SKETCH OF THE LIFE 



PROF. GLEASON. 



Oscar R. Gleason was born at Petersham, Worcester County, Mas- 

 sachusetts, on July 14th, 1856, his family name being a not uncom- 

 mon one in the New England States. His father, Charles F. Gleason, 

 was a stockman, who especially excelled in the knowledge and man- 

 agement of horses, and this trait was undoubtedly inherited by his son, 

 who, at a very early age evinced a similar aptitude in a most striking 

 degree. The elder Gleason was a man of magnificent physical pro- 

 portions and powers, and was famed for his ability to conquer and tame 

 the wildest and most refractory horses. He was always ready, and 

 even eager to purchase horses regarded as vicious, and he never failed 

 to make them entirely kind and gentle. For a number of years he 

 was engaged in the manufacture of hats, etc., from palm leaves. He 

 had six or seven establishments in different towns, and gave out much 

 " piece work " to be done at home, in scores of houses in Massachusetts 

 and even other adjoining States. He had, therefore, to keep many 

 horses and wagons for cartage, and was himself on the road much of 

 the time. " Whenever he heard," says the son, " of a runaway or 

 vicious animal, he would go miles to buy it, claiming that only the 

 best horses were vicious. He declared the best way to cure a run- 

 away horse was to give him the end of the road. I never knew him 

 to have a sick or lame horse in my life ; although he gave his animals 

 hard drives, he always took the best of care of them. He never drove 

 less than 10 miles an hour on the road." 



Oscar R. Gleason's mother was Ellen F. Drury, of Salem, Massa 

 chusetts ; one of those earnest, determined and devoted mothers whose 

 character and early teachings have done so much for the development 

 of noble and successful manhood among the people of New England. 



The family removed in 1868 to Dakota, Humboldt County, Iowa, 





