Cumberland County, Maine - Hon. Otis C. Nelson
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Biography
Hon. Otis C. Nelson
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 356-359

Hon. Otis C. Nelson, an extensive 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 1702.

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 Deacon 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 generous 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 Gloucester, 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 Gloucester. The father of these children died September 15, 1861, and the
mother on July 7, 1853.

Otis C. Nelson, after acquiring his education 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 California, 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, Ore., 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 improved
himself. _He carries on general farming 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 infancy. On January 31, 1858, Mr. Nelson married Miss Julia Bailey, daughter
of Ransom 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, Me.

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 Selectmen, and he has held, many
minor offices. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Cumberland Lodge, No. 12, of
New Gloucester, having been connected 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.