From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 297-298.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


GREASON D. GILLELEN

Greason D. Gillelen, general local agent of the Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad company at Wheeling, W.Va., is a native of Pennsylvania, and 
was born at Carlisle, Cumberland county, June 5, 1846.  His parents 
were Frank and Rebecca (Greason) Gillelen, both of whom were natives 
of Cumberland county, Penn.  Frank Gillelen graduated from Dickinson 
college, at Carlisle, and adopted the profession of teaching, in 
which he was engaged during his active life.  His death occurred at 
Wooster, Ohio, in 1875.  His widow survives him, and resides at Los 
Angeles, Cal.  Three sons were born to these parents, all of whom are 
living.  Greason Gillelen lived at Carlisle until his eighteenth 
year, and was educated principally under the tutelage of his gifted 
father. In 1865, he began his railroad career at Pittsburgh, in the 
service of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, as a passenger 
brakeman, remaining with that company for about three years, in the 
meantime having been made yard clerk.  He then went west and was 
engaged in farming until about 1872, when he returned to Pittsburgh, 
where, for four years, he filled a position as civil engineer in the 
engineer department of that city.  He then returned to railroading by 
entering the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company, as 
yard brakeman.  Later he was made yard master, which position he 
filled until 1880, when he joined the engineer corps of the Denver & 
Rio Grand Railroad company, in Arizona, and was absent for seventeen 
months, during which time he was a civil engineer in Arizona, Idaho 
and Kansas City.  In 1881 he entered the service of the Baltimore & 
Ohio company, as agent, and has since been with the company, filling 
the position of agent at different stations, until November 22, 1888, 
when he came to Wheeling and took charge of the B. & O.'s business, 
as general local agent of Wheeling and Bellaire.  Mr. Gillelen is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Braddock lodge, 
No. 510, of Pennsylvania, Plymouth chapter, No. 118, Plymouth, Ohio, 
and Wheeling commandery, No. 1, K. T. of Wheeling.  Mr. Gillelen was 
married at Brinton, Penn., May 9, 1867, to Miss Sadie, daughter of 
John Black, a prominent farmer of Brinton.  To this union one son - 
George Francis - has been born. 


(Linda Fluharty)