William D. Greason, editor and proprietor of the "Miami Republican," Paola, Kan., was born in Plainfleld, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, Aug. 20, 1859, a son of Thomas and Mary J. (Hale) Greason, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The Greason family is an old established one in America, and was originally of Scotch-Irish descent. The Hale family is descended from German ancestors, the name having been originally spelled "Heil." Thomas Gleason brought his family from Pennsylvania to Kansas in 1870, and located in Paola, Miami county. He was there engaged in the mercantile business until his death, in 1872. He was twice married. Two daughters survive from the first union. To him and Mary J. Hale were born four sons, all of whom are living.

William D. Greason was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania until his family's removal to Kansas, and thereafter continued to attend school in Paola, until sixteen years of age, or in 1875, when he entered the office of the "Miami Republican," to learn the printer's trade. After having mastered the trade he began work as journeyman printer, also doing editorial work. In 1882 he bought a half interest in the "Miami Republican," and three years later bought the remaining interest, since when he has been its editor and proprietor. It is a weekly paper, Republican in its politics, and has been so since it was founded, in 1866. It has been very successful from both a financial standpoint and from its character as a carefully edited newspaper. Mr. Greason and his mother, now eighty-one years of age, reside together in Paola. In politics he is a Republican. He served as postmaster of Paola from November, 1889, to April, 1894, and from July, 1898, to April, 1903. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, and is now serving as a member of the state conservation committee.