1914 Biography - Millard R. Cushman, M.D.

Cushman, Millard R., M. D., of Dutch Town, Ascension parish, has won prominence in his profession and also in public life through his efforts for the betterment of conditions in the several localities in Louisiana in which he resided at different periods of his career as a physician. The Cushman family is of old English lineage, having settled in the United States in 1580 or 1585, Dr. Cushman's forbears would have set foot on American soil much earlier, if the good ship "Mayflower" on which they had sailed from the other side of the Atlantic had not returned to England without landing them. Robert Cushman's name is of record as having located in Massachusetts in the latter part of the 16th century. Dr. Cushman's grandfather, born in Barnet, Vt., served in the Revolutionary war. In 1842, Willard Steven Cushman, a native of Barnet, Vt., came to Louisiana, with his wife, Eliza S. (Bingham) Cushman, (who was born in Lancaster, N. H.) and was for many years a professor in Franklin college, Opelousas, La. They were the parents of Dr. Millard R. Cushman, who was born at Bayou Chicot, parish of Evangeline, Nov. 24, 1859. Mrs. Cushman was the daughter of Francis and Sophia (Grout) Bingham, also natives of Barnet, Vt. After a period of tuition in private schools, Millard R. Cushman worked on his father's farm, and began the study of medicine in 1883 with one of his brothers. Later on, he entered Kentucky school of medicine, graduating in 1885. Dr. Cushman first practiced in Vermillion parish, La., for 15 years; and while residing at Milton, had the distinction of causing a postoffice to be located there, and of being the first appointee in charge. Removing to Abbeville, Vermillion parish, he resided there 10 years. Since 1909, the doctor has been a citizen of Dutch Town. He is ex-president of the board of health of Vermilion parish, a member of the Louisiana State Medical association, of the Ascension parish Medical society, and of the Attakapas Clinic, comprising several parishes. In secret and fraternal organization, Dr. Cushman is prominent. He is a member of the Free Mason Lodge of Hope Villa, and wa.s its worshipful master for 1 year; also served in the same capacity in the Abbeville Lodge F. & A. M. for 12 months. The orders of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, Knights of Honor, the Royal Arch Masons of Donaldsonville, the Eastern Star of Hope Villa and of Baton Rouge, regard him as one of their brothers of whom they are proud. Feb. 6, 1889, Dr. Cushman married Miss Elizabeth Pharr, of St. Mary parish, the daughter of Hampton and Frances (Saxon) Pharr. Mrs. Cushman's father was a native of Raleigh, N. C, and her mother was born in Louisiana. Mr. Pharr served as a soldier in a Louisiana regiment during the Civil war (1861-1865), and was for many years in the steamboating business. He died in 1881. There are 3 children in Dr. Cushman's family: Milton Saxon, graduate of Tulane university (class of 1910), and at present a student at the University of Chicago; Hampton, a medical student at Vanderbilt university, and Bessie Theresa Cushman, at home, a graduate of the high school.

Extracted 2020 Nov 01 by Norma Hass, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 607-608.

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