History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III, Part 11

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- , ed; Hedley, Fenwick Y., joint editor
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, American Historical Soceity
Number of Pages: 688

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III > Part 11

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ToB Cushing. Commander. COM.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ing his twenty-fifth year; Rowena Sophia, married Asa Brown, and died in Wilmington, N. C.

Dr. Milton B. Cushing married (second) in Colum- bus, Ohio, Mary Barker Smith, of Boston, born in Salem, Mass., Sept. 24, 1807, died at the home of her only surviving child, Mrs. E. H. Bouton, in St. Joseph, Mo., March 26, 1891. She was a daughter of Elisha Smith, a lineal descendant of John Alden, and related to John Adams, the Hancock, Madison and Phillips families. She used to relate that her earliest recollec- tion was of attending the funeral of her grandfather, Josiah Smith, member of Congress, and said that the carriage of President John Adams (a cousin) headed the funeral procession. Seven children were born of this second marriage of Dr. Milton B. Cushing.

The first son of Dr. Milton B. Cushing was Milton Buckingham (2), born in Columbus, Ohio, April 20, 1837, died in Dunkirk, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1886. He was a paymaster in the United States army, serving with distinction. He married, in 1868, Ellen Delia Gros- venor, who died in Dunkirk, May 31, 1898, daughter of Judge Thomas P. Grosvenor.

The second son, Howard B. Cushing, was born in Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 22, 1838, and killed in Arizona, May 5, 1871, by Cachise, the noted Apache chief. He was then a first lieutenant in the Third Regiment, United States Cavalry. A monument was erected to the memory of Lieut. Cushing by the citizens of Tuc- son, Ariz.

The third son, Col. Alonzo Hereford Cushing, was born Jan. 19, 1841, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. His birthplace was Dela- field, Wis. His father dying, the family came to Fre- donia to live, and Alonzo H. was appointed to the Military Academy at West Point through Hon. F. S. Edwards, member of Congress of the Thirty-first Dis- trict of the State of New York. He entered the acad- emy July 1, 1857, and was graduated Jan. 24, 1861, as second lieutenant, and commissioned first lieutenant, Fourth Artillery, June 24, 1861, breveted captain Dec. 13, 1863, for gallant and meritorious service at the bat- tle of Fredericksburg, Va. He was made major May 2, 1863, for like service at the battle of Chancellors- ville, Va., and promoted to lieutenant-colonel July 1, 1863, for conspicuous gallantry at the battle of Gettys- burg, Pa., where he was killed. After graduating. he was first of his class ordered into the field, and was assigned to the duty of instructing volunteer regiments preparatory to the move on Manassas, in which move- ment he commanded a section of a regular battery and was with General McClellan as chief of ordnance on General Sumner's staff, with the rank of captain, par- ticipating in every battle of the Peninsular campaign. For a time he was transferred to the Topographic Corps, and while here he made a map of the Antietam battlefield. His favorite arm of service was the artil- lery, to which he was returned at his own request, and was assigned to the command of Battery A of the Fourth Regiment. His battery was placed under Gen- eral Hancock in the Second Corps in the campaign into Pennsylvania; and at Gettysburg, in the face of that last wild charge of Pickett's division, he was placed with Battery A at Cemetery Ridge, a crucial point on the battlefield, with nothing to mask his position, men,

guns and horses standing out in bold relief against the sky. After all his men had been shot down and every gun of his battery dismounted but one, he stood among his dead and dying men, himself mortally wounded, and with the foe not thirty feet away pulled the lanyard and fired his last gun upon the charging columns of the enemy, saying to an officer who was riding up with reinforcements: "We will give them one more shot, General Webb," and fell back dead, his work of de- fense accomplished, the tide of battle there turning toward victory for the Union army.

The fourth son, William Barker Cushing, will have further and extended mention.

The youngest and last survivor of this family, Mary Isabel Cushing, was born in Chicago, Il1. She mar- ried, in Fredonia, N. Y., June 1I, 1867, E. F. Gayle, of Salem, Mass. She married (second) April 19, 1881, E. H. Bouton, of St. Joseph, Mo., but later of Chicago, Ill. The other children died young.

When Dr. Milton B. Cushing died, Mrs. Cushing was left with the care of five young children, and with- out means. Nobly she responded to the task allotted her, and her four sons, even when quite young and in school, testified their appreciation of her labors by aid- ing in furnishing the family purse outside of school hours. She removed to Fredonia, N. Y., to be near her husband's relations, and opened a school in her own home on Green street. No words can express the great nobility of her character; no mother was more faithful to her fatherless ones; and no Spartan mother braver in sacrificing her sons to her country's welfare. She was a woman of refinement and culture, mentally and morally strong, simple and unaffected in manner.

COMMANDER WILLIAM BARKER CUSH- ING, U. S. N .- Three supremely great names in the naval history of the American Republic are those of John Paul Jones, Oliver Hazard Perry, and William Barker Cushing. Cushing is as completely the repre- sentative of the highest naval strategy and the type of the greatest individual daring of the great Rebellion as were Perry and Jones of the earlier naval wars.

William Barker Cushing was born in Wisconsin, Nov. 4, 1842, youngest son of Milton B. and Mary B. (Smith) Cushing. He was descended from an old Puritan family of New England, his grandfather, Judge Zattu Cushing, born in Plymouth, Mass., and one of the leading figures among the pioneers of Chau- tauqua county, serving its courts of justice from their organization until 1824. Judge Cushing's son, Milton B. Cushing, married Mary B. Smith, a near relative of Rear Admiral Smith, and removed to Wisconsin, where he died, leaving four young sons. Mrs. Cush- ing returned to Fredonia so that her children might enjoy good educational advantages, but after the close of the Civil War, bereft of her sons, she went back to the West, where she died March 26, 1891.

William Barker Cushing received his early cducation at Fredonia, and in 1857 was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., but resigned March 23, 1861. In May of the same year he volun- teered and was appointed master's mate on the U. S. Ship "Minnesota," and on the day of her arrival at

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Hampton Roads captured the "Delaware Farmer," a tobacco schooner. the first prize of the war. He was attached to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the war, served part of the time on the South Atlantic coast. and repeatedly distinguished himself by acts of bravery.

He was commissioned lieutenant July 16, 1862, and in November of the same year he was ordered to cap- ture Jacksonville. Fla., intercept an important mail. and destroy the New Juliet salt works. He captured the mail. took prizes, and shelled a Confederate camp. but was unable to cross the bar to Jacksonville. He then servel on the Blackwater and in the sounds of North Carolina, where he distinguished himself upon several occasions. During 1863 he added to his repu- tation for daring bravery and good judgment by an ex- pe dition up the Cape Fear and Little rivers, and his operations on the Nansemond. It is not possible to give in detail all of his brilliant exploits, distinguished services and hair-breadth escapes. His most brilliant exploit and which made world-wide his then already national reputation, was the destruction of the Confed- crate iron-clad ram ".Albemarle" on the night of Oct. 27. 1804.

The "Albemarle" had successfully encountered a strong feet of Union gunboats and fought for several hours without sustaining material damage. There was nothing able to cope with her in the Sounds, and grave apprehensions were entertained of the Union iron-clads being able to prevent her from sweeping everything before and shelling the principal Northern seaport cities. Cushing volunteered to destroy her and van- ish the nightmare of terror which her presence cast unon the Union fleets. With a steam launch and a volunteer crew who fully realized the importance and danger of the mission upon which they were going, he a-rendel the Roanoke river towing an armed cut- ter. The river was lined with Confederate pickets to mard against just such an attack as this; but Cush- ing's phenomenal good luck did not desert him, and he was within a few yard, of the "Albemarle" before he why di co.pred Casting off the boat he had in tow, with rders to attack a picket post nearby, he drove the bear's straight at the hugh bulk of the iron-clad, wh's view rushed to quarters and at once opened a Harry fre on their advancing ine. The launch replied (" *. diy with Her howitzer until Cushing reached the rer of hier vy logs which had been built around the ram Cherchi the lau ch was driven, and by the time We're ci ed Fer de: th wound from the "Albemarle's" por. . Cushing h'd coolly swing the torpedo boom under the great slip overhang and exploded the chare . A free hole wa blown in the iron-clad's side. a'd -le ert et Fer moorings.

Ve: Py hit he ir king boat and . wam down stream ali ... where i reached the river bank thoroughly When he recovered strength, he plunged ela mo, and after hour of tedious wading n the shore of a creek where he found at t beat. He ' uid only one other of his com- a.id For theinking of the "Albemarle" here! the thanh of Congress, and was shortly aberwird devoted to the rank of lieutenant-com- render, la commission being dated Oct. 27, 186.4.

At Fort Fisher he bnoyed out the channel in a small skiff and completed his work in six hours. In the final assault on its frowning wall he led a force of sailors and marines from the "Monticello" in an attack on the sea front of the fort, and amid an unceasing fire at short range which cut down his men in wind- rows, he crossed one hundred rods of sand, rallied his men, and gave such efficient support to the land forces that before midnight the fort was surrendered. .

During the war he received five commendatory let- ters from the Secretary of the Navy, and at the close of the struggle was appointed to the command of the "Lancaster" in the Pacific squadron. In 1868 he was placed in command of the "Maumee," and for four years was attached to the Atlantic Squadron. On the return of the "Maumee" to the United States, Lient .- Com. Cushing was advanced to the rank of commander, to date from Jan. 1, 1872, he being at that time the youngest officer of that rank in the navy. He was allowed leave of absence, but his health, which had been impaired by over-exertion, failed completely, and he died of brain fever in Washington, D. C., Dec. 17, 1874.

As during the Civil War, Cushing was noted for finding opportunities for upholding the honor of the navy and the flag, so in times of peace his intense pa- triotism kept him ever alert to enhance the glory of his beloved country. A notable instance occurred in No- vember, 1873.

Cushing was in command of the U. S. S. "Wyoming" at Aspinwall, when an urgent telegram was received from the U. S. Consul at Kingston, Jamaica, telling of the "need of a warship, and describing the capture, on the high seas, of the steamer 'Virginins,' and the shoot- ing as pirates of her captain and part of her crew at Santiago de Cuba by order of the Spanish Governor- General Burriel, and that more American lives were in peril."

Believing it his duty to lose no time in representing his government, Cushing sailed at once for the scene, without waiting for orders, and arrived at Santiago, November 15. The British frigate "Niobe" was in the harbor. Her commander, Sir Lambert Lorraine, had made an earnest protest to the Governor, demand- ing that no more British subjects be shot. Gen. Bur- riel had ignored the letter, and two days before Cush- ing appeared, had shot twenty-eight more men, six- teen of whom were said to be British subjects. Imme- diately upon Cushing's arrival, he despatched a letter of protest to the Governor, and followed it up by a personal call, accompanied by some of his officers. Re- fusing to take the general's offered hand, he looked him squarely in the eye and demanded that not another prisoner should be shot, for if any more executions took place, he would better remove the women and children, as he (Cushing) should bombard the town. Awed and impressed by the words and bearing of the American officer, Gen. Burriel gave the desired prom- it and kept it.

The following year a joint resolution (House Reso- Intion No. 88) was introduced in the American Con- gress, "tendering the thanks of Congress to Sir Lam- bert Lorraine of the British navy, for his humane and generous interposition at Santiago de Cuba in protect-

COMMANDER WILLIAM BARKER CUSHING America's Naval Hero from Chautauqua County

MRS. MARY B. CUSHING Mother of Commander Cushing

CUSIIING MONUMENT, FREDONIA

Robert A Jacken

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ing the lives of the survivors of the Virginius expedi- tion," etc. The Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom the resolution was referred, reported that upon investigation they were pleased to add it was Com- mander W. B. Cushing, and not Sir L. Lorraine, who had caused the executions to cease," and "your commit- tee believe that said joint resolution ought not to pass." "It fully appears that Capt. Cushing did his duty com- pletely and gallantly in asserting the rights of the American government and its citizens, and upholding the honor of the American flag." Cushing, when only a junior officer, received the thanks of Congress in 1864 for the "Albemarle" exploit, but there were those who felt he had earned it a second time-which, if granted, would have been an unprecedented occurrence.

A few days after Commander Cushing's protest to Gen. Burriel, the U. S. S. "Juanita," commanded by Commander D. L. Braine, arrived from New York, sent to adjust matters, and Cushing returned to his station at Aspinwall.

That a hero's name and deeds are not forgotten, it should perhaps be recorded that so recently as 1915 two notable events in remembrance of this gallant offi- cer took place. The first was the launching of the second torpedo destroyer to be called "Cushing," at Quincy, Mass., his daughter, Marie, giving it the cher- ished name. In the late World War the "Cushing" was the flagship of the torpedo destroyer fleet sent to England.

The second event in the same year was the unveil- ing of a splendid granite monument by his younger daughter, Katharine, at his birthplace at Delafield, Waukesha county, Wis. The State of Wisconsin ap- propriated a large sum of money and in connection with the Waukesha County Historical Society erected the stately shaft in a park of eight acres of the original farm where Alonzo and William were born. Howard was also born in the State, at Milwaukee, so the park is called "The Cushing Memorial Park." As it now belongs to the State Park System, it will be cared for in perpetuity.

Commander Cushing married, Feb. 22, 1870, Kath- erine Louise Forbes, daughter of Col. D. S. Forbes, of Fredonia. To them were born two daughters, Mary Louise, and Katherine A. Mrs. Cushing, a woman of taste and refinement, yet resides with her daughters in her pleasant home in Fredonia.

The memory of William B. Cushing has been hon- ored by the various Grand Army posts in Wisconsin and other States of the Union named after him; while on the water the seagoing torpedo boat "Cushing" suggests by its character the daring of him for whom the vessel was named. A thousand pens have written of him and his deeds, and among the just and deserved tributes recorded in honor of his achievements the following are selected:

"A country and the navy may be proud of this most adventurous of their heroes." "Cushing, by repeated daring and successful achievements, has rivaled the fame of Paul Jones and Perry, and associated his name with theirs in immortality."

"That intense earnestness of purpose, that wonder- ful spirit of daring, and that supreme contempt of death which characterized the heroes of the great Rebellion, as well as the cool and deliberate calcula- tions of its great leaders and master spirits, were qualities possessed by Cushing in the highest degree;

while in addition to all this he was gifted with a mili- tary ability, a futility of invention and all-powerful will, which places him among the greatest naval heroes of all time."

"No Cleopatra of ease ever lured Cushing from any action of life and no thought of death ever cast a shadow of fear upon any enterprise, however danger- ous, which he had conceived. He was always in the battle where the iron hail fell the thickest and his place in the picture was where the blaze of the cannon was the brightest."

ROBERT. HOUGHWOUT JACKSON-In the year 1913 Robert H. Jackson was enrolled among the practicing lawyers of the Chautauqua county bar, he having chosen Jamestown as a location and there set- tled immediately after receiving his degree from the Albany Law School. The subsequent years have brought him success in his professional work, and he is firmly established among the rising young men of the Chautauqua bar. Robert H. Jackson is a son of William Eldred Jackson, now deceased, who at the time of the birth of his son was engaged in lumbering and farming in Spring Creek township, Warren county, Pa. The Jacksons were the earliest settlers in Spring Creek township, Elijah Jackson, great-grand- father, being the first settler. William E. Jackson married Angelina Houghwout, of Farmington town- ship, Pa., and shortly after the birth of their son, they moved to Frewsburg, in the town of Carroll, Chautau- qua county, N. Y., where William E. Jackson died, and his widow yet resides (1920) as do Mr. Jackson's sisters: Ella, now Mrs. Erie J. Springer, and Helen.

Robert H. Jackson was born on the farm cleared by his great-grandfather in Spring Creek township, Warren county, Pa., Feb. 13, 1892. He began his edu- cation in the public schools of Frewsburg, finishing with graduation from high school in 1909. He was a student in Jamestown High School, and during that period represented the school in several interscholastic debates. He was graduated with the class of 1910, and then began the study of law with Dean, Mott & Armstrong, of Jamestown, and a year later entered Albany Law School, Union University, whence he was graduated LL. B., class of 1913. Immediately after graduation he began practice at Jamestown and con- tinued with great success until 1917, when he went to Buffalo and became temporarily associated with Nor- ton, Penny & Killeen, a leading law firm of that city, representing many large corporation interests. Mr. Jackson's work there was as trial counsel, represent- ing principally the International Railway Company. In this work he was very successful, but preferring the more general practice and the environment of the smaller city he returned to Jamestown in 1918 and resumed practice as the junior member of the law firm, Dean, Edson & Jackson. He enjoys the confi- dence of a large clientele, among which are public util- ity and industrial corporations. As a trial lawyer he is a familiar figure in the courts of Western New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar Associa- tion, the Jamestown Bar Association, and the Buf- falo Lawyers' Club. In business life he is a director of the Bank of Jamestown, the Warren & Jamestown Street Railway Company, and of several other cor- porations.

In politics Mr. Jackson is an independent Demo-

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crat and was formerly prominent in the activities of that party. He served two terms upon the Democratic State Committee, but in 1918 declined to become a candidate for reelection and has since taken no active part in the party organization, though still an alert and active participant in public affairs, but never a candidate for any office. He was for one term the Democratic member of Jamestown civil service com- mission. resigning that honor in 1918. In that year he was appointed by Mayor Carlson acting corporation counsel. He is a member of the Moon Brook Country Club. Jamestown Club, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Fraternal Order of Eagles, having served the last named one term as president. He is deeply interested in literary, political and economic questions, belonging to the University Club, also a founder and the first president of the Saturday Night Club. To both these organizations he has contributed papers on various subjects and is a frequent, forceful and eloquent public speaker.

Mr. Jackson married. April 24, 1916, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Albany, N. Y., Irene Alice Ger- hardt. of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are the parents of a son, William Eldred, born July 19, 1919.

ROBERT BURTIS BLANCHARD, M. D .- There is no better known or more popular physician in Jamestown. Chautauqua county, N. Y., than Dr. Rob- ert Burtis Blanchard, of No. 8 East Second street, a native of this city, where his birth occurred March 27. 1883. Dr. Blanchard is a son of Dr. R. Newland Blanchard. and a grandson of Flint Blanchard, the elder a well known agriculturist of Ellicott, Chautauqua county. His father was one of the pioneer physicians of Jamestown. He married Belle Burtis, who sur- vives him, and continues to make her home in James- town at the present time.

Dr. Robert Burtis Blanchard attended as a lad the public schools of his native town, graduating from the high school in the year 1902, where he was prepared for college. He then attended the medical school of the University of Buffalo, where he took the degree of M. D. and was graduated with the class of 1906. Fol- lowing his studies at this institution, Dr. Blanchard acted as interne in the Erie County Hospital for one year. and in 1907 began the practice of his profession at Jamestown. Since that time he has developed a large practice here and is regarded as one of the leaders of his profession. Dr. Blanchard is promi- nenit in social and fraternal circles at Jamestown, and i a member of various Masonic bodies, including Mt. Morich Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons: Western Sin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons: and Jamestown Council Royal and Select Masters. He is also a mem- For of the Order of Eagles and was for some years the physician of this society. He is affiliated with the Jime woon Medreal Society, the Chautauqua County Medical Soriny, the New York State Medical Associa- 1:0 . 5º d tir American Medical .1 sociation. Besides I's private practice, Dr. Blanchard is medical examiner for the Join Hancock Life Insurance Company, the Normwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Connecter & Ciegeral Life Insurance Company, the Union. Central Insurance Company, and the Bankers'

Life Insurance Company. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and for cight years held the important post of city physician of Jamestown.

Dr. Blanchard was united in marriage, June 25, 1014, with Lorene A. Rogerson, a daughter of David and Alberta M. Rogerson, highly respected residents of Jamestown. Two children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Blanchard, as follows: Robert Burtis, Jr., Aug. 9, 1915; and Roger Newland, Dec. 18, 1917.

WILLIAM H. MARVIN-Son of a Chautauqua farmer and reared on one of the fertile farms of the town of Hanover, Mr. Marvin early felt the call of a business life, and at the age of seventeen left the farm for the shop, and since 1886 has been associated with Forestville's commercial interests. Since 1898 he has been in business under his own name and has built up a solid, substantial trade. Furniture and under- taking have been the lines followed, and under dif- ferent firm names his has become the leading estab- lishment of the town. William H. Marvin is a son of Henry Floyd and Mary (Devinney) Marvin, his father a farmer of Smith's Mills, Hanover, Chautau- qua county. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin were the parents of four children: Josephine, married Clark, of Cuba, N. Y .; Chester E., of Cuba, N. Y .; Jennie, married Daniel A. Dye, of Forestville; and William H., of further mention.

William H. Marvin was born at Smith's Mills, Han- over, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1869. He was educated in the district public schools, and until Feb. 18, 1886, remained on the farm, his father's assistant. He moved to Forestville, in his home town, on the date mentioned, and at once found employment in the furniture and undertaking business with F. D. Ellis. For about a dozen years he continued an employee, becoming very proficient, then in partnership with Daniel A. Dye he began business on his own account, under the firm name of Marvin & Dye. They pros- pered abundantly and conducted the business until 1015. when Marvin & Dye sold their business to Bury & Williams, of Springfield. Later, Mr. Marvin bought the Williams interest, and in partnership Marvin & Bury conducted the business until 1919, when he bought Mr. Bury's interest, the business now being known as William H. Marvin.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume III, Part 11

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- , ed; Hedley, Fenwick Y., joint editor Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, American Historical Soceity Number of Pages: 688

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- , ed; Hedley, Fenwick Y., joint editor
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, American Historical Soceity
Number of Pages: 688