James Gleason (1824 - 1911)

Born 5 Jun 1824 in Starkey, Yates County, New York, United States

Husband of Julia (Raymond) Gleason — married 19 Apr 1853 in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan

Descendants

Died 25 Feb 1911 at age 86 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States

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Biography

James Gleason served with the Michigan Volunteers during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: Nov 02, 1847
Unit(s): Company B, 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteers as a musician
Service Ended: Jul 26, 1848

James was born at Starkey, Gates County, New York, 5 June 1824, and died at Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, 25 February 1911; he is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw.^[1] He married first, in Momer, 13 February 1850 Eliza Lester; he married second, at Mt. Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan, 19 April 1853 JULIA M. RAYMOND.^[2] Sometime before 1847, James migrated from New York to Michigan. On 2 November 1847 in Detroit, James was mustered into the Army for a 12 month hitch to join in the Mexican War with Company B, 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteers as a musician. Most Americans who fought in this war were teenagers or in their early twenties, and at 23, James was no exception. He may have been like so many of these young men, looking for glory and adventure, but the reality was a bitter dose of heat, dust, boredom, insects, disease and too often death. The pay was poor, $8 per month for musicians, the food was bad, and the uniforms were wool. James was in Vera Cruz by 29 February 1848, and Cordova by April 30. A treaty had been reached by then and he mustered out July 26. After the war, James married Eliza Lester, but she died the next year. In 1853 he married Juliett and was working as a printer, he was a member of the Masonic order, and settled in Saginaw by 1870. The war had taken a toll on James' health, who became disabled and unable to work late in life, seeking a pension that only paid $12 per month. James died at his home at 1915 N. Fayette Street at the age of 86.^[3]

Burial

Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Michigan.

Find A Grave: Memorial #62796128

Sources

1. ↑ Death Certificate
2. ↑ Pension Files-Mexican War-NARA, Washington DC.
3. ↑ Pension File