GLEASON

Lincoln County, Wis.

From “Lincoln County Centennial 1874 - 1974”

Transcribed by: Ken Wood

 

Gleason was named in honor of Salem Gleason whose homestead was the first in Gleason. Gleason came to the area in 1880. Other early settlers were Val Josten, John Flynn, Andrew Bascomb, William Rice, and Robert Cumming. E. A. Berkman conducted a store in Gleason in 1884 but real growth came when the railroad line was extended to Gleason. Timber was abundant in the area and a sawmill was established. Gleason was given a name and a post office, businesses sprang up and logging brought hundreds of men into the community. After the logging and timber resources were depleted, farms were established in the area surrounding Gleason and the community was transformed from a frontier village into a thriving farming center.