Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-02-13
PROMINENT CT, RGy MAN DEAD.
Rev John y. tushman Passes Away
at his Home In Castine.

Died in Casiin,, Maine, Feb. 5, ho', Rev.
John Paine tushman, for sixteen years pastor
OF the Congregational church. friend and helper
OF the people.
Tue subject OF TINS sketch was born in
third son and seventh of eight children
born to Hon. John p. Cusbmsn and Maria
j. Tsiimadge. His father was Judge OF
the circuit court, and served as represen-
,stive to Congress in 1916, being oistin-
guished ia his profession for ability and
probiry. He was an u fiueutisl citizen OF
Troy, promoting In every way its elfare.
As regent OF the state university aud
trustee OF Union college, Schenectady, be
gave his SUPP ort to educational interests,
but above all he maintained an intensely
earnest and practical Christianity, honor
,g the Office OF elder In the Presby terian
church, and proving that smoug the
temptations and subtleties of the practice
of law, 1t Is possible to maintain the
gospeI standards OF integrity and right
eousness.
The mother was a woman OF rare charm
in person and character, who made the
hume beautiful with all that love and re-
finement could devise. and received the
utmost devotion of her husband and
children.
On his fathers side MIR. Cushman traced
his descent in a direct line from Robert
Cusnman, the Puritan, SO justly called
'the right hand of the Plymouth colony"
being one of their representatives In all
vtas lori rtag fnr nh or hi tr he
MAY flower" for their journey. and only
turning back from the voyage to care for
those mo must be left behind when the
"5peedweii' proved unseawortby. He
brought his son Thomas to Plymouth in
1921, and preached the first sermon in New
England that was ever printed, but died
in England, watching over the Interests
of the colony. The six generations fol-
lowing included good and useful men,
| holding various responsible positions
elder, deacon or minister of the church.
| lieutenant of militia, teacher and judge.
Tue family become connected with the
Standishes and other names distinguished
IN our early history.
MIR. Cushman's mother was a daughter
| OF Col. Talimsdge, OF Litchfield, Conn, a
distinguished officer In the Revolutionary
war and personal friend OF Gen. WASH
| ington. The family traced It's descent
from an old Norman house-Tailinash OF
Dysart. Col. TaiImsoge married the
daughter OF Gen. William Floyd, one of
tue siguers of the Declaration of In
dependence. Thus the family has served
our country in past generations.
Mr.. Cushman's educstion began early.
He held a receipt for tuition in a private
school when he was two and half years
old. At eigh he was sent to boarding
school in Richmond, Mass, where he
commenced the study of Latin aud
showed fondness for he natural sciences.
The next year found him Ia the academy
in Troy. When fourteen years old he en-
tered the collegiate institute in Pough-
seepsie, N. Y. His college course was
taken at Union college, Schenectady,
which he entered as sophomore, living in
the family OF its president, DIR. Mott, aud
graduating with honor in the Class OF Isl,
delivering an Grafton at commencement.
His father died soon after he went to
college, and he determined to follow his
steps ia the profession of law, entering
| the Office of MIR. Noyes, distinguished
jurist in New York city, but his plans
were changed in response to call to the
ministry.
| His Chistian life began early. Brought
| up In an atmosphere of piety, he seems
never to have been in conscious rebellion
against God, but the definite decision to
accept Christ as his Saviour was made
| when he was fourteen years old, as he was
| trying to teach the love of Jesus to some
poor boys he had gathered from the
streets OF Troy, using the Bible as his text
book In the reading lessons given them.
So early began the Christian work to
which he gave his life.
At the age Of sixteen he united with the
Presbyterian church. After taking his
college degree, he passed through a deep
religious experience and decided to pre-
pare himself for the ministry. He entered
Union theological seminary, New YORK
city, graduating in 1856. His first settle
| ment was in Sand Lake, n. Y, in 1860, and
where he brought as his bride Caroline
MaItby, daughte of Rev. John Maltby,
for twenty-six years pastor of the Ham
mond street church, Bangor.
| Mr.. Cushman held pastorates in
Brig CRANKY and Royalston, Mass,
till 1872, when the death of his last re-
manning brot her summoned him to the
care of his mother in Troy. The next ten
years were spent in devoted ministry to
her declining years.
In 1885 he accepted call to the Congre-
galionai church in Castine, and held the
passionate till his death. During the last
sixteen years the church has had a fair
degree of prosperity IN spite of losses by
death and removal. Its records for
benevolence place it second, per capita,
among the Congregational Churches OF
the State.
The relations between pastor and people
have been close and tender. In the wider
| interests of the church, in county and
State, Mr.. Cusbman has been an earnest
| worker, and trusted counsellor. His pae-