Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-19
JOHN B. COUCH.

Death of the Great Temperance Lead.
 er-HIs Early Life and Experienees-
 His One Hundred Lectures In New
 Haven-His First Appearance in This
 C1ty-Hfs Life Work and Achieve
 ments His Family - New Haven
 Friends.
 MT. John B. Cough died last evening at 4:40 o'clock in Philadelphia. Mir. Cough was born August g, 1877, and was native of England. When a lad he was wont to wander among the castles in the of his birthplace, and here all about was beautiful landscape. There was 8 range of mountains in sight and lake near. The Earl of Darnley had an elegant villa near. It was from the time of Richard II. The Duke of Hereford with his large retinue resorted to the villa often. Coughs mother, Jane Cough, was for twenty years in the village and she filled his youthful mind with instruction, and, as MT. Cough said, Cher heart was fountain whence the pure waters of affection never ceased to few" He attended his mothers school and was often made teacher over the small scholars ''to teach spelling and the rule of three" He left school at the age of ten to come to America and never had an hours study in day school thereafter, or in any other school except the school of life. He rode on the top of stage to London en route to take ship for America. Shortly before leaving, Wm. Wilberforce, who lived in the same village, ,patted him on the head and presented him with book, requesting MT. Cough to read to him, the lad thus early 1a {1 with family, neighbors of MT. Coughs parents about to emigrate, to whom Mir. Coughs father gave ten guineas, they in re- turn to learn him trade in America. His father, John Cough, was unable to pay the premium to get the boy trade in England. His mother folded him in her arms in part ing and gave him mothers blessing. She died in New York few years after, before MT. Cough attained fame wealth. Soon after the lads arrival on shipboard he found ''Rise and Progress" which his mother had wrapped up in his shirt in his bundle. The sight of the work affected him to tears as he recalled the image of his dearest friend on earth. He was fifty-three days on the passage. The ship brought him to New York. Thence he went to Albany, thence to Utica where the family he came with stopped and located in farm life. Mr. Cough learned the trade of bookbinder in New York. He worked at his trade some years and finally became addicted to drink, and the habit of drink became with him al most uncomfortable, and his superhuman struggles to master his appetite for intoxicat ing beverages are familiar to all who heard and who has not?-Mr. Coughs lectures. He had hung about the theaters in New York, having a strong passion for acting and sing ing. His first encouragement was when in Haverhill Mass, where he was working at his trade. He appeared there in an entertain ment given by local talent. Hs sang several songs and acted part. While in Worcester, Mass, the sight of cold army procession passing the place where he was at work in spired him to throw off the chains of drink which held him like vice. His career as lecturer began about this time in 1S42, when he had sunken very low. A stranger, Joel Stratton. tapped him on the shoulder and by kind words induced him to sign the pledge. This was in Worcester. The next day he signed. He began to improve in his condition and appearance. His first temperance speech was in Middle bury, Mass. He spoke from pulpit there. He now bought good suit of clothes. He spoke in Worcester December 31, 1S42. He spoke first in New Haven in 1S43. Mir. John G. North was then in business on Chapel street-frm of John G. North & Co. He en- gagged Nil. Cough to speak. Cough had been here and spoken to the Yale students on cold water MT. Eerth heard his speech and re- paired to the hotel where MT. Cough was stopping and engaged him to speak. It was Jones' Hotel on Church street, where Maines restaurant is now. MT. Cough says in his "While featuring in New Haven put up in hotel with very poor &C., MT. John G. North called nr other When they came to my room l held up what appeared very much ike a doll with large head, and asked them to guess what it was. They were puzzled for no one thought it was my pillow. We had laugh together at my discomfort and MT. North took me to his pleasant home where for years I was most 1iberally entertained on my frequent visits to New Haven." MT. Cough ever after con- tinued to be guest of Mir. North when in New Haven and they were like brothers in their cemented and long friendship. It may be added here that the average price received by MT. Cough for his lectures in 1S4S was $277 He obtained in that year 15, ,218 sigma lures to the temperance pledge. MT. Cough 8 rise as lecturer was very rapid and from $2 lecture the price rose in seven
 years to $25, and in the next ten
 years to $6e, and latterly the
 average was SITS per lecture. In New York
 and other large cities he frequently received
 $500 per lecture. He bought in 1860 the
 land in Roylston, six miles out of Worcester,
 ~sightly tract of 200 acres, upon which he
 erea ed (upon an eminence) fine residence,
 whlchha since been his summer home and
 place or -est to gather his strength for his
 winters wol<. Probably no living man in
 this or the oleAworld has reached the ears of
 as many dlffere1t listeners as Cough. His
 triumphs in Enghnd are well remembered. VOICE 1a a1or fnfs
 the anti-slavery cause and the Union cause in the war for the Union The
 gifts of great yaluS ne received from distinguished sources in the Old world are numberless. His lectures in this city have numbered, MT. North finds, over one han-
 dred. Ali of them have been given under Mr. North's management and the profits ce
 of thena were devoted ,ssaafEtergood sa fEia ani
 Mens dsfltnte and d, this his city. Mr Gonph
 last lecture6 here last winter in Carll's Opera
 Honse de never had larger audiences than
 those ne had since the beginning of this year
 JEe had long list of engagements for the winter. He leaves wife and no children. His wife was Mary E. Whiteomb. She be- lorged in Boylston and was a school dren, five in number -four of them girls), he brought up and finely educated as if they were his own. The young ladies are members of his family except one, who is married and lives in Pennsylvania. One of the young ladies' has been his travelling companion in; his lecture tour for two years past, and she and the mother and sister were with him when hs died. They hold his memory most precious, and were greatly devoted to him. Strong friends and frequent guests of MT. Cough were Rev. Dr. Cuyler of Brooklyn, the late Rev. Dr. Dutton of this city, and the late Rev. Dr. Kirk of Boston.
 One great underlying power of his success was the influence of his wife, who was his travelling companion during the most of his featuring trips and voyages. Of late years her health has been quite delicate Mr. Cough was Q devoted Christian and a mem Der of Dr. Kirk's church in Boston for years, now under Dr. Herrick. When at home, at Boylston he rarely failed to attend the viii lage prayer meetings two miles distant. He was 8 strict observer of the Christian Sab bath, never permitting himself to travel on the Sabbath by steam or horse cars He leaves a large estate.
 La ChocoIatfere.
 The special committee appointed by the Young Women's Christian association to have charge of their chocolate party is com posed of the following ladies: Mrs. Cady,