The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-19
JOHN 3. eouen.
The Career Of the Great Temperance Orator.
From the Gutter to Fame.


PHILADELPHIA, PA, Feb, ls,-John b
Cough, the eloquent temperance lecturer
died at 4;4O o'clock this afternoon at the
residence Of DR.. X. Bruce Burns, in Frank,
ford, where he was taken on Monday
Aight when stricken with paralysis, while
lecturing at the FranklOTd Presbyterian
Church. His wife was at his bedside
when he died. There we're also present
Mrs. Pldge, his sister, Mrs, Burma and two
nieces, Misses Mary and Fanny Whit,
Cnmbe, Mr.. John Wanamaker, Rev,
Thomas Murphy aud Mrs. Jacob Wagner,
It was recalled to-day that the last words
spoken by Mr., Cough were "foung man
make your record Clean"
The body will be embalmed, aud after
services at the house, will 10 taken Ia
Worcester, Mass, tomorrow evening.
John R. Cough was born in sandgate,
Kent, England, August %, 1917, Ills
father was folder, Who sfler taking part
Ia several battles in tR0 penlnsulBr war
settled down on an annual pension Of Ego
and his mother was for twenty years the
village BohoolmistTess. At II years OF aga
he came 10 America AZ apprentices To- an
Qmigrapk tfadesman, with whom he set
tied on farm in Oneida county, N, Y,
He removed to New York city In 1881
and obtained employment in the Meth
odist book room, applying himself 10 book.
binding. His mother and sister Joined
him la 1888, but the former died within a
yeaF after her arrival. He soon made con.
ylvlal aCqusiptances, fell into habits oi
dissipation, and wGs frequently thT0T Il
out OF employment At length, having
sunk into extreme poverty and degrada-
ton, 1t Was his Cuatom 10 repair night alter
0ight to the lowest ,grog'sh0ps, and sing
comic songs and play the buloOn 10 the
hlbitueS, who supplied him with drink in
return, He married In 1899, and under
took bookbinding on his'own account, but
hisintemperAnce epreVented his success, He
bad suffered from iOlirlum tremens, had
lost his wife and child, an was reduced to
tho utmost misery, when Quaker invited
him In the street to take the temperance
pledge, He soon related his history at a
temperance meeting, with such effect that
ne was at once esteemed leading orator
Ia the temperance cause, aud his services
were much in request. In lSl2 he was in
duCsd bysome OF his former companions
to violate his pledge, and made his con.
faaaion Of ths fact at a public meeting at
Worcester. Since 1913 lie has labored In.
GeGuantly in behalf Of temperance, aud
With such ability and su(csss that his
movements have sometimes resembled u
triumphal march. After leCturing 10
crowded audiences Ia the principal cities
ot the United States, he went In 1853 10
England at the invitation OF the London
temperance league, lectured In Exeter Hall
aud other large bulldinga in London, and
spoke In the principal towns In England
aud Scotland, everywhere creating re-.
Markable impression. lie has since re-
visited Europe and made frequent lectur.
ing tours In this country. His auto.
biography and a volume of his orations
have been published. His fatal illness
dates from two nights before his death,
when he had 10 be removed to the house
Of a friend alter finishing a lecture In Phil.
adelphia.