M. S. Gleason.
Much of the beauty of a city depends
upon men who outlay their money
for the erection of structures, and no
man has done more for Charlottesville
in this respect than Mr. M. S. Gleason.
Although retired from active business
life Mr. Gleason personally attends to
his property interests, and is one of the
largest individual holders of real estate
in the city. He was born in Nelson
county near Oak Ridge, and was educated
there. After completing his
studies he embarked in the railroad
construction business and continued
in that capacity for some
years. At the opening of the war
[ILLUSTRATION]
he tendered his services to the Confederate
cause. His knowledge of the
country and his ability as a builder of
railroads was well known, and he was
assigned to the Quartermasters department
and placed in charge of a construction
gang. This was composed of
the convicts from the Virginia prisons
and was a troublesome charge, but Mr.
Gleason ruled without fear or favor
and built railroads for the Confederate
forces all over the South, the most important
piece of work being the road
which run from Manassas to Charlostesville.
With his laborers Mr. Gleason
blazed and railroaded the way for
many advances. His position was a
most perilous one but he escaped unscathed.
After the war he returned to
railroading and later opened a store
which he conducted for some years.
During this time he had acquired considerable
property in Charlottesville,
and nine years ago he erected the
Hotel Gleason on West Main street,
one of the finest structures of its kind
in the State. In addition to this he
built several other structures on Main
street, and is the owner of property in
other sections of the city. Mr. Gleason
is well known in the business
world and has a most enviable reputation
as a man of sterling charncter.
In fraternal circles he is a Mason and
member of the Knights Templar.
