The National tribune., 1886-02-25
JOHN B. COUGH.
Paralysis Strikes Down the Great Temperance
Worker.

Mr.. John B. Cough, the great temperance
lecturer, died at Frankford, a suburb of Phila-
delphia, on Thursday last, from the effects of a
stroke of paralysis received while lecturing in
Philadelphia the previous Monday.
John B. Cough was native of Sandgate, in
England, and was born on the 22d of August,
1917. His father was a common soldier in the
British army, too poor to furnish the premium
necessary to secure his apprenticeship to trade.
So, when he was - years of age he was en-
trusted TO the care of family about emigrating
to America In consideration of the sum of 10
guineas, they agreed to take the boy with them,
to teach him trade, and 10 provide for him
until he came of age. On Aug. 3, 1929, he ar
rived in New York, and was soon after tax en-
to farm in Oneida County. His early life in
this country was one of poverty and hardship,
and when his mother. who had Joined him here
with his sister in 1882, died, he ran behind
the paupers' hearse which bore her body to the
pottersfield. Learning finally the trade of a
boOkbinder he worked at it for very low wages
in New York and elsewhere, but gradually fell
into habits of drunkenness. His experience
at this time was varied by brief career upon
the stage, commencing with the singing of a
comic song at Chatham street theater, and
terminating with a small part in lUrid melo
drama in Boston. Settling in Newburyport,
Mass, he went from bad to worse, and finally
found himself at Worcester, in the same State,
WHerC, IN OCTOBER IciZ, ne was rescued from
the degrading habits of drunkenness into which
he had fallen through the influence of Joel
Stratton worthy shoemaker. He signed the
total abstinence pledge, but soon relapsed. He
signed again and then kept it. Soon after his
reformation he began to lecture on behalf of
total abstinence, first to a few country folks in
school houses and churches Then he went to
Boston and made 800 public addresses, rising at
once into prominence, and drawing larger
auI hot ha
public. He married Mary Whitcomb. of Wor-
cester Co., Mass, on the oath Of November,
1S43.
During his first year as public speaker Mr..
Cough made 3S3 speeches, and since he began
he has appeared before an audience altogether
S,567 times up to the beginning of the present
year. At a fair estimate he has spoken before
100000 people, more than any other man, and
has travelled over 10000 miles in meeting his
appointments. He made three visits to Europe,
and made 1,260 speeches in England. Up to
1880 he lectured only on temperance but he
was persuaded TO deliver in New Haven lee
ture upon Street Life in London" This
proved great success, and was followed by
" Lights and Shadows of London Life"
"Eloguence and Orators" Peculiar People"
" Fact and Fiction" Habit Curiosity" and
Others
His voice was of rare compass and fexibility.
In the delineation of character he was mimi
table, enacting the mother, child, pleading wife,
brutal husband, plantation darkey, Scotch dea-
con, polite Frenchman raw Irishman, pOmpOuS
cOxcomb, and poor, besotted topper, all in an
hours lecture. He welded mastery power
over his audience, evoking laughter and tears
at will.