Extended Family – Helen M. Gleeson, Teacher, Principal, & Superintendent

Extended family means those who are not direct ancestors. My direct ancestor, Anna Maria Gleeson had four sisters and five brothers. One sister, Helena M. Gleeson, lived her whole life as a single woman, never marrying. This is her story. I am very thankful that the small town where she lived reported many of her activities in the newspaper.

Helena Mary Gleeson, the sixth child and fourth daughter of John Gleeson and Margaret Tierney, was born on 31 October 1867 in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada.[1] When she was eleven, she moved with her family in 1879 to Davison County in Dakota Territory.[2]

It is unknown who moved to Anaconda, Montana first, but she and her sister, Elizabeth were in the Gilbert comedy “Engaged,” in February 1892.[3] She continued living there for most of her life.

Education Career
In September 1892, she was engaged to teach in the Anaconda schools, teaching first grade at Prescott School.[4] It is not known if she attended a teacher training school, but she did take a teacher examination in 1896 and another in 1910 for second grade.[5]

During her career with the school district, she taught at either Prescott School or Lincoln School, mostly teaching lower grades.[6] She was also principal at Prescott and Bryan schools, the first time was in 1897 at Bryan School.[7] She ended her career at Prescott School.[8]

Political Career
In 1898, she was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the position of Deer Lodge County Superintendent of Schools.[9] She came out on top and on 1 December, filed her official bond of $5000.[10] She earned a salary of $125 per month.[11] During her term, she visited schools throughout the county.[12] She served only one term and did not run again.

Social Life
Helena was a member of the Young Ladies’ Institute,[13] Anaconda Women’s Club,[14] and Woman’s Literary Club.[15] She participated in musical events and theater.[16] She also traveled during her time off from school to visit family and friends. For example, in 1901, she visited her parents in Portland and continued to Victoria, Vancouver, and the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo.[17] In 1914, she spent the summer in Berkeley, California with two friends.[18] In 1910, she went to Portland and then continued to Alaska.[19] In 1926, she went to Chicago and New York City.[20]

Health Issues
She experienced health issues throughout her life. The earliest mention of poor health was in 1895 when it was reported she was ill in San Francisco.[21] She did not return to teaching until January 1896.[22] In 1902, she left for the Pacific coast for her health.[23] In September of 1903, she was still in Los Angeles in bad health.[24]

In September 1909, she asked for a leave of absence due to being involved in an accident in Portland.[25] She returned to teach in January 1910.[26] In May of the same year, she was in St. Ann’s Hospital run by the Sisters of Charity.[27]

California
Helena moved sometime between 1936 when she was named principal at Prescott School and 1940 when she was living with her sister, Margaret Gleeson in Los Angeles.[28] She died on 4 November 1950 of a heart condition she had had fifty years.[29]

A rosary was said on 6 November at the Chapel of Cunningham & O’Connor on 850 West Washington. Mass was at 9 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church.[30] She is buried at Calvary Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

#52Ancestors-Week 27: Extended Family—Helen M. Gleeson, Teacher, Principal, & Superintendent

This is my fifth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week on one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

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[1] St. Philips Church, Richmond, Carleton Co, Nov 1867, B34, Helena Mary Gleeson, Nov 1867, digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), "Ontario, Canada, Parish registers, 1836-1917," > Carleton > Richmond > St. Philip > Baptisms, marriages, burials 1845-1868 > image 234.

[2] "South Dakota, County Naturalization Records, 1865-1972," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Davison Co, 2nd Judicial District, Declarations of Intention 1880-1886, p 31, John Gleeson. John stated he arrived through Port Huron in April 1879.

[3] “Engaged,” Anaconda Standard, 28 Feb 1892, p. 3.

[4] “School Matters,” Anaconda Standard, 12 Sep 1892, p. 3, cols 2&3.

[5] “Twenty Candidates were Present,” The New North-West (Deer Lodge, Mont), 28 Feb 1896, p. 1, col. 5. For 1910, see “The News of Fort Benton,” Great Falls (Montana) Tribune, 4 Sep 1910, p. 3, col. 5.

[6] Multiple articles named her as a teacher of either school. For example, for Prescott School, see “School Days,” Anaconda Standard, 9 Sep 1896, p. 2, col. 2. For Lincoln School, see “Teachers are Re-Elected,” The Butte Daily Post, 19 May 1908, p. 8, col. 3.

[7] The first time was in 1897 for Bryan School. “Contracts Are Awarded,” Anaconda Standard, 24 Nov 1897, p. 3, col. 1.

[8] The exact ending date is unknown. “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/) > Montana > Anaconda, Montana, City directory, 1936 > image 32; Anaconda Montana City Directory (Salt Lake City: RL Polk, 1936), 63.

[9] “Harmony in Convention,” Anaconda Standard, 20 Sep 1898, pp 6 & 9.

[10] “Miss Gleeson’s Bond,” Anaconda Standard, 4 Dec 1898, p. 5, col. 2.

[11] “Report of the Proceedings of the County Commissioners of Deer Lodge County, Montana,” Anaconda Standard, 15 Mar 1899 p. 3, col. 4.

[12] See “In Deer Lodge,” Anaconda Standard, 11 Feb 1900, p. 18, col. 1, and “Inspected the Schools,” Anaconda Standard, 18 Jul 1900, p. 4, col. 1.

[13] “A Pleasant Party,” Anaconda Standard, 21 Mar 1894, p. 3, col. 1.

[14] “Anaconda’s Club,” Anaconda Standard, 11 Nov 1900, p. 19, col. 5.

[15] “For Their Next Season,” Anaconda Standard, 29 Sep 1902, p. 4, col. 1.

[16] “Triumph of Love,” Anaconda Standard, 26 Mar 1899, p. 5, col. 1.

[17] “Teachers are Leaving,” Anaconda Standard, 23 May 1901, p. 5, col. 1.

[18] “About the City News,” Anaconda Standard, 13 Jun 1914, p. 8.

[19] “Anaconda Briefs,” The Butte Daily Post, 18 Jul 1910, p. 8, col. 2.

[20] “Society Personals,” Anaconda Standard, 4 Jul 1926, p. 17, col. 3.

[21] “In Social Circles,” Anaconda Standard, 1 Sep 1895, p. 9, col. 1.

[22] “In Social Circles,” Anaconda Standard, 5 Jan 1896, p. 12, col. 1.

[23] “Society,” Anaconda Standard, 16 Feb 1902, p. 22, col. 1.

[24] “Anaconda School Opening,” The Butte Daily Post, 6 Sep 1905, p. 6, col. 2.

[25] “All is Prepared for School Term,” The Butte Daily Post, 2 Sep 1909, p. 8, col. 2. A search of Portland papers found no notice about an accident.

[26] “Anaconda Briefs,” The Butte Daily Post, 31 Jan 1910, p. 8, col. 2.

[27] “Anaconda Briefs,” The Butte Daily Post, 24 May 1910, p. 8, col. 2.

[28] “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/) > Montana > Anaconda, Montana, City directory, 1936 > image 32; Anaconda Montana City Directory (Salt Lake City: RL Polk, 1936), 63. See also 1940 U.S. census, Los Angeles Co, California, pop sched, Los Angeles, ED 60-946, p. 6317 (stamped), fam 94, Helena Gleeson; NARA T627, roll 392.

[29] Los Angeles City, California, death certificate, no. 17468, 1950, Helena Mary Gleeson, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2001287), “California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994” > Los Angeles, Los Angeles > Death certificates 1950 no 17200-19460 > image 325 of 2750; citing California State Archives.

[30] “Deaths, Funeral Arrangements-Gleeson,” Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov 1950.

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