1865. ALFRED BRUCE CUSHING

Sex: M Birth: 9 November 1865 in Kenilworth, Ontario, Canada Death: 14 December 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Burial: 1944 in Ocean View Burial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada Wedding Photo courtesy of "E.Rodier", cerear@telusplanet.net Alfred Bruce Cushing was educated in Kenilworth public school, the high schools at Mount Forest and Harriston. He graduated with honors from the University of Toronto in 1893 (BA in classics). On 27 December 1893 he married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Wilkin who was born 11 July 1866 in Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. They had no children. In 1894 Alfred became a high school teacher in English at Essex, Ontario. In 1896 he wrote and published a textbook on English grammar used in Ontario schools, "Hard Places in Grammar Made Easy", which was widely distributed across Canada. In 1898 he moved to Brandon, Manitoba and taught English and Classics at Roades Collegiate Institute until July 1900. In 1900 he moved to Edmonton in the Northwest Territories to become Vice President and General Manager of Cushing Brothers Limited. He is listed in the 1901 Alberta Census as living in Edmonton (East). Five years later in 1905 he moved to Calgary to manage the head office of Cushing Brothers. In 1911 he founded and was President of his own companies: A.B.Cushing Lumber Company of Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia. When the United Kingdom market developed, he organized another firm, Masterbilt Doors Limited, to serve that outlet. "Masterbilt" became the A.B.Cushing Millwork trademark. In 1926 he moved to Vancouver and was largely responsible for the merger of A.B.Cushing Lumber Company of Calgary (Alberta) with R.L.Cushing Millwork of Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan) and the Vancouver firms of Masterbilt Doors, Cushing Mills (B.C.) Ltd. and North Vancouver Sawmills (British Columbia) as A.B.Cushing Mills Limited, thus forming one of the largest manufacturing concerns in Western Canada. A.B. Cushing was also elected Alderman of Calgary in 1911. He was Chairman of numerous boards including the Calgary Symphony Orchestra and Apollo Choir. He also was an avid participant in the sport of curling having won many trophies. He was affectionately known as "Fred". Marriage Registration: "Alfred B Cushing 28 of Essex ON, born Ontario, Bachelor, Teacher Elizabeth Wilkin 27 of Minto Tp, born Minto, Spinster Witness: Arthur Cushing, Kenilworth Katie Wilkin, Minto Dec 27, 1893, Minto Tp, Rev Chas E Belt Religion: Groom - Methodist Bride - English Church" "Name: Alfred Bruce Cushing Place Vancouver Reg. Number: 1944-09-653838 Date: 1944 12 14 (Yr/Mo/Day) Age: 79 Event: Death Microfilm #: B13185 (GSU # 1983208)" Photo courtesy of "E.Rodier", cerear@telusplanet.net, 1925 Alison Jackson Photo Collection courtesy of Calgary Public Library A.B.Cushing Staff, 1912 A.B.Cushing homestead in Calgary Photos courtesy of "E.Rodier", cerear@telusplanet.net Father: William Cushing b: 10 November 1826 in Norwich, Norfolk, England Mother: Sarah Thompson b: in Bondary, Antrim, Ireland Marriage 1: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Wilkin b: 11 July 1866 in Minto Township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada Married: 27 December 1893 in Harriston, Ontario, Canada Children: None Sources: 1. The Genealogy of the Cushing Family (An account of the Ancestors and Descendants of Matthew Cushing, who came to America in 1638) by James Cushing, The Perrault Printing Co - Montreal, 1905. First Edition, 1877, by Lemuel Cushing, D1881 (Finished by his family). 2. 1901 Alberta Census, Edmonton (East) 3. Province of British Columbia, BC Archives, 2002, ORS 9300-40, http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca 4. Elizabeth Rodier, "E.Rodier", cerear@telusplanet.net