USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 50
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In politics Mr. Schillenger is a stanch Re- publican. He is well known throughout the county as a successful farmer, and is a mem- ber of the Grange of New Gloucester.
ON. OTIS C. NELSON, an exten- sive farmer and fruit grower now living near Upper Gloucester, Me., was born in Minot, Me., January
29, 1826. His parents were Otis and Lois G. (Raymond) Nelson. Thomas Nelson, born in England in 1613, was the first one of the family who emigrated to America. He settled in Rowley, Mass., in 1631, where he lived until his death, in 1 702.
David Nelson, descendant of Thomas, came to Maine from Milford, Mass., about the year
1787, and settled in New Gloucester, on the farm now owned by his grandson, Otis C., the subject of this biographical sketch. Mr. David Nelson was a very prominent citizen, being in many important offices. In 1818 he was one of the organizers of the Calvinist Baptist church, in which he officiated as Dea- con the rest of his life. He served in the Revolutionary War, being at West Point in 1780, the year when Benedict Arnold betrayed his country ; and later he was a Captain in the old State militia. He was a Representative to the General Court of Massachusetts in the years 1812 and 1815. Captain Nelson is said to have erected the first brick house in New Gloucester; and the old cider-mill, built by him in 1787, was at that time the largest building in the county. He was a gentleman of the old school, being famous for his gener- ous hospitality. He died on April 14, 1836.
David Nelson's son Otis was born in 1795: He became a resident of the town of Minot, but after an absence of seventeen years returned to the old Nelson homestead in New Glouces- ter, where he remained the rest of his days. For several years Mr. Otis Nelson served -the town as Selectman. He was Major of the old State militia; and in politics he was at one time an active member of the Whig party, but afterward he became a stanch Republican. His wife, to whom he was married on August 30, 1818, was Lois G. Raymond, of New Gloucester. At the time of their marriage he was a resident of Minot. Five children - Abigail R., Edwin M., Otis C., Charles H., Persis T. - blessed their union. Abigail R. married Jeremiah Stinchfield, and she and her husband have since died. Edwin M., now deceased, married Sophia Jones. His widow lives in Minot. Charles H. died at the age of thirteen years. Persis T. is the wife of Sewell Martin. They live in Upper Glouces- ter. The father of these children died Sep- tember 15, 1861, and the mother on July 7, 1853.
Otis C. Nelson, after acquiring his educa- tion in the public schools, remained at home teaching school seven winter terms. He then engaged in general mercantile business, being also Postmaster in Upper Gloucester for one year. The next year he started for Cali-
SETH E. BERRY.
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fornia, via Cape Horn, going out with Captain George Brazier, stopping at Rio Janeiro and several other ports, landing at San Francisco May 28, 1850, having been two hundred and twenty-eight days on the voyage. In a short time he went to Nevada City, where he was engaged in mining for five months. Mr. Nelson then went to Portland, Orc., remaining there three months ; and, after returning to San Francisco, he decided to locate in Butte County, California. Being very successful there, he came home across the Isthmus of Panama, and thence via New York and Boston, landing at Portland, Me., November 20, 1856. Mr. Nelson now settled on the old homestead in New Gloucester to take. charge of the place, and has continued here ever since. He now owns about three hundred acres of land, a great deal of which he has cleared and im- proved himself. He carries on general farm- ing business, his principal products being sweet corn, hay, and small grain; but he is also one of the largest fruit growers in the town, having many fine orchards. He runs the large cider-mill which his grandfather built, and makes on an average six hundred barrels of cider a year.
On February 14, 1848, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Miss Martha W. Whitney, a native of this town. She was born March 6, 1828, and lived with her uncle, Samuel Cushman, until her marriage, her parents having died when she was young. Mrs. Martha W. Nelson died November 19, 1853. She had one child, who died in in- fancy. On January 31, 1858, Mr. Nelson married Miss Julia Bailey, daughter of Han- som Bailey, of New Gloucester. She was born December 5, 1838, and died on October 5, 1887, leaving three children : Lilian Francis, who died at the age of twenty-one; Charles H., an extensive farmer in the northern part of the town, who married Abbie S. Jordan ; and George B., who married Louella Greely, of Pownal, Mc.
In politics Mr. Nelson is a Democrat and an earnest worker for his party. In 1864, 1875, and 1885 he represented his district in the State legislature; for eleven years he was Chairman of the Board of Selectmien, and he has held many minor offices. He is a member
of the Masonic Order, Cumberland Lodge, No. 12, of New Gloucester, having been con- nected with the organization since 1849. He is also a charter member of the Grange. The prominence and success which have crowned his efforts through life are but the measure of his desert. His sterling qualities have attracted many friends, and he is well spoken of far and near.
ETH E. BERRY, lumber manu- facturer of Bridgton, proprietor of one of the largest industries of this vicinity, was born near . Bridgton Centre, August 24, 1837. He is a son of Albert G. and Eunice (Carpenter) Berry. Albert G. Berry, who has been a resident of Bridgton since early childhood, is a millwright by trade, and was also engaged for many years in carriage-making. He is now living in Bridgton at the advanced age of eighty-six. He reared five children, namely : Susan M. (deceased) ; Albert G .; Seth E., the subject of this sketch; Eliza (deceased) ; and Almira, wife of Sumner Foster, of South Bridgton.
Seth E. Berry received a good education in his native town, finishing with the public-school course at the South Bridgton High School, and later taking a business course of study at Comer's Commercial College, Boston. He taught school for three terms, and at the age of seventeen went to work with his father, under whose tuition he became an expert carpenter, carriage builder, and millwright. Starting on an independent career when he attained his majority, though still associated with his father, he worked as a journeyman in Oxford and Cumberland Counties until 1867. In that year he and his father together purchased the planing and saw mills (now called the Sandy Crcek Mills), of which he is at present chief manager. The business has greatly increased, and employs a number of men throughout the year, the annual output being from two hun- dred thousand to three hundred thousand feet of long lumber. The planing-mill is in con- stant operation, and another part of the in- dustry is the shingle and lath manufacture. Mr. Berry owns considerable timber land and is engaged in general farming to some extent,
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though giving the greater part of his time and attention to his mills. A practical workman himself, he thoroughly understands the de- mands of trade; and his orders are filled with promptness and good judgment.
Mr. Berry was married in 1859 to Miss Abbie M. Ingalls, of Bridgton, daughter of Abel and Sophia (March) Ingalls. He has no children.
In politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is not an office-seeker, but has efficiently served as Town Agent for a year. He is a Mason in good standing, belonging to Oriental Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 13, of Bridgton. Mr. and Mrs. Berry are members of the Bap- tist church.
UFUS E. GRAY, clothing manufact- urer of West Gorham, Me., was born October 14, 1859, in Limerick, a neighboring town in York County. His father, Erastus Gray, was the only child of Rufus Gray, who spent twenty-seven years of life in the town of Cornish, York County, where he was engaged in farming.
Erastus Gray was born in Cornish, March 17, 1832. When a young man, he went to the town of Denmark, where he learned the car- penter's trade from Charles Boynton. He continued working with Mr. Boynton, and has practically been with him ever since, although at the present time the father is living in Cambridgeport, Mass. In 1857 Erastus Gray married Abbie, daughter of Samuel and Mary A. (Berry) Jack, of Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Jack are still living on their homestead farm in Denmark, both vigorous for people of their age, he being eighty-five years and she one year younger. He is a Democrat in politics, and both are Universalists in religion. Of their family of nine children, but five are now living. Mrs. Abbie J. Gray lived but three years after marriage, dying July 22, 1860, when Rufus was less than a year old, His father subsequently married Mrs. Eunice Knight, born Barnes; and she died in Febru- ary, 1882, leaving four children, namely : Charles, who married Katy Dunn, and has one child, Harland; Jennie, the wife of Jefferson Furlong, of Limerick, who has four
children - Guy, Gladys, Ralph, and Chester ; Herbert, residing in Brighton, Mass. ; and Fanny, wife of William Cobb, of Standish, Me., who has twins - Herbert Gray Cobb and Sumner Chase Cobb.
Rufus E. Gray was reared and educated in the town of Denmark ; and, when old enough to begin work, he went to Harrison, where he was employed by Thomas Emery, a manufact- urer of clothing, for two years. He subse- quently worked at the same business four years for H. B. Hartford, of Standish. In 1888 Mr. Gray formed a partnership with Joseph H. Wilson, and established a shop for the manufacture of clothing at West Gorham, carrying on business under the firm name of Wilson & Gray. In 1892 Mr. Gray bought out the interest of his partner, and has since conducted the business alone, meeting with signal success. His trade has increased to a large extent ; and, besides the fifteen hands working in the shop, he keeps from seventy- five to one hundred busily employed at their homes.
On July 24, 1887, Mr. Gray was married to Ida F. Flood, a daughter of William H. Flood, of North Pownal, and into their pleas- ant home three children have come, namely : Alice C., born in Standish, October 11, 1888 ; Audrey M., born October 4, 1889; and Blanche A., born November 24, 1890. Po- litically, Mr. Gray is a Democrat. Both he and his wife are liberal in their religious views; and, socially, he is a charter member and at the present time is serving as Chaplain of Watchie Lodge, No. 3333, Knights of Honor, of Standish.
ILLIAM P. ALLEN, a well-known farmer of Pownal and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in this town, May 26, 1825, son of David and So- phronia (Watts) Allen. His grandfather, Ne- hemiah Allen, who was a native of Cape Ann, Mass., came to Cumberland County, Maine, when a young man, first settling in New Gloucester, from which place he removed to Pownal, and acquired the present Allen farm, previous to the year 1788. In company with his brother and another pioneer, he took up a
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tract of four hundred and fifty acres of wild land, his portion being one hundred and fifty acres; and he cleared and improved a good farm, upon which he passed the rest of his lifc. He dicd in 1839, aged eighty-nine years. He was a sturdy, hard-working man and a patriotic citizen, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married Betsey Parsons, who was born on Cape Ann, and reared a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, David, Mr. Allen's father, bcing the youngest son.
David Allen was born at the Allen home- stead in Pownal, June 25, 1801. He suc- ceeded to the possession of the property, and spent his life as an industrious and successful tiller of the soil. He died in 1870, aged sixty-nine years. He was originally a Demo- crat in politics, but later supported the Re- publican party. His wife, formerly Sophronia Watts, who was born in New Gloucester, No- vember 28, 1802, bccame the mother of two children, namely: Mary W., who died in 1862, aged thirty-four years ; and William P., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Sophronia W. Allen dicd in 1862, aged sixty years. She was a member of the Universalist church.
William P. Allen was educated in the dis- trict schools of Pownal. After attaining his majority he continued to reside with his par- ents, for whom he managed the farm during their declining years, and eventually inher- ited the homestead. Enlisting as a private in Company I, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, on September 10, 1862, he served his country in the Civil War until June 29, 1863, when he was honorably discharged. Owning one of the best farms in town, and following the carpenter's trade in connection with agricultural labors, he has realized a comfortable prosperity. He is a Republican in politics and a comrade of Post No. 87, Grand Army of the Republic, of Gray Corners.
On November 27, 1851, Mr. Allen was married to Mary W. Johnson, who was born in North Yarmouth, October 16, 1826. Her parents were Samuel and Esther (Dam) John- son, the former of whom was born in North Yarmouth, and the latter in Pownal. Samuel Johnson was a prosperous farmer and a useful
citizen. He resided in North Yarmouth until 1830, when he moved to Pownal, where he passed the rest of his life, and died at the age of eighty-four. He was a Congregationalist in religion. His wife lived to reach the age of seventy-five years. They reared two chil- dren, namely: Mary W., who is now Mrs. Allen; and Eunice, who is now the wife of John T. Lawrence, of Pownal.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen have had two children, a son and a· daughter, of whom but one sur- vives. The elder, Samuel J., was born Octo- ber 3, 1852, and died at the age of twenty years; Sophronia A. was born December II, 1865, and was married to George P. Cushman, November 28, 1885. They reside at the Allen homestead.
George P. Cushman was born in Pownal, April 13, 1863, son of Lcvi P. and Rachel M. (Corliss) Cushman. Mr. Cushman's great-grandfather, Jabez Cushman, a farmer, was an early settler in New Gloucester, where his death took place when he was seventy- three years old. He married Ursula Berse, and reared a family of nine children -- Sam- uel, Jabez, Mary, Celia, Betsey, Solomon, Amia, Isaac, and Joseph. The great-grand- mother lived to reach an advanced age.
Isaac Cushman, Mr. Cushman's grandfather, was born in New Gloucester in 1792. He was rearcd to agricultural pursuits; and, when a young man, he settled in Pownal, where he bought the farm which is now owned by his son, Levi P. Cushman. He was an unusually energetic farmer and an able and useful citi- zen, who for many years occupied a leading position among his fellow-townsmen, render- ing valuable service to the community as a member of the Board of Selectmen and a Rep- resentative to the legislature. He was com- missioned a Captain in the State militia. In his religious views he was liberal, and he sup- ported the Whig party in politics. He died October 18, 1852. His wife, Lucy L. Par- sons, who was born in North Yarmouth in 1803, passed the last years of her life at the home of her son in Pownal, where she died September 23, 1895.
Levi P. Cushman, son of Isaac and Lucy L. (Parsons) Cushman, was born in Pownal, Au- gust 6, 1834. He acquired his education in
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the schools of his native town and in North Yarmouth and New Gloucester. During his father's declining years he assisted him in managing the farm; and eventually he suc- ceeded to the ownership of the property, which he has since conducted successfully. He has two hundred acres of fertile land, which he devotes to general farming and dairying; and he keeps from fifteen to twenty finely bred cows. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1884 he ably represented his district in the legislature. He has lived a busy and prosper- ous life, and enjoys the highest respect and esteem of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen.
On April 13, 1856, Mr. Levi P. Cushman was married to Rachel M. Corliss, who was born in North Yarmouth, December 23, 1838, daughter of Osborne Corliss. They have two children, namely: Frances J., wife of John E. Warren, of Portland; and George P., a pros- perous farmer of Pownal, who married So- phronia A. Allen, as above mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. George P. Cushman have had two children, namely: William P., who was born March 17, 1890; and Levi P., who was born November 21, 1886, and died December 18 of the same year.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are among the oldest and most esteemed residents of Pownal, and are pleasant, social people to meet. Mr. Allen is a Republican in politics.
TEPHEN D. JILLSON, a farmer and miller of Otisfield, was born in the town, August 26, 1837, son of Joseph B. and Nancy (Stone) Jill-
son. Joseph B. Jillson, a native of Casco, Me., who was a carpenter and a farmer, died in Otisfield. His wife, a native and lifelong resident of Otisfield, also ended her days there. Their seven children were: Martha, deceased, who was the wife of William O. Briggs, also deceased ; Margaret, who was the wife of Elzard La Rowie, of Weymouth, Mass., where she died some time ago; Stephen D., the subject of this sketch; Martin Van Buren, who married Viola Chapland, now deceased, and is living near his brother Stephen ; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Daniel Fickett, of Casco, Me. ; Diana, the widow of Mark
K. Morse and a resident of Waterbury, Me. ; and Ephraim, a resident of Otisfield, who is actively engaged in canning fruit and corn.
Stephen D. Jillson received his education in the common schools. He went to work when twelve years of age, obtaining employment on a farm in Windham, Me., where he remained for several years. Subsequently he entered the employ of a farmer named William C. Smith, of whom he learned shoemaking. After working for a while as a shoemaker, he returned to farming. In 1870 he bought the mill near his home, now known as the Jillson Mill. It contains a grist-mill and a saw-mill, which are kept constantly busy, turning out quantities of finished lumber and of well- ground feed. Mr. Jillson also deals largely in grain, while on his well-cared farm of fifty acres he raises a variety of profitable crops. He is an enterprising and progressive man, and he has well earned the prosperity he now . enjoys.
Mr. Jillson was married July 19, 1857, to Miss Dorcas A. Cobb, who was born in Otis- field, May 28, 1837, daughter of Thomas L. and Ruth (Pitts) Cobb. Mr. Cobb, who was a well-to-do farmer, died in Otisfield; and his wife also breathed her last in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Jillson have had two children. One died in infancy; and Dora, born in 1867, died in 1877. The bereaved parents subsequently adopted two boys - John McNeill and Harry Ramsdell - who are yet living. Mr. Jillson cast his first vote with the Republicans, but he is now a Democrat. He was Representa- tive to the State legislature in 1893 and 1894, was Collector of the town for seven years in succession, and Justice of the Peace for nine years. To understand the lesson of his life and appreciate the pluck and perseverance that have characterized it, one must bear in mind that Mr. Jillson, the successful business man of to-day, had to work for his living at the age of twelve.
A" LBERT BRACKETT, residing at 173 Lincoln Street, Portland, is a worthy representative of the manufacturing interests of this busy city, being engaged as a contractor in the manufacture of
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boxes of all kinds, carrying on a flourishing business. He was born February 23, 1847, at Windham, Cumberland County, that being the place of nativity of his parents, Thomas and Martha (Trott) Brackett, both of whom were born in July, 1814, the mother on the fourth day, and the father the twenty-sixth. The Brackett family were early residents of Port- land. Jeremiah Brackett, father of Thomas, above mentioned, was born near Brackett Street, which was named in honor of one of his ancestors. He subsequently removed to Windham, where he bought a farm, which he managed for many years.
Thomas Brackett spent his entire life in Windham, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. His demise occurred on Christmas Day, 1882. His wife was the daughter of Thomas Trott, a prosperous farmer and one of the early settlers of Windham. She has been a member of the Baptist church for many years, and is now spending her deelining years at Cumberland Mills. She has eight chil- dren, Albert being the fourth in suceession of birth.
Albert Brackett grew to man's estate in the town of his birth, there acquiring a substantial common-sehool education. During the last years of the late Rebellion Mr. Brackett went South, being under eontraet with the United States government as a teamster, and travel- ling through Nashville, Chattanooga, and over Lookout Mountain. At the close of the war he continued in that occupation for a few years, going westward, and teaming through Colorado, Wyoming, Indian Territory, thence to Salt Lake City, Virginia City, and Santa Fé, seeing much of the country, and having a realistie experience of the rough side of frontier life, being twice attacked by the wily savages, from whom he barely escaped. Re- turning to Portland in 1868, Mr. Braekett learned the trade of a box-maker with his uncle, J. L. Brackett, who was then employ- ing a force of five men in the work. Mr. Brackett was an apt pupil, mastering the trade in a few months, after which he was made foreman of the factory, a position he retained until 1879, his uncle since then employing him as general manager of the business. Under his judicious management the business
has been greatly increased, his manufactures exceeding that of any other box factory in the city, requiring an average force of eighteen men.
Politically, Mr. Brackett is a stanch sup- porter of Republican principles, uniformly casting his vote with that party. Socially, he is prominent in Masonic affairs, being very active in advancing the interests of that Order. He is a member of the Ancient Landmark Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Green- leaf Chapter; Portland Council; St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templars ; Yates Lodge of Perfection ; Portland Council, Prinees of Jerusalem; Dunlap Chapter, of Rose Croix; and of the Maine Consistory. Mr. Brackett belongs also to the Knights of Pythias, being a member of Ivanhoe Lodge, and Uniform rank; also to Maine Lodge, No. I, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and to the Eastern Star Eneampment, having been through all of the chairs in the last two; and to the Cagawasco Tribe of Red Men. He is likewise a member of the Maine Charitable Mechanie Association, a benefieiary organiza- tion of Portland.
Mr. Brackett married on November 24, 1871, Miss Eva McAllister, a native of Franklin, Me. The children born to them are three in number, namely: Edith M., wife of Levi Strout; Alice, wife of C. O. Spear; and Albert M.
PO ATHAN DECKER, of Casco, senior member of the firm of Decker & Han- cock, leading lumber dealers of Cumberland County, was born in this town, March 18, 1814, son of David and Jemima (Deeker) Decker. His father, who was a native of Boothbay, Me., was a minister of the Free Baptist church, and also a success- ful farmer, eking out his small salary with sueh profits as his labor could extract from the soil. When a young man David Decker lo- eated in Standish, Me., and subsequently pur- chased a farm about one mile south of Casco. The latter part of his life was spent in the eastern portion of the State, devoted princi- pally to preaching. Mr. Decker was one of the first preachers in that part of Cumberland
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County. He died in 1843, at the age of seventy-two. His wife, a native of Standish, Me., died in Casco, January 26, 1842, at the age of sixty-three. Their eight children were: Mary, the wife of James Garling, of Portland; David, a farmer and lumberman, who married Eliza Dunham, of Otisfield; William, a farmer, who married Mary Whit- ney, of Harrison ; John, a farmer, who married Mary Furlong, of Greenwood; Eunice, who be- came the wife of Ira Smith, a cooper of Stand- ish; Charles, a farmer, who married Mary Jackson, of Casco; Nathan, the subject of this sketch; and Spencer, a merchant of Casco, who married Rebecca Walker, of that town.
Nathan Decker, the sole survivor of his par- ents' children, took charge of the home farm when quite young, and managed it success- fully until 1859, at the same time attending carefully to his mother's comfort. In that year he moved to the homestead, which he now occupies in the village of Casco. He had been in trade for a number of years in Casco, when he forsook it for the lumber business, which he deemed more profitable. He is now one of the largest lumber dealers in Cumber- land County. In company with his step-son, Mr. Hancock, he owns about four thousand acres of timber land in the vicinity of Casco. In their business they keep fifteen teams con- stantly busy. They sell immense quantities of lumber to buyers on the water. Mr. Decker has practically retired from active work, but still looks after his large business interests.
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