CUSHING, James

CUSHING, James. (Plymouth Co., MA, Aug. 4, 1830-Los Angeles, CA, Apr. 9, 1917). Owner, NORTHWESTERN VINEGAR WORKS. Cushing came to Iowa in 1859 and soon bought his father's interest in the ice company of Carter, Piper and Cushing. (1) He managed to eliminate his two competitors and enjoy a monopoly on the ice business in the city for nine years. He later formed the Cushing-Fischer Ice Company. (2)

In 1863 a loan to a friend led Cushing into the vinegar-making business at a site near Kaufmann Avenue and Valeria Street. James Cushing and Thomas Warnock became proprietors of the Northwestern Vinegar Works in 1864. Their chief chemist, Joseph Kaufmann, had an exclusive formula for producing vinegar. By 1874 the business, with a new four-story brick factory at the corner what became Kaufmann Avenue and Valeria Street, became the largest of its kind in Iowa. The company produced 100,000 barrels annually. (3)

In 1891 the company became JAMES CUSHING AND SON VINEGAR COMPANY. The motto was, "Whatever you use it for, it's the best." (4)

The CUSHING-MCFADDEN VINEGAR COMPANY was incorporated in December 1902. Soon after that, Cushing retired and moved to California. (5)

See: JAMES CUSHING-175 W. 17th

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Source:

1. Oldt, Franklin T., The History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880 Online: http://books.google.com/books?id=u9xDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA781&lpg=PA781&dq=Northwestern+Vinegar+Works+%28dubuque%29&source=bl&ots=0CpzIFGW6t&sig=YBPWvzmYTk9MKNe6VTL8QKyGL5M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RsSkUrLaFYiQrgGP6YCwDQ&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Northwestern%20Vinegar%20Works%20%28dubuque%29&f=false

2. Kruse, Len. "Early Dubuque Vinegar Companies," My Old Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa: Center for Dubuque History, 2000, p. 248

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid., p. 249

5. Ibid.