Cumberland County, Maine - William P. Allen ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright (c) 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography William P. Allen Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 360-362 William 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 Sophronia (Watts) Allen. His grandfather, Nehemiah 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 ract 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 life. He died 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, being the youngest son. David Allen was born at the Allen homestead in Pownal, June 25, 1801. He succeeded 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 Democrat in politics, but later supported the Republican party. His wife, formerly Sophronia Watts, who was born in New Gloucester, November 28, 1802, became 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 died in 1862, aged sixty years. She was a member of the Universalist church. William P. Allen was educated in the district schools of Pownal. After attaining his majority he continued to reside with his parents, for whom he managed the farm during their declining years, and eventually inherited 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) Johnson, 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 children, 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 survives. The elder, Samuel J., was born October 3, 1852, and died at the age of twenty years; Sophronia A. was born December 11, 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 Levi 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 seventythree years old. He married Ursula Berse, and reared a family of nine children - Samuel, Jabez, Mary, Celia, Betsey, Solomon, Amia, Isaac, and Joseph. The great-grandmother lived to reach an advanced age. Isaac Cushman, Mr. Cushman's grandfather, was born in New Gloucester in 1792. He was reared 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 citizen, who for many years occupied a leading position among his fellow-townsmen, rendering valuable service to the community as a member of the Board of Selectmen and a Representative to the legislature. He was commissioned a Captain in the State militia. In his religious views he was liberal, and he supported the Whig party in politics. He died October 18, 1852. His wife, Lucy L. Parsons, 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, August 6, 1834. He acquired his education in 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 succeeded 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 prosperous 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 prosperous farmer of Pownal, who married Sophronia 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.