 819 |
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