William Albert Cushing was born October 4, 1879, near Van Meter, Iowa. Will was the second child born to Edward and "Mellie", but the first to live past infancy. Edward was 25 and Mellie was 17 when Will was born.
In May, 1937, Will and Blanche with their daughter Virginia, moved to Woodburn, Oregon. Will died of cancer on May 17, 1956 at age 76. Blanch died of a stroke on November 26, 1960 at the age of 78.
For a time, William and his mother lived with his maternal grandfather, Jacob Stump, near Van Meter, while his father was scouting for land in Nebraska with a coupleof Will's uncles.
The family moved to Sheridan County, Nebraska and established a farmstead north of Clinton. Will worked as a ranch hand on the Mission Ranch, participated in cattle drives to Wyoming and courted Alice Blanche Barto.
Blanche was born Junee 11, 1882, near Carnes, NE. They set up housekeeping on a homestead near White Clay, NE. After his fathers death, will took over the Cushing home place and farmed there for about 25 years. Will and Blanche had two children - Richard and Virginia.
If you are a member of the Will Cushing branch of the family, feel free to contact us with photos, updates, corrections, embellishments or just plain to say hello!
