From the "Green Isle of the Sea," came the progenitor of the Gleason family of Schenectady. Michael Gleason, born in Ballingary, Ireland, emigrated to the United States previous to the war of the rebellion. He settled in Schenectady, where he worked at his trade of machinist. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and a good citizen. He married, in 1863, Bridget, daughter of William and Mary (Hogan) Keane. Michael and Bridget (Keane) Gleason were the parents of ten children, seven of whom survived and lived to mature years: William Joseph, John, Mary, Edward, James, Thomas and George.
(II) William Joseph, son of Michael and Bridget (Keane) Gleason, was born in Schenectady, New York, November 30, 1864. He received his education in the Schenectady schools, at St. John's parochial, the public common, and the high school. His early business life began when as a clerk he entered the book and stationery store of R. T. Moir in October, 1878, and for twenty-one years he remained in this store as an employee, becoming the proprietor by purchase in May, 1899. In connection with books and stationery he has also added wall paper and kindred lines. In 1897 he leased the Vendome Hotel in Schenectady, assumed control and sole management and has since successfully operated it. He has operated extensively in real estate in his native city and several public buildings bear his name; in 1896 he erected the Gleason Building and the Gleason Bachelor Apartment Building. In other lines of effort he is also interested; he is a partner of Gleason & Bernardi, undertakers of Schenectady. In whatever direction he has turned his attention he has achieved the success that always follows energetic, well-directed effort. Politically he is a Democrat, and served on the school board of his city fourteen consecutive years, 1891-1905. For five years he has been an enlisted member of the Thirty-seventh Separate Company, New York National Guard (now Company F). He holds fraternal relations with Lodge No. 201, Knights of Columbus, and Scotia Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men. His social clubs are the Mohawk and Schenectady. His religious connection is with St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Schenectady. He married, January 23, 1907, Georgiana McGlynn, of New York City, daughter of George and Mary (McGrane) McGlynn, natives of New York City.