Ruth Cushman was the granddaughter of Don Alonzo Cushman (1792-1875), the developer behind the elegant Greek Revival rowhouses on West 20th Street known as Cushman Row (1839-40), which you can see here and here.

Don Alonzo Cushman launched D.A. Cushman Realty Corp in the 1850s and played a large role in developing the Chelsea neighborhood, before losing his holdings during the Depression of 1873-79. Continuing the family’s involvement in real estate, Don’s son, John Clydesdale Cushman, founded Cushman & Wakefield alongside his brother-in-law Bernie Wakefield. The company was incorporated in New York in 1917 and is one of the biggest private real estate companies in the world.