Ivory R. Allen, chairman of the Chelsea Board of Assessors, was born in Waterboro, York County, Me., in 1838, son of Simon and Susan (Ricker) Allen. On the maternal side he is a descendant of Maturin Ricker, of Dover, N.H., through Joseph, Noah, Sr., and Noah, Jr., his grandfather. Maturin Ricker was first taxed in Dover, then called Cocheco, in 1672, being a resident in that part of the town which is now called Rollinsford. He and his brother George were both killed by the Indians, June 4, 1706, while working in their field. Maturin Ricker had three sons; and Joseph, the next in line, was admitted to the first church in Dover in 1730. He settled first in Somersworth, N.H., whence he removed to Berwick, Me. Joseph Ricker married for his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Jabez Garland, and of that union there were nine children. Noah, Sr., son of Joseph and Elizabeth Ricker, was baptized at Dover in 1726. He married Margaret Emery, daughter of Simon Emery, of Kittery, Me., and was the father of Noah Ricker, Jr., who was born in Berwick in 1762, and settled in Waterboro.
The children of Simon and Susan (Ricker) Allen who grew to maturity were: Mary E., Porter S., George Henry, James W., Charles T., Benjamin R., and Ivory R. Allen, the subject of this sketch. Mary E. married Paul Ford, who died, leaving a widow, two daughters and a son, living in Lyman, Me. Porter S. married Catherine Poor, of Belfast, Me. He is now living in Newtonville, Mass., and has two daughters. George Henry, who married a Miss McLaughlin, has two children: Mabel, wife of Joseph Bailey, of Newton, Mass.; and Albert, now of Dorchester, Mass., who is married and has children. James W. Allen, who married Eveline F. Smith, died; leaving a widow, one son, and one daughter. Charles T. married Harriet A. Lord, and is now residing in Danielson, Conn. Benjamin R. Allen, who resides in Waterboro, Me., married Agnes Smith, and has one son.
Ivory R. Allen was educated in the Waterboro public schools. In October, 1862, he enlisted in the First Maine Cavalry, with which he served until after the battle of Gettysburg, and in the fall of 1863 he joined the Second Maine Cavalry, serving with that regiment in Louisiana and Florida until the close of the Civil War. After his discharge from the army he settled in Chelsea, where he engaged in the manufacture of clothing, and has followed that business successfully to the present time.
Mr. Allen has long been identified with local political affairs, having served for the past seven years as president of the Republican Ward and City Committees, of both of which he has been a member for sixteen years; was a Common Councilman two terms; a member of the Board of Aldermen for the years 1884 and 1885; has served upon the Board of Assessors for twelve years, and is now its chairman. He is a member of Winnisimmet Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a comrade of Theodore Winthrop Post, No. 35, G. A. R., of which also he is Past Commander.
Mr. Allen married Linda Mann Wilson, of Bangor, but has no children.
