Lucius Gleason

Lucius Gleason was born in 1819 and died in 1893 in Liverpool. He was known as the “village millionaire” and his home is the present site of the Liverpool Village Museum.

His obituaries provide an extensive chronicle of his many activities. “For eighteen years he attended the district school but spent the summers of the last three of these years in boating on the canal to add to his limited stock of funds.”

At the age of eighteen years he began work as clerk in the general store of John and Henry Paddock, in the village, staying with them two years. Then he thought that he would like to become a civil engineer and began studying for the profession with Professor Root at Lodi, but was forced to give up his plan on account of a lack of funds. He returned to the village of Liverpool and accepted a position in the store of Aiken and Sons, receiving for his services $200 a year and his board. In the later part of 1842 he bought out the firm, mostly on credit, and thus when only 23 years of age was fully launched in trade.

In the years which followed he was engaged in the salt, cooper-age, lumber and willow industries.

In 1863 he became involved in the coal mining business in blossburg, pa. and in 1873 was named president of the third national bank of syracuse.

In addition to all these activities he was a manufacturer of burial caskets and coffins. His business was capable of producing 2000 caskets a year and employed seven workmen

His obituary ends with the following:

“Mr. Gleason's claim to the title of a self-made man was indisputable, and his rise from

The humble position of canal boatman to the possession of vast wealth, social prestige and influence, affords an example which should serve to encourage struggling manhood everywhere.”

The location of the Gleason plot in the cemetery is a further indication of the wealth and status of the family. It is on the highest point of land, shaded by large trees and surrounded by a low cement enclosure.

Transcribed by: Gabriella S. and Mary C.