History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 655-656, Farmers' Township
Wm. W. Cushman. The subject of this sketch was born in Stafford,
Conn., Jan. 28, 1810, and is the son of John and Lois Cushman. He has
seen many hardships in his time; for his father died when our subject
was but 4 years old, and he was bound out to a man with whom he resided
11 years; when, being tired with his treatment, and discouraged at his
prospects for reward, he ran away, traveling on foot, through snow and
rain, a distance of 14 miles, to a place of safety. He pursued the
occupation of iron-moulder for several years, and came to Harris
township in 1841. He was married April 6, 1845, to Sally St. Clair, by
whom he had 9 children, of whom 8 are living. Mr. Cushman died Oct. 3,
1873. Mr. C., in 1836, while working in Rochester, N. Y., fell in an
open sewer and hurt his knee, which rendered him a cripple for life.
The names of his children are Ann E., Sarah E., John W., Charles J.,
Clarissa, Emma J., Peter B. and Mary L.
