Hon. Wainwright Cushing of Foxcroft, one of the notable men of Maine passed to the higher life June 19 at 11.50, o'clock P.M. In his death the community and state suffers a great loss. Such men as Mr. Cushing can ill be spared and his passing is deeply deplored.

Wainwright Cushing was the eldest child of Joseph W. and Anna (Morrill) Cushing, and was born in Sebec, August 12, 1841. He was educated in the town schools and Foxcroft Academy and as a young man worked in his father's cloth mill at Sebec. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Cushing returned to Sebec and again took tip work in the woolen mill as a dyer. In 1869 he came to Dover where he was employed by the Brown Woolen company, having charge of the dye-house for 13 years. It was while engaged in this work that he conceived the idea of developing a business entirely new to the world by perfecting household dyes to take the place of the old family dye-pot. In this he was successful after experimenting for many years. In 1880 he commenced in a small way to put his product on the market under the name of Cushing's Perfection Dyes. For a few years they were known and used only locally, but every spare dollar was placed in judicious advertising and in about ten years after his modest beginning he was the possessor of a large and still growing business to which he devoted his entire time.

Mr. Cushing was a valued and public spirited citizen and every worthy undertaking received his cordial support. He was a Republican in politics and for six years, 1884-1890, was register of probate for Piscataquis county; in 1895-6 he was a member of Governor Henry B. Cleaves' council. He was a 32d degree Mason and had served as worshipful master of Mosaic lodge and high priest of Piscataquis Royal Arch chapter.

He was always prominent and active in everything that related to the Grand Army of the Republic and in 1893 was department commander of the Department of Maine. At the time of his death he was state commander of the Loyal Legion. He had also held the office of commander of C. S. Douty post, NO. 23, G. A. 1~. and colonel of Custer command, U. V. LT. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and in 1916 was president of the Maine society.

Like all veterans of the Civil War, he was a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and one incident in his life was highly treasured and which he often related. It had to do with one of President Lincoln's visits to the wounded soldiers, and occurred while Mr. Cushing was an inmate of a Washington hospital recovering from wounds received on the battlefield. The President came along beside his cot, inquired as to his condition and chatted with the wounded soldier for some minutes and left him with words of encouragement and hope.

Mr. Cushing took his recreation in traveling. This he thoroughly enjoyed, and as his material wealth increased he satisfied this inclination. He had visited nearly every part of the United States and taken trips abroad.

On October 20, 1866 Mr. Cushing was united in marriage with Flora A. McIntyre of Sebec. He is survived by a son Caleb H. Cushing of Dover, and a daughter, Mrs. Walter J. Mayo of Foxcroft; two sisters Mrs. Celia A. Prentiss and Mrs. Francis A. Ellis, both of Brighton, Mass., and. a brother, William E. Cushing of Allston, Mass.

For the past fifteen years Mr. Cushing had been affiliated with the Christian Science church.

Funeral services were held at his late residence on Lincoln street C. S. Douty post, G. A. R. conducted their service which was followed by the Christian Science service, conducted by Gorham H,Wood. Esq., of Bangor.

WAINWRIGHT CUSHING
Sprague's Journal of Maine History, Vol. VI, Nov. Dec. 1918, Jan. 1919, No. 3, Page 97-98, By EDGAR CROSBY SMITH

Military: Civil War - In 1861 he enlisted in the Sixth Maine Regiment, Company A, and later re-enlisted in the First Maine Veterans, a company made up of the fifth, sixth and seventh Maine regiments. He served under Burnside and Hooker at Williamsburgh, in front of Richmond, at the second battle of Bull Run, at Antietam and Fredericksburg and campaigned with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. He enlisted as a private, was twice wounded and was discharged as a lieutenant, July 5, 1865.

1880 US Census: Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine
Wainwright CUSHING Self M Male W 38 ME Works In Woolen Mill NH ME
Flora A. CUSHING Wife M Female W 31 ME Keeping House ME ME
Caleb H. CUSHING Son S Male W 12 ME Attending School ME ME
Annie F. CUSHING Dau S Female W 6 ME Attending School ME ME

Father: Joseph Wainwright Cushing b: 1812 in Haverhill, Massachusetts
Mother: Anna Morrill b: About 1819 in Sebec, Piscataquis, Maine

Marriage 1: Flora A. McIntyre b: 13 Dec 1849 in Sebec, Piscataquis, Maine; daughter of Uriah F. McIntyre b: about 1827 in Lincolnville, Waldo, Maine and Susan A. Boardman b: About June 1822
Married: 6 Aug 1866 in Maine
Note: Flora was from Sebec, Maine. They lived in Dover and Foxcroft, Maine.