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The 27th Maine Volunteers
Otis F Russell
Rank: Chaplain Company: S Age: 39 Residence: Parsonsfield
Height: 5' 7 1/2" Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Light Complexion: Light
[Enlisted as a cpl, Co H; transferred to Co S as Chaplain on 30 Jan, 1863]
OTIS F RUSSELL was born circa Feb 1823 [1900 census] in Albany, NH, the son of Thomas
and Ruth (Harriman) Russell. He died on 4 Feb 1904 in Gorham, Maine at age 80 yrs, 11 mos,
22 das from pneumonia [ME VR]. He was buried in the Hillside Cemetery in Gorham (Little
Falls).
On 14 Feb 1860 in Shapleigh, Maine, he was married to SUSAN M SAWYER. She was born
9 Feb 1828 in Candia, NH [NH Death Rec], perhaps the same Susan M seen in Candia, NH
at age 22 with Benjamin and Lucinda Sawyer. She died on 24 Jan 1907 in Albany, NH at age
78 yrs,11 mos,16 das, a resident for only 4 mos, having come from Portland, ME. She was
buried at Hillside Cemetery, Gorham with her husband.
A Freewill Baptist clergyman, Otis had enlisted as a corporal into the 27th Maine but was
promoted to Full Chaplain of the regiment on 30 Jan 1863. He also served in the US Navy on
board the USS Brandywine [pension index]. He was a minister in many Maine and New
Hampshire locations, including that of Shapleigh in 1860, Belmont, NH in 1870, and Buxton by
1880. In the 1900 census, he and Susan were living in Gorham, Maine, where he was listed as
a farmer.
They had one child, a son:
JOHN O, born circa June 1868 in Wolfeboro, Carroll, NH. He first was married, on 22 Nov
1893 in Portland, ME, to EVA A LITTLEFIELD. The Cape Elizabeth born daughter of Enoch
and Hannah (Archibald) Littlefield, she died from pneumonia on 5 Mar 1903 in Portland at age
30 yrs. He was married secondly,on 20 Apr 1904 in Portland, to EDITH M LARRABEE. She
was the daughter of Thomas and Frances M (Call) Larrabee, born in Belfast, Maine.They lived
in Gorham and Portland, ME [1910-20 censuses].
By his first wife Eva:
1. (stillborn) 25 Mar 1895 in Portland [ME Birth Rec]
2. Myrtle Doris, born 3 Aug 1898 in South Portland [ME Birth Rec]
3. Norman O, born ca 1901-02 [1910-20 censuses]. Age 19 in 1920 census, he was a
seaman in the US Navy
children by wife Edith:
4. Carl Sawyer, born and died on 24 Aug 1904 in Portland [ME Birth, Death Rec]
5. Ruth Sawyer, born 15 Dec 1905 in Portland [ME Birth Rec]
6. Velma Larrabee, born 22 Feb 1907 in Portland [ME Birth Rec]
7. Florian (or Florence) Mildred, born 3 Apr 1908 in Gorham [ME Birth Rec], died on 23 Oct
1908 in Portland [ME Death Rec]
8. Helen Mary, born 28 Aug 1910 in Gorham [ME Birth Rec]
Otis was mentioned in Faith In The Fight: Civil War Chaplains by John Wesley Brinsfield
c2003. On page 191, the roster lists Otis as being methodist. Both the 1860 and 1870
censuses show him as being F.B and F.W. - FreeWill Baptist.
Additional Source Data:
1850
1860 Shapleigh, York, ME census (p31): hh 80/237
1870 Belmont, Belknap, NH (p5): hh 42/43; liv in home of Abigail Young, age 80
1880 Buxton (p27): hh 281/306
1890 Vet Sch: didn't see
1900 Gorham, Cumberland, ME (p5A): hh 112/112; a farmer now, owned farm; ch 1/1
1900 Portland, Cumb, ME (pg 10B): hh 144/232 65 St Lawrence St
1910 Gorham, Cumb, ME (pg 9B): hh 209/244
1920 Gorham, Cumb, ME (pg 25B): hh 419/539
- Civil War Pension Index: Otis filed 31 Oct 1885 (app #_53,329 cert #366,853), widow filed 13 Feb 1904 (app
#799,906 cert #572,166)
MoH