My Genealogy Hound

JOHN GLEESON, an enterprising and leading general agriculturist and stock-raiser, profitably cultivating a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Chikaming Township, Berrien County, Mich., is desirably situated, his highly improved homestead being located five miles northwest of the prosperous village of Three Oaks, twenty-five miles southwest of the county seat and within two miles of his post-office at Union Pier. For over thirty years a constant resident of his present neighborhood, our subject has been intimately associated with the local interests and upward growth of Berrien County. A popular citizen, enjoying the high esteem and confidence of the community by whom he is surrounded, he has received various important township offices, whose duties he has invariably discharged with rare fidelity and executive ability. Mr. Gleeson was born in the city of Hamilton, province of Ontario, Canada, April 9, 1848. His parents, Patrick and Johanna (Dwyer) Gleeson, were both natives of Ireland, and were energetic and industrious people, descended from a long line of intelligent and highly respected ancestry, who generation after generation reared families, worthy representatives of the Emerald Isle. Born, reared and educated in their native land, the parents attained to mature years and were married in Ireland. Thoroughly understanding and appreciating the offered advantages of the country of promise beyond the sea, the young couple finally decided to emigrate to America, and, crossing the Atlantic, landed in the Dominion of Canada. The parents were united in marriage in 1846, and ten years later the devoted wife and mother passed to her rest in Hamilton. She had borne four children, one daughter and three sons. Our subject, the eldest of the family, was educated in his primary studies in the common schools of Canada, but afterward received extended instructions in the celebrated college of St. Michael’s, in Toronto. When sixteen years of age, accompanying his father, John Gleeson, he came to the United States and settled in Berrien County, Mich., making a permanent home in Chikaming Township, where they have since constantly resided. Patrick Gleeson, now four-score years of age, enjoys unusually good health for a man of eighty years’ experience in the toil and wearing cares of life. An upright citizen of strength of character and earnest purpose, the venerable father is universally respected.

Our subject has made a life work of the pursuit of agriculture, and, from his youth trained to habits of thrift and busy industry, has successfully and self-reliantly won his upward way. Entering with keen interest into the development of local improvements and enterprise, Mr. Gleeson soon became one of the prominent and most popular men of the township. In 1882, elected to the responsible position of Supervisor, he served with such acceptability to his friends and neighbors that he was re-elected to a second term, and in 1891 was again made an incumbent of the same office and again served two successive terms. Politically a Democrat, our subject is an ardent supporter of the ‘‘Party of the People,” and has been prominent among the councils of the Democrats of the county. For two terms Mr. Gleeson efficiently occupied the official position of Treasurer of Chikaming Township, and has been invariably active in forwarding all matters of mutual welfare. He is well posted in the affairs of the day, to which he gives earnest attention, and many years ago cast his first Presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. Our subject is a liberal-minded man of native generosity, and is ever ready to aid in social and benevolent enterprises, and, in full accord with his fellow-townsmen, possesses the best wishes of a host of sincere friends.