The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-11-02
OBITUARY..
Death of Col. W. II. W. Cushman.

Death of Col W. II. w. Cushman.
The announcement of the death of Col. Will
liam II W Cushman in this city on Tuesday
evening of this week, though anticipated for
some time and taking none by surprise caused
such general sharp spasmodic pain in the com
munitv as is sometimes felt on the occurrence of
some toreSecn yet deeply dreaded explosion or
cataclvsm No man for years had occupied in
all its business affairs 50 prominent position
He was The great capitalist and man OF means
He was the organizer of great enterprises and
in his hand lay theirs success or failure, Wealth,
with the mass of mankind so supremey Gifii-
cult of attainment, seemed tocome To nm as IL
by the wave of some magic wand. Men in
desperate straits, finding recourse to banks or
other usual resorts hopeless seldom founc
Cushman's locker exhausted, 1t is often said
he was hard and grasping, but hundreds in
this community who were aided by him III eX-
| tremties and can trace back their financial
success in life to such timely succor, will tell
you a different story. There are men in this
county-and they are not few WI can tell
| how when on the verge Of ruin, the cOnsderate
aid, counsel, or generous forbearance OF Col.
Cushman raised them from the pit of despair
and placed them on "A solid foundation.
1t is not ours, however, to write his eulogy.
Though knowing him intimately for quarter
of century, and having reason to bear him in
grateful remembrance, an ADLER pen than ours
must do his memory justice We find in
Thursdays Republican, a brief and as far as we
know accurate sketch of his life:
Col Cushman was born at Freetown, Mass,
May 18th, 1913 He was educated at the
American Literary Scientific and Military
Academy, Norwich, VT He was only Is years
of age when he began his mercantile career at
Middlcboro October 18th, 1923, he married
Othaia Alkaline Leonard, of Middleboro and
one year after removed to this county, engag-
ing in the business of IA country merchant and
also in running mill at Nermillionvile. His
wife died in 1885, leaving daughter IA months
old who also died the same year, His second
wife was a sister of the late Samuel b. Gridley.
She bore HIM one child and died in 1871. His
third and last wife was daughter of Hon.
Cesar A. Rodney, of Delaware, whom he mar
RED in Springfield IN 1913.
Possessing talents Of the highest order for
instituting and successfully directing large en-
terprises he was identified with nearly every
movement having for its object the develop
ment of the resources OF this city and county.
MANY of his financial schemes were vast and
complex, and, through the exercise of a fore
| 81 CHIT and judgment rarely equaled, he accumu-
! lated colossal fortune, amounting, at one
time, to not less tAan three millions OF dollars.
For many years, no matter to what he turned
his attention. or in what he invested money,
| he met with unbroktn success, and his credit
was as sound as that of any man in the state.
Mr. Cushman was elected member of the
House of Representatives in 1912 and again in
1914, serving ms constituents creditably. This
was the only Office held by him. He was Il
Democrat IN politics.
He took an interest in military affairs early
in life, and was Adjutant of IA regiment of
Massachusetts, militia. Gov. French com
missoned him Captain of the Ottawa Caval-
~, l4th odd Battalion" June 2ith, 1S47,
which commission he held several years. He
was commissioned Colonel.of the ODD regiment
Illinois Volunteers Sept 23d, 1861, and resign
ed Sept. Sd, 1862 His regiment was part of
what was known as "Cushman's brigade
composed of the 53d, Cogswells battery and
Ford's company of cavalry.
Mr. Cushman organized and was the owner
of the Bank of Ottawa, which became the First
| National Bank Of Ottawa in 1860. When the
change was made he retained S2j 900 IN stock,
which he transferred to his son William, who
became its cashier. He was also principal
stakeholder in the bank of Cushman llar-
din, Chicago, which iourshed for several
years after his removal to that city. lie was
one of the leading spirits of the Hydraulic
Company and principal owner of the stock of
the Gas Company. He built and for many
wears operated the Ottawa Machine Shops and
Foundry. He speculated largely in lands, not
only in this county, but also in the vicinity OF
Chicago, notably at Riverside, He likewise
dealt in Chicago real estate, and had large
lumber interests in Michigan. He was one Of
the builders of the Chicago, Paducah II South
western r. r. and IA member of the firm of
Cushman, Force and Co., which constructed
the o., O. ~ f. II. V. II. r., under contract
Col. Cushmans career as Il successful bust
ness man and speculator ended with the Chi
cago fire, by which he lost 100000. From
that on misfortune succeeded misfortune, and
heavy losses followed each other at quick in
tcrvals. His large fortune soon melted away
in spite of his efforts to check and turn the
current Of his reverses. The calamlties de-
stroyed his health and impaired his mental
faculties, eliminating in So1tenlng OF the brain
He passed a portion of the summer IN the East,
without, hCwever receiving any material bene-
fit He was brought back to Ottawa about two
months ago, wreck in body and mind, Dur
ing the last six weeks of his life he was uncon-
scious, requiring the constant attendance OF
male help.
He leaves IA wife and five childrcn-two sons
and three daughters. His lite was instruction
from 100000 to $l25OO0, "A large portion of
which had been hypCthecated. In addltion to
this insurance enough of his large fortune has
been saved from the wreck to keep his family
in comfortable circumstances.
Death of PhIlo j. Dimmick.
The older citizens of Ottawa rs well rs many
eft this county will learn with pam the news OF
the death of Phio J. Dimmck, which occur
red at Santa Barbara California, on the 10th
NH