WAINWRIGHT CUSHING Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. VI Nov. Dec. 1918, Jan. 1919 No. 3 Page 97-98 WAINWRIGHT CUSHING By EDGAR CROSBY SMITH Hon. Wainwright Cushing of Foxcroft, one of the notable men of Maine passed to the higher life June 19 at 11.50, o'clock P. M. In his death the community and state suffers a great loss. Such men as Mr. Cushing can ill be spared and his passing is deeply deplored. Wainwright Cushing was the eldest child of Joseph W. and Anna (Morrill) Cushing, and was born in Sebec, August 12, 1841. He was educated in the town schools and Foxcroft Academy and as a young man worked in his father's cloth mill at Sebec. In 1861 he enlisted in the Sixth Maine Regiment, Company A, and later re- enlisted in the First Maine Veterans, a company made up of the fifth, sixth and seventh Maine regiments. He served under Burn- side and Hooker at Williamsburgh, in front of Richmond, at the second battle of Bull Run, at Antietam and Fredericksburg and campaigned with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. He enlisted as a private, was twice wounded and was discharged as a lieutenant, July 5, 1865. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Cushing returned to Sebec and again took tip work in the woolen mill as a dyer. In 1869 he came to Dover where he was employed by the Brown Woolen company, having charge of the dye-house for 13 years. It was while engaged in this work that he conceived the idea of developing a business entirely new to the world by perfecting house- hold dyes to take the place of the old family dye-pot. In this he was successful after experimenting for many years. In 188o he commenced in a small way to put his product on the market under the name of Cushing's Perfection Dyes. For a few years they were known and used only locally, but every spare dollar was placed in judicious advertising and in about ten years after his modest be- ginning he was the possessor of a large and still growing business to which he devoted his entire time. Mr. Cushing was a valued and public spirited citizen and every worthy undertaking received his cordial support. He was a Repub- lican in politics and for six years, 1884-1890, was register of probate for Piscataquis county; in 1895-6 he was a member of Governor Henry B. Cleaves' council. He was a 32d degree Mason and had served as worshipful master of Mosaic lodge and high priest of Piscataquis Royal Arch chapter. He was always prominent and active in everything that related to the Grand Army of the Republic and in 1893 was department commander of the Department of Maine. At the time of his death he was state commander of the Loyal Legion. He had also held the office of commander of C. S. Douty post, NO. 23, G. A. 1~. and colonel of Custer command, U. V. LT. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and in 1916 was president of the Maine society. Like all veterans of the Civil War, lie was a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and one incident in his life was highly treasured and which he often related. It had to do with one of President Lincoln's visits to the wounded soldiers, and occurred while Mr. Cushing was an inmate of a Washington hospital recovering from wounds received on the battlefield. The President came along beside his cot, inquired as to his condition and chatted with the wounded soldier for some minutes and left him with words of en- couragement and hope. Mr. Cushing took his recreation in traveling. This he thor- oughly enjoyed, and as his material wealth increased he satisfied this inclination. He had visited nearly every part of the United States and taken trips abroad. On October 20, 1866 Mr. Cushing was united in marriage with Flora A. McIntyre of Sebec. He is survived by a son Caleb H. Cushing of Dover, and a daughter, Mrs. Walter J. Mayo of Fox- croft; two sisters Mrs. Celia A. Prentiss and Mrs. Francis A. Ellis, both of Brighton, Mass., and. a brother, William E. Cushing of Allston, Mass. For the past fifteen years Mr. Cushing had been affiliated with the Christian Science church. Funeral services were held at his late residence on Lincoln street C. S. Douty post, G. A. R. conducted their service which was fol- lowed by the Christian Science service, conducted by Gorham H, Wood. Esq., of Bangor. (c) 1998, Tina Vickery Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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