Charles Cushing was licensed to preach in 1848. He was Principal of the Ladies' Collegiate Institute at Newbury, Vermont, 1854-1858; of the New Hampshire Conference Seminary, 1860 - 1861; and of the Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Massachusetts 1864 - 1874. He was elected President of Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1874, but declined. He was pastor in a number of the larger cities in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Was Presiding Elder of the Niagara District, Genesee Conference, 1887 to 1888. He received the degree of A.M. from the Wesleyan University, Middleton, Connecticut in 1855, and that of D.D. from the East Tennessee Wesleyan University in 1879. He was elected Honorary Member of the Victoria Institute of London. By his earnest and useful life he won the esteem of all who knew him.

DR. CUSHING HONORED
The old friends of Rev. Dr. C.W. Cushing, who is a brother of Mrs. G.W. Spencer of this place, will be interested in the following from the Progressive Batavian of Batavia, New York:

Dr. Charles Wesley Cushing the new pastor of the Methodist Church in Batavia, has just been notified by a letter from London, Eng., that he has been selected and invited to become a member of the Victoria Institute or Philosophical Society of Great Britain. This society has been founded for the purpose of investigating fully and impartially the most important questions of philosophy and science that bear upon the great truths revealed in Holy Scripture. The president of the society is Sir George Gabriel Stokes, Bart..D.C.L., M.P. The membership is composed of the ripest scholars of England and America, and this invitation to Dr. Cushing to become a member is a flattering recognition of his qualification for such membership and honor. It is a great surprise for the doctor because unsought and unexpected.

CHARLES WESLEY CUSHING
Charles Wesley Cushing, D. D., was born at Burke, Vermont, June 6, 1825. His preliminary education was obtained in the district schools of his native town. Subsequently he was graduated from Derby seminary and from Newbury seminary. Like the majority of Vermont farmers' sons he was obliged to gain a livelihood at an early age. When but sixteen years of age he taught a district school at North Danville, Vt., the school consisting of sixty pupils, many of whom were several years his senior. While teaching he took an advanced college course and in 1855 was graduated from Wesley university at Middletown, Conn., being honored with the degree of A. M. He is one of the very limited number who have been graduated Honoris Causa from any of the eastern colleges. Doctor Cushing joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1844 and was licensed to exhort at Newbury, Vt., September 28, 1848. He preached his first sermon at Plainfield, Vt., December 10, 1848. He was licensed as a local preacher February 27, 1849, and admitted to conference on trial at Putney, Vt., in June, 1854, was admitted to conference in full in June, 1856, and was ordained as a local deacon by Bishop Waugh, at St. Johnsbury, Vt., in June, 1855. His first charge was Garrison church, Albany, N. Y., he having been transferred to the Troy conference by Bishop Baker after having been ordained a local elder at Montpelier, Vt., in May, 1858. From 1855 to 1858 he was principal of the Newbury seminary at Newbury, Vt., and president of the female college at the same place. From 1862 to 1864 he was principal of the New Hampshire Conference seminary and female collegiate institute, also serving as pastor of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church at Troy, N.Y. during the same time. After serving a pastorate of two years at Lansingburgh, N.Y., Doctor Cushing, in 1864, purchased the Lasell seminary property at Auburndale, Mass., and after having placed the institution on a firm basis in finances and educational advantages, he turned it over to the keeping of a board of trustees to be operated in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal church. This seminary has now become one of the leading educational institutions for young ladies in this country, and it stands as a lasting and magnificent monument to the man who made its existence possible through his generosity. After ten years spent in establishing the Lasell seminary, Mr. Cushing again returned to his chosen work and assumed the pastoral charge of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Cleveland, Ohio. After remaining in that capacity for some time, he was appointed to fill the pulpit of the Christ church in the same city. In 1878 he was elected corresponding secretary of the Italian Bible and Sabbath school mission, with headquarters at Rome, Italy. Resigning from this office after months of toil and danger which left him broken in health, he was sent to Bradford, Penn., as the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church there, and remained there for three years, after which he occupied the pulpit of the First Methodist church at Rochester, N.Y. Having remained there the time allotted, he was appointed to the First church at Lockport, N.Y. From 1887 to 1888, he was presiding elder of the Genesee district of the Genesee conference. At the expiration of this time he was transferred to the Fourth Street church, of Wheeling. Although his life has been filled with flattering inducements to leave the ministry, he has never swerved from the path of his duty. In 186o he was offered the presidency of the Wisconsin State university, and the presidency of Wesleyan college at Cincinnati was twice open to him. In 1859 he was strongly urged to fill the presiding chair at Allegheny college, and in 1887 was offered the presidency of two leading southern colleges. In 1887 the presidency of the New York state institution for the blind was tendered him, and his nomination was ratified by the state legislative committee, but this he also'refused. The subject of this biographical sketch was one of the pioneer members of the prohibition party, and in 1882 organized the AMERICAN REFORMER, of New York city, for which he raised all the money, secured the editors and assisted in editing until it was combined with the New York VOICE in 1885. Doctor Cushing is a charter member of the commandery of Knights Templar of Newton, Mass., also a member of the Oriental commandery, No. 12, of Cleveland, Ohio, and of the Albany lodge, of Albany, N. Y., and also of the Psi Upsilon college fraternity Xi chapter of Wesleyan university. His marriage to Miss Thirza Dyer was solemnized August 14, 1850. The children are: Clara, wife of Lee Phillips, secretary and chief of the New York civil service board; Carlos, general passenger and ticket agent of the Florida Midland railroad; Charles, deceased; Celia, deceased; Mary, wife of Ralph Ely; Einma, Kate, and Alfred Darling.
- From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY," Vol. I, pages 261-262. Brant & Fuller, 1890.

1880 US Census: Bradford, Mckean, Pennsylvania
Charles W. CUSHING Self M Male W 55 VT Clergyman VT CT
Therza D. CUSHING Wife M Female W 52 NH Keeping House NH NH
Alfred D. CUSHING Son S Male W 12 MA At Home VT NH
Emma CUSHING Dau S Female W 17 NY At School VT NH
Kate CUSHING Dau S Female W 14 MA At School VT NH

Father: Matthew M. Cushing b: 22 Jan 1786 in Putney, Windham, Vermont
Mother: Resia Woodruff b: 13 Jan 1792 in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut

Marriage 1: Thirza J. Dyer b: 11 Nov 1827 in Plainfield, Sullivan, New Hampshire
Married: 15 Aug 1850 in Plainfield, Sullivan, New Hampshire