William Dawson, Sr. was the founder of Gladstone, the area near current day Frost Avenue and English Street, in Maplewood. He was born in Ireland in 1825, and arrived in St. Paul in 1861 to become a banker. In August 1886, he purchased and platted 574 acres of land in New Canada Township for his Gladstone Land Company and was instrumental in having the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad build a nearby depot – Gladstone Station. Gladstone was named in honor of the British Prime Minister William Gladstone but it was never incorporated as a village or city.
Mr. Dawson also organized and became president of the Bank of Minnesota. He was on the St. Paul City Council from 1875-1878 and was mayor of St. Paul from 1878-1881. In 1884, Dawson, Minnesota was platted by one of his companies. He was an officer of the St. Paul Plow Works and persuaded them.