Lake Country This Month

By Katherine Michalets Freeman Staff DELAFIELD — The story of the Cushing family is one of bravery — from the parents who settled in the frontier land that is now Delafield in 1838 to the three sons who fought heroically in the Civil War. Delafield historian David Krueger has documented the family's history with a focus on the sons who helped the Union win the war. Krueger was scheduled to speak about the family to the Waukesha County Historical Society earlier this month and shared his presentation with The Freeman. All information below is taken from his research. An early arrival Milton and Mary Cushing moved from Ohio to Milwau- kee, a rough-and-tumble trad- ing post on the shores of Lake Michigan, in 1838. While liv- ing there, the couple had a son named Howard. Eventu- ally, they moved westward along the Territorial Road and settled on the banks of the Bark River, just west of what is now downtown Delafield. In their new homestead, they had three more boys: Alonzo, William and Walter, the latter of which did not survive infancy. Due to Milton having some college educa- tion, he was made the first mayor. In the early days of the area, there was a push to name the village Cushing, but the story goes that Mary Cushing wanted it named after the man who operated the mill by the name of Delafield because she felt he had a prettier-sounding name. Life on the frontier proved to be too much for the Cush- ings and they moved back east by way of Chicago. They settled in Fredonia, N.Y. In 1847, Milton Cushing died from tuberculosis, leaving Mary to raise the family alone. Military service Despite being a single moth- er, Mary Cushing was able to secure appointments to West Point for Alonzo and Annapo- lis for William. Later, Howard enlisted fellow newspaper workers to form an artillery company that was incorporat- ed into an Illinois regiment. Howard eventually became a second lieutenant. Krueger found that there is not a great deal known about Howard's military service, but after the Civil War he got into trouble when he helped to orchestrate a jail break to get his drunken commander out of a local civilian jail. He made a deal and was able to transfer to the Calvary with a clean slate and then found himself in the American Southwest. There, he fought with the Native Americans, including the Comanche. It was during one of these bat- tles that Howard was killed. Like Alonzo, a superior called Howard the "bravest man I ever saw," according to Krueger's research. William found a position within the U.S. Navy and was one of the youngest officers in the history of the Navy to get his own command. His most famous mission was when he volunteered to destroy the enormous Confed- erate ironclad Albemarle. It was designed with a shallow draft that enabled its crew to attack the wooden fleet and retreat up river to safety. William devised a plan of tak- ing a small and quiet steam- powered launch to capture or destroy the vessel at night. When he got close to the ship, William was discovered and he also realized that the Albe- marle was surrounded by a raft of floating logs to prevent such an attack. As Confeder- ate soldiers fired on his boat, William gained momentum and ran his little launch onto the logs and then lowered the 30-foot boom to fire onto the ship at point-blank range. After the launch took on water, William ordered his men to swim for their lives and it took several days, but Cushing was able to swim back to safety. For his actions, William received the "Thanks of Congress," which was the highest commendation avail- able for a Union naval officer. However, Cushing's life was cut short and he died at the age of 32 after enduring severe pain. Krueger learned that Cushing was nearly driv- en mad by the pain, but was able to regain his senses to say the Lord's Prayer with his wife and mother before dying. Alonzo's efforts during the Civil War eventually earned him the Medal of Honor, albeit 150 years later. Krueger's research revealed a man who fought with such intensity and passion that the gun he had been using had been fired so many times the thumb stall was worn out. In order to keep reloading and firing, Alonzo used his unpro- tected thumb to plug the vent, burning his thumb to the bone. Before dying on the battle- field at Gettysburg, Alonzo directed his men to defend the Union line against the Con- federates despite being seri- ously wounded. He continued to fight until he was struck in the head by a bullet. A fourth son, Milton Jr., had a 20-plus-year career as a paymaster in the U.S. Navy. 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We Beat All Big Box Stores and all Competitors | Visit Our Showroom By Appointment F O X B R O O K — S E N I O R A P A R T M E N T S — Foxbrook Senior Apartments 18915 Thomson Drive, Brookfield (262) 790-0033 ➤ Underground Parking ➤ Weekly Activities ➤ Movie Room ➤ Game Room 244049015 1 & 2 Bedroom 55 and Over * ➤ Library ➤ Chapel ➤ Beauty Salon *Income Restrictions Apply ➤ Voluntary Morning Check In Service ➤ FREE Weekly Shuttle to Shopping Move In Specials Last month's rent FREE June 13 & 14 Mukwonago American Legion Post 375 Celebrate our 59 th Annual Maxwell street days flea market FIELD PARK, MUKWONAGO - Hwys 83 & NN OVER 600 SELLERS Offering a Variety of Goods (Buyers allowed on grounds after 7 am) Reasonable Off-site Parking Available (Pets, Bicycles & Skateboards Prohibited) For information and 2015 schedule: www.maxwellstreetdays.net www.mukwonagochamber.org Always FREE ADMISSION FOOD & REFRESHMENTS Available on Grounds 244308001 Alonzo Cushing William Cushing Howard Cushing HEROIC FAMILY Cushings led frontier life and dedicated lives to America Submitted photo William Cushing's widow, Katherine "Kate" (Forbes) and their daughters, Marie Louis and Katherine Abell, attended the 1915 dedication of the Cushing Memorial Monument. Submitted photo Alonzo Cushing is buried at West Point Military Academy, which he graduated from in 1861.

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