12 for ’26 John Gleeson Family in Portland, Oregon

We last left off with the John Gleeson family packing up and moving to Portland, Oregon, from Mitchell, South Dakota, in November 1900. The last news article said they would stop off in Montana to visit some of their children. The following records are from prior research, full-text search at FamilySearch, and newspaper search at Newspapers.com.

Portland, Multnomah Co, Oregon
Supposedly, some of John’s children already lived in Oregon prior to John and Margaret moving there, however, I did not locate any of the Gleeson children in 1890-1900 city directories.[1] A John Gleeson and Mrs. Gleeson from Oltane, were staying at The Imperial Hotel on 15 January 1901, but Oltane doesn’t seem to exist.[2] However, since they left in late November, it is possible in early January, that they may have stayed at a hotel until locating a place to live.

The 1901 Portland city directories listed several Gleasons and one Gleeson, but none of the Gleasons were his family, and the one Gleeson, a John Gleeson, lived at 474 Clay St.[3]

In 1902, besides the John Gleeson on Clay Street, there was also listed a Frank T. Gleeson at 193 15th N. He worked as a clerk for F. Dresser & Co. A John Gleason, also lived at the same address.[4]

COMMENT: Spelling of Gleason vs. Gleeson, seemed to be interchangeable in directories. I focused on the address to be sure. John’s youngest son, Frances Thomas, could be Frank T. Gleeson.  

In this period of time, newspapers listed people who were guests at hotels. In the listing for the New Grimes hotel, located on the coast, were John Gleeson and wife and Frank T. Gleeson of Portland, and Miss Margaret Gleeson and Nellie Sullivan of Anaconda, Montana.[5]

COMMENT: The inclusion of Margaret and Nellie Sullivan from Anaconda, seems to cement that this is the family on a vacation. Nellie Sullivan was the daughter of Anna Gleeson, who married John H. Sullivan. She would have been about 20 years old.

In 1903’s listing of the directory, both John and Frank T. Gleeson were listed at the same address, 193 15th N.[6]

No Gleeson, nor John and Frank T., were listed in the 1904 edition.[7] In 1905, only Frank T. Gleason was listed, living at 455 Alder St.[8]

In 1906, both John Gleeson and Frank T. Gleeson, lived at 486 Burnside. Margaret Gleason was listed as a teacher at Shaver School.[9] In 1907, Frank is gone, but both John and his daughter, Margaret T, are living at 486 Burnside.[10]

John and Margaret celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 15 February 1908 with their family and friends. A nice article with photos of the couple was in the Sunday edition of the Oregonian.

“Mr. and Mrs. John Gleeson, who celebrated their Golden Wedding on Saturday.

      On Saturday, a week ago, Mr. and Mrs. John Gleeson celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, which occurred at Nepean, Canada, February 15, 1858, with a reception to their friends at their residence, 486 Burnside Street. Among the many who came to extend their congratulations were old friends and neighbors to the number of about 50 from Mitchell, S.D., the former residence of Mr. and Mrs. Gleeson. These remained after the hours of the reception and spent a pleasant evening recalling old pioneer days on the prairies. When the hour of departure drew near, Dr. E.B. Bracy, now a resident of Portland, delivered an address appropriate to the occasion, touching on the grandeur of their adopted city and the pride which they all felt in its growth and beauty, and compared the mild climate with the rigors of the East, which they and all experienced in former years. In closing, he presented Mr. and Mrs. Gleeson, on behalf of their former South Dakota friends who are now residents of Portland, with a beautiful white and gold Haviland dinner set, at the conclusion of which all stood and joined in singing Auld Lang Syne. Mr. and Mrs. Gleeson were blessed with a family of ten children, five boys and five girls, all grown to manhood and womanhood, only two of whom, however could be present---Frank T. of Spokane, and Miss Margaret, a teacher in the city schools. Their 12 grandchildren were represented by Miss Lauretta [Loretto] Sullivan, of Butte, Mont.”

COMMENT: This article is the only source I have of the date of their marriage in Nepean, Ontario. I have searched for a church marriage record with no luck.

On 9 March 1908, he registered to vote as a Democrat, stating he was 75 years old, living at 486 Burnside, between 13th and 14th Streets, born in Canada, and naturalized on 16 February 1886 at Plankinton, South Dakota.[11]

COMMENT: If he was 75 in 1908, that would make his birth as 1833. The year of his birth has been all over the place and I have no record of his birth or baptism.

The move to 410 Ross Street
The 1909 directory listed Francis T, John, and Margaret T, as living at 410 Ross St.[12] John would live here until his death in 1915.

Those who were living with him in 1910 included his wife and some of his children, plus one boarder.

Gleeson, John, head, male, white, 75, mar 52 years, Can, English, Ireland/Ire, immig 1879, NA, Own Income, rents, home.
Margaret, wife, f, w, 73, mar 1, 52 yr, 11 child/10 liv, Can, Ire/Ire, none
Elisabeth, dau, f, w, 34, sing, Can, Can/Can, housekeeper, rooming house
Helena, dau, f, w, 32, sing, Can, Can/Can, teacher, public school
William C, son, m, w, 30, sing, Can, Can/Can, mechanic, bridge builder,
Margaret, dau, f, w, 28, sing, Can, Can/Can, teacher, public school,
Frank, son, m, w, 26, sing, Can, Can/Can, timekeeper, railroad
Swatz, Richard H., lodger, m, w, 53, sing, Indiana, unk/unk, merchant, drugs, oa.[13]

John registered to vote in 1910 as a Democrat. He lived at 410 Ross, between Dixon and Hancock. He was retired, age 75, born in Canada. He stated he was naturalized on 16 February 1886 at Plankington, South Dakota, and had been living in Oregon nine years.[14] The voting card shows his signature.

COMMENT: Now, he was still 75, two years later than the earlier registration. Was the card already filled out? Or was he forgetful about how old he was. This would make his birth at 1835.

The voting registration in 1912 also showed his age at 75.[15] However, in 1914, he was listed as 81, which would make his birth as 1833. He misspoke about his time in Oregon at 35 years. Likely he thought time in the United States, and that would be correct.[16] His signature still looks strong.

John died on 21 April 1915 from an abscess of the left kidney.[17] The informant, Martin Gleeson, gave information about his father: born 5 February 1833, John’s father was Martin Gleeson, and mother Ann. Martin’s address was the same as John’s.

COMMENT: The informant, Martin Gleeson, is John's eldest son, who was born in 1859, the same year his grandfather died, so he never knew him, nor the grandmother, who died before Martin’s birth. The stated birthdate differs other records created by John. The length of residence in Oregon was 14 years.  

His wife, Margaret, and nine children survived him: Martin, John J, Elizabeth, Michael, William C, Frank T, Helen M, Margaret T, and Mrs. Martha Gilbert.[18] His eldest daughter, Anna M. Sullivan, died 3 January 1912 in Anaconda, Montana.[19]

He was buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery on 23 April 1915, following a funeral mass at the Church of the Holy Rosary on E 3rd and Clackamas Streets.[20] From funeral home records, we learned he lived at 410 Ross St seven years, which matches what was determined from city directory records. The total cost of the funeral was $202, covering casket, expenses to cemetery, funeral notice, and burial.[21] He was buried in grave 1, lot 44, Block 2, and Section M at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.[22]

Margaret Gleeson
Margaret did not stay living at 410 Ross St, moving first to 8-383 Williams Avenue.[23] The following year she was at 285 Ross Street.[24] Then, because of old age, she moved into the Home for the Aged.[25]

In August 1915, Margaret took a trip south with her daughters, Helena and Margaret, aboard the Great Northern steamer for San Francisco to attend the Panama Pacific International Exposition. They then went to Los Angeles to visit her daughter, Martha Gilbert.[26] She was listed in a September issue of the paper as having attended the exposition in San Francisco.[27] It appears that the visitors to the Oregon building at the fair were recorded and sent to the newspaper.

Official Miniature View Book, Pacific International Exposition, 1915

from Panama-Pacific International Exposition - The Beautiful, souvenir brochure, 1915.

Three of her children, William C, Frank T, and Margaret T., incorporated the company, The Gleeson Brothers of the Cloverdale Ranch, located near Lawen, Harney County, Oregon.[28] Prior to that on 24 November 1916, William sold land to Margaret for $10 that was located in Harney County, specifically the lots 3 & 4 and the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 2 in Township 25 south, Range 32 ½ east of Willamette Meridan.[29] Then on 19 May 1917, Margaret sold the same land for $10 to her daughter, Margaret T.[30] Margaret T. then sold the land to Gleeson Brothers for $2400 on 10 December 1917.[31] She was one of the owners of the company.

Margaret Gleeson died on 27 May 1920 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. She was 84 years old. She died of cerebral hemorrhage. She lived at 496 East 56 N in Portland and had been there 7 months. She was born 24 April 1835 to John Tierney and Ann Murray. The informant was the Sisters at the hospital.[32]

COMMENT: Perhaps Margaret gave this information when she was admitted to the hospital. She had been seen by the doctor for about 7 months.

Another death certificate was created in Oregon, probably to have her buried in Portland. The informant was Frank T. Gleeson, who gave his address as the Oregon Hotel. She had been living in Vancouver 8 months. None of the death details was filled in but there was info about the burial.[33]

The funeral was held 28 May 1920 from the Holy Rosary Church in Portland and burial was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.[34] She was buried adjacent to John in grave 2.[35]

A notice of her death was printed in the Mitchell newspaper. Their son, John, still lived in Mitchell and was employed at the Fullerton Lumber Yard. Another son, Martin, was formerly a county commissioner and dairyman but left Mitchell. The article noted Mr. and Mrs. Gleeson were pioneers in Mitchell, and “for many years ran the Gleeson House, one of the first hotels in the city.”[36]

Summary
John and Margaret moved to Portland and lived first at 486 Burnside St and later at 410 Ross Street until John’s death in 1915. He registered to vote as a Democrat from 1908 to 1914. Several of their children were living with them at different times, but mostly their daughter, Margaret T., who taught at Shaver School. After John’s death, Margaret lived at 285 Ross Street. It is possible that the street was renumbered and they continued living in the same house, or they sought out a smaller house for the her and her daughter. Margaret purchased a lot of land from her son and later sold it to Margaret T. She lived in a home for the aged in 1920 and died later that year in a hospital in Vancouver, Washington, just north of Portland. They are both buried at Mt. Cavalry Cemetery in Portland.

Conclusion
This finishes up the study of John and Margaret Gleeson in Canada, South Dakota, and Portland, Oregon. This last session did not produce many documents. They did not own land. They lived in a larger city that tended not to report of items such as the smaller town newspapers do, though they had a nice writeup about their 50th anniversary party. Full-text search at FamilySearch did not turn up anything I did not already have. FamilySearch does not have a lot of digitized records for western states outside of Utah. Deed and court records in both Oregon and South Dakota had to viewed in person or via requests to local offices.

Next up will be to follow Margaret Tierney’s family back a generation in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada.

---

[1] Searched “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/?name=_Gleeson&event=1890---1900&count=50&residence=_portland-multnomah-oregon-usa_62720 : 12 Jun 2026), no results.

[2] “At the Hotels,” The Oregonian, 15 Jan 1901, p. 11, col. 5.

[3] Portland City Directory 1901(R.L. Polk, 1902), p. 315, John Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15700370 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1901 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1901 > image 676 of 1584.

[4] Portland City Directory 1902 (R.L. Polk, 1902), p. 399, John Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/40407_1821100517_0935-00418 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1902 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1902 > image 419 of 1160.

[5] “At New Grimes,” Sunday Oregonian, 17 Aug 1902, p. 20, col. 7.

[6] Portland City Directory 1903 (R.L. Polk, 1903), p. 372, John Gleeson & Frank T. Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/40407_1821100517_0936-00385 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1903 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1903 > image 386 of 1042.

[7] Portland City Directory 1904 (R.L. Polk, 1904), p. 418, no John Gleeson & Frank T. Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15693543 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1904 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1904 > image 218 of 642.

[8] Portland City Directory 1905 (R.L. Polk, 1905), p. 457, Frank T. Gleason; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/40407_1821100517_0940-00472 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1905 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1905 > image 473 of 1374.

[9] Portland City Directory 1906 (R.L. Polk, 1906), p. 467, John Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/13863748 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1906 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1906 > image 247 of 709.

[10] Portland City Directory 1907-08 (R.L. Polk, 1907), p. 574, John Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/13870007 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1907 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1907 > image 297 of 805.

[11] Multnomah County, Oregon, voting record, 1908, Precinct 116, John Gleeson, 486 Burnside, imaged at "Oregon, Multnomah County, Voting Registration Records, 1908-1958," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSN4-S9M4-K : 4 Feb 2026), IGN 103207943, image 6173 of 6592; citing Voting Registration Records, 1908-1920, Multnomah County Archives, Portland.

[12] Portland City Directory 1910 (R.L. Polk, 1910), p. 608, John Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/13531050 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1910 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1907 > image 302 of 881

[13] 1910 U.S. census, Multnomah Co, Oregon, Portland, ED 214, sheet 6a, p 54 (stamped) household 125, fam 144, John Gleeson.

[14] Multnomah County, Oregon, voting record, 1910, Precinct 116, John Gleeson, 410 Ross, imaged at "Oregon, Multnomah County, Voting Registration Records, 1908-1958," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSN4-39XB-M : accessed 4 Feb 2026), IGN 103207952, image 3372 of 6998; citing Voting Registration Records, 1908-1920, Multnomah County Archives, Portland.

[15] Multnomah County, Oregon, voting record, 1912, Precinct 116, John Gleeson, 410 Ross, imaged at "Oregon, Multnomah County, Voting Registration Records, 1908-1958," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSN4-Q9Y2-M : accessed 13 Jun 2026), IGN 103207961, image 6346 of 6681; citing Voting Registration Records, 1908-1920, Multnomah County Archives, Portland.

[16] Multnomah County, Oregon, voting record, 1914, Precinct 222, John Gleeson, 410 Ross, imaged at "Oregon, Multnomah County, Voting Registration Records, 1908-1958," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNN-28DN : accessed 13 Jun 2026), IGN 103246003, image 6521 of 6810; citing Voting Registration Records, 1908-1920, Multnomah County Archives, Portland.

[17] Portland, Oregon, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death, no. 128, John Gleeson, 1915; imaged, “Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1971,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61675/images/48908_302022005610_0067-01053 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) > Morrow-Multnomah > 1915 > image 1054 of 2323; citing Oregon State Archives, Salem.

[18] “Gleeson,” Oregon Daily Journal, 22 Apr 1915, p. 15, col. 5.

[19] State of Montana Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificate, Anne Gleeson Sullivan (certificate #55-281), 1912.

[20] “Funeral of John Gleeson,” The Oregon Daily Journal, 23 Apr 1915, p. 7, col. 3.

[21] Zeller Chapel of the Roses (2107 NE Broadway St, Portland, Oregon) to Lisa Gorrell, itemized summary of services, 23 April 1915, John Gleeson.

[22] Lot Cards of Mt Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 333 S.W. Skyline Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97221, John Gleeson, April 23, 1915.

[23] Portland City Directory 1916 (R.L. Polk, 1916), p. 513, Margt (wid Jno) Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15181005 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1916 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1916 > image 259 of 788.

[24] Portland City Directory 1917 (R.L. Polk, 1917), p. 460, Margt (wid Jno) Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15815681 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1917 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1917 > image 232 of 795.

[25] Portland City Directory 1920 (R.L. Polk, 1920), p. 562, Mrs M. Gleeson; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1077900693 :  accessed 12 Jun 2026) in “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995,” > Oregon > Portland > 1920 > Portland, Oregon, City Directory, 1920 > image 287 of 958.

[26] “News of the Social World,” The Oregon Daily Journal, 8 Aug 1915, p. 42, col. 4.

[27] “Representative Oregon Citizens Enjoy Visits to San Francisco Exposition,” The Oregon Daily Journal, 5 Sep 1915, p. 7, col. 3-3.

[28] “Company is Incorporated,” The Oregon Daily Journal, 15 Nov 1917, p. 5, col. 2.

[29] Harney Co, Oregon, deed, v. Z, p. 162, William C. Gleeson to Margaret Gleeson, 1916.

[30] Harney Co, Oregon, deed, v. Z, p. 379, Margaret Gleeson to Margaret T. Gleeson, 1917.

[31] Harney Co, Oregon, deed, v. Z, p. 621, Margaret T. Gleeson to Gleeson Bros, 1917.

[32] Washington State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate No. 174 (1920), Margaret Gleeson.

[33] Oregon State Board of Health, Certificate of Death, no. 288, Margarett Gleeson, 1920, imaged, “Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1971,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61675/records/323933 : accessed 12 Jun 2026) > Multnomah > 1920 > image 1775 of 2125.

[34] “Gleeson,” The Oregonian, 28 May 1920, p. 17, col. 2.

[35] Lot Cards of Mt Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 333 S.W. Skyline Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97221, Margaret Gleeson, 28 May 1920

[36] “Pioneer Dies in Portland,” Mitchell Evening Republican, 26 May 1920, p. 6, col. 2.

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