Chittenden

GLEASON, Henry Clay & Rolla

Biography of Henry Clay GLEASON

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 156

Henry Clay GLEASON, of Richmond, was born 28 March 1851 in Richmond 
[Chittenden County, Vermont], son of Rolla and Jenette T. (MASON) GLEASON. 
Obtained his education from the common schools of his native town and at 
Barre Academy. When quite young he entered on his business career in a small 
way as a speculator in poultry and farm produce; from the profits thus 
realized he purchased a farm and followed by other investments in real 
estate. For a period of eleven years beginning under Grant's last 
administration [Grant's second term began in 1872] he was mail agent on the 
Central Vermont Railroad, between St. Albans [Franklin County, Vermont] and 
Boston [Suffolk County Massachusetts], and having half the time to devote to 
his personal affairs, continued in other lines of business and also operated 
in the lumber trade, in which he is still engaged. Since leaving the mail 
service he has given special attention to farming and dairy products. In 
this he has been enabled to winter sixty cows and four horses. Among his 
other enterprises was a creamery which he started simply as a private affair 
to manufacture the butter from his own dairy. From this small beginning it 
has increased to such an extent that he is now receiving the milk of some 
5,000 cows from which his daily manufacture of butter is more than 3,000 
pounds. Republican. His father was an active and well-known politician; the 
disposition to take a deep interest in all public matters seems to have been 
inherited by the son; his private business, however, has occupied so much of 
his attention that he has been unable to accept many of the town offices 
tendered him; represented his town in the Legislature in 1888; is at present 
serving as one of the state senators of Chittenden County. In 1879 he [Henry 
Clay GLEASON] was married to Katie D., daughter of Albert and Mariette 
(WILLIAMS) TOWN. Two daughters were born to them: Grace J. and Gladys M.


Historical Note on Rolla GLEASON

Vermont Historical Magazine, No. XI, October 1867, p 843 (extracted from a 
section on the history of Richland, Chittenden County)

A few years ago Col. Rolla GLEASON, while digging muck in a swamp near the 
top of Bryant hill, struck on some hard, bony substance, and on getting it 
out of the mud and examining the same, it proved to be the fossil remains of 
an elephant's tusk. It was presented by Col. GLEASON to the University of 
Vermont, and can be found by the curious in its museum.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly