The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-26

writing connections. Since 1886 he
had owned the Kansas City Journal.
It was following the death of their
father that the Gleed brothers-
Charles and J. Willis Gieed-cane to
Kansas, with their mother. The town
OF Lawrence seemed to offer the
greatest opportunity for development,
earnest work and good education.
These were essentials since the death
of the husband and father had left the
Gleed family in somewhat pinched cir
cumstances.
From his newspaper work in Law
renee, Mr.. Gleed gathered inside linfor-
nation as to the rough style OF re-
following the war. Once he spent an
evening recounting to Topeka Press
club members incidents of his early
days as a journalist. No visitor ever
furnished the news men a more inter-
esting entertainment.
Fascinations for the game carried
Mr.. Gleed 10 publicity work for the
Kansas Pacific railroad in 1876. Later
when the Union Pacific absorbed the
road, Mr.. Gleed continued his work in
Omaha; In 1889 he went to the Santa
Fe and edited the Santa Fe Trail,
a monthly publication.
To santa re In 1880.
Two years after he went with the
Santa Fe, Mr.. Gleed began applica-
ton of his knowledge of law-gained
thru studies in the state university
and personal endeavors while in news
paper work. He easily won admis-
sion to the bar and later won recogni-
ton as lawyer and financier equal
to his success in the newspaper field.
For several years Mr.. Gleed was
associated with George r. Peck gem
eral solicitor for the Santa Fe. But
after a few years of law. Mr.. Gleed
again turned to news. He became
editor of the Denver Daily Tribune
and succeeded Eugene Field at the
papers helm.
In 1886 Charles S. G1eed opened his
first law office. He formed a part
nership with his brother and the two
began practice of law in Topeka under
Later the firm was known as Gleed
Ware & Gieed, then Gleed, Hunt, Pal
mer & Gleed. Many FORMER news
paper friends were among the Gleed
clients during early days These in
cluded the late ]. K. Hudson, also
Frank P. MacLennan. present pub
Usher of The Topeka State Journal.
During recent years the firm did
not cater to general practice. 1t was
busy with the legal affairs of corpor-
atoms with which the Gleeds were
associated in financial way.
REORGANIZATION of Santa Fe.
1t was largely thru Mr.. Gleed'sS eff
fortsathat the Santa Fe was reorgan-
ICED while in the hands of a receiver
He remained as a director of the road
for many years.
In 1906 Mr.. Gleed Was elected to
the presidency of the Missouri & KAN
sas Bell Telephone company. He held
this office until 1910 when he was
elected president of the Southwestern
Bell Telephone system which includes
the Bell organization in Kansas, Okla
L..
made chairman of the corporations
board of directors.
Other important offices held by MI
Gleed included place on the director
ate of the Central National bank of
Topeka and Pioneer Trust company of
Kansas City. At no time was MI
Gleed canlidat8for public office. He
served two years, however, as regent
of the state university. This school
was always close to the Topeka. bene-
factors heart and he gave much time
and money to its advancement. =
Close 10 Public Affairs.
In spite of his refusal to seek or ac-
cept public office, Mr.. Gieed was al
ways in intimate touch with public
affairs and carried the friendship OF
scores of men who have been active
in public affairs in the state. Many
of these men sought his counsel and
advice. Because of his ability to clear
" analyze conditions, Mr.. Gleed was
for many years recognized as a man of
unusual understanding of public senti-
ment.
This understanding often stood his
corporations in great good. Mr.. Gleed
was Of the type of men who made
friends for their corporations with the
public. He aided greatly in increas-
ing public confidence in public serv-
ice Industries thru a ready acceptance
of public as we'll as corporate rights.
In his endeavors which built many
successful business enterprises, Mr..
fortunes. His hobby was helping
young men. Scores of young men have
received that impersonal support so
Yet the general public knew nothing
Gleed constantly made. Many OF these
loans were repaid after the young men
left school or were successfully estab
lished in business. But never did the
Topekan force one of these accounts to
vanced in free willard if returned
it came back the same way.
Charles Summer Gleed was born in
Vermont in 1855. His fifty-four
years m Kansas were full. active years.
His capacity for work gave to Charles
S. Gleed an opportunity, and with the
opportunity he built a success, a fol-
lowing and a friendship which has
been known by few men who came
out of the east to make a home-1nd
| fortune in the western country.
DUnnTTCy rN1flHT-TN