tephen Johnston Paine , was born about 1775, possibly in Vermont1. He was married to Ruth Lewis and was first discovered in Greene County, New York where his son DeCalvis was born on November 2, 18032.

Sometime after this, the family apparently moved on to Kentucky where his daughter Delila was born circa 18063. In 1807 a Johnston Pain is listed in the Indiana Territorial census and since the family is not listed in the 1810 Kentucky Federal Census it may be deduced that the family was in Indiana when Lewis was born circa 18104. Stephen is later listed as Johnston Paine, and as being a voter in Laughery Township, Dearborn County, Indiana Territory, on August 3, 18125. In 1813 he is listed in section 3 of the subscribers to the recommendations of the citizens of Dearborn County for the appointment of Elijah Sparks to Judge6.

Family tradition has it that Stephen enlisted in the fight against British aggression in the War of 1812, in which he served as a Captain7, though further research needs to be done to verify the unit and state of which he served.

After serving his country he returned to his family, of which two more children were added: Emma and Thomas J., both born circa 1812. Soon after, several more came along as Stephen J. was born circa 1817 and Alma T. between 1815 and 18208.

Stephen s first record of land acquisition was November 24, 1817. This was the Southeast Quarter of Section 36 (SE ¼-S36) of Township 5 North, Range 3 West, of the 1st Prime Meridian of Laughery, later Caesar Creek, Township, straddling the banks of Laughery Creek, in Dearborn County, Indiana9.

The first Federal Census of Indiana was conducted in 1820. S. Johnston Payne is listed on the schedule as residing in Dearborn County, Laughery Township and with the following enumerations:

Free White Males: Under 10 years of age - 2;
Of 10 and under 16 - 1;
Between 16 and 18 - 1;
Of 16 and under 26 - 2;
Of 26 and under 45 - 1.
Free White Females: Under ten years of age - 3;
Of ten and under 16 - 1;
Of 26 and under 45 - 1.
Persons engaged in agriculture - 210.

Between this time and 1825, Ruth bore him two more daughters, Ann and Ruth11.

His next land transaction was the West Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section 6 (W ½-NW ¼ -S6) of Township 5 North, Range 2 West of the 1st Prime Meridian of Sparta Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, relinquished to him by Lewis Whiteman on November 26, 1827. On May 25, 1829, Benjamin Johnson relinquished to Stephen the East Half of the Southwest Quarter of Section 1 (E ½-SW¼-S1) of Township 6 North, Range 3 East of the 1st Prime Meridian of Manchester and Sparta Townships, Dearborn County, Indiana12.

Within the next several years two of his older sons would marry.

DeCalvis was married to Deborah Cartwright on 8 August 1829 while Lewis wedded Catherine Robinson on 20 June 183013.

The 1830 Federal Census listed Stephen Paine as living in Manchester Township. His family consisted of the following:

Free White Males:
Of 10 and under 15 - 1;
Of 15 and under 20 - 1;
Of 20 and under 30 - 1;
Of 50 and under 60 - 1.
Free White Females:
Of 5 and under 10 - 2;
Of 10 and under 15 - 1;
Of 50 and under 60 - 114.

In 1831, Stephen built and operated, probably until the time of his death, a distillery located in the Northeast section of Sparta Township, which produced a capacity of one-half barrel of spirits per day.

According to one Dearborn county history, it was believed to be the first and last enterprise of this character in the township15.

Stephen Johnston Paine died circa 1835, most likely on his farm in Manchester Township. Although he may be buried in the small cemetery on the land adjoining the farm to the west, it is unknown at this time where he rests16.

The Dearborn County, Indiana Probate Complete Records, Book C contains the following record:

Page 112: February Term 1840
Stephen J. Payne Estate
13 August 1836
Letters of Administration granted to DeCalvis Payne with Noyes Canfield security
Page 113: Petition to sell real estate: Ruth Payne, widow; heirs: Delila Hodgson and James Hodgson her husband; Catherine Payne, Jane Payne, Joys Ann Payne, widow and heirs of Lewis Payne, deceased; Emma Dale and John Dale her husband; Thomas Payne, Alma Payne, Ann Payne and Ruth Payne heirs of Stephen J. Payne, deceased. [NOTE: It is my opinion that the 4th son, Stephen J. Payne was not listed since he had left to go west, and may have received his share of the inheritance prior to leaving.]
Land is 35 acres in the east half of the southwest quarter Section 1, Town 6, Range 2 West.
Page 117: Land description now says east half of the southwest quarter Section 1, Town 6, Range 3 West.
Page 122: Land sold 7 July 1838 to John Higbee and Ebenezer Bedunnah17.

The following advertisement was provided in the Lawrenceburg Palladium on June 16, 1838:

FARM AND MILLS FOR SALE
The undersigned, will on the 7th day of July, 1838, offer at public sale, on the premises, the following real estate, being real estate which formerly belonged to Stephen J. Paine now deceased, to-wit: The east half of the south west quarter of section No. 1, in township No. 6, of range 3 west, in the district of lands offered for sale at Cincinnati, Ohio, containing seventy nine and 64 hundredth acres of land.
The said farm is situated on Hogan Creek in Dearborn County, six miles from Wilmington, and has upon it a good convenient log house, a saw and grist mill.
One fourth of the purchase money will be required in three months from the day of sale, one fourth in six months, one-fourth in nine months, and the residue in twelve months. The purchaser will be required to execute his notes with good security to secure the payment of the purchase money.
If the said land is not sold on said day, it will be sold at any time thereafter, at private sale with the same terms as above.
The purchaser will receive a bond on the day of sale, for a deed upon completion of the last payment.

DECALVIS PAINE

Administrator
N.B. Any information in reference to said land can be had by calling on E. Dumont, Esq. at Wilmington.

D.P.

June 16, 1838------37-------4t18

I believe that Ruth Payne, Stephen's wife, died between this time and 1840 as she is not listed in the 1840 Federal Census or as living with any children in the Dearborn County area.

Of the children of Stephen J. and Ruth Paine only the destinies of seven of the known nine have been learned: DeCalvis; Emma, who married John Dale on 31 May 1836; and Thomas J., who married Julia Ann Baker on April 13, 183719, all migrated with their families to Illinois. All of them initially resided in Schuyler County, with Thomas finally settling in Pike County, Illinois20. DeCalvis died December 10, 1890 in Industry, McDonough County, Illinois21. Delila, who married James Hodgeson, apparently remained in Dearborn County with her family22. Lewis died circa 1832 and his widow Catharine married Samuel Roberts on 12 January 184123. Stephen J. had gone to Illinois circa 1835, where he married Mary Ellen Seward on April 28, 1840. They settled in McDonough County, Illinois, then several years later moved to Van Buren County, Iowa for a period of twelve years, then one year in Jackson county, Missouri, finally settling in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Stephen was murdered by Confederate guerrilla Bloody Bill Anderson at his home on July 31, 186324.

Alma married Ronald Ellis December 17, 183725. The lives and loves of Ann and Ruth are unknown at this time.

1.

 History of Dearborn & Ohio Counties, Indiana, pg. 559

2.

 Research of Ms. D. Francis Paine

3.

 Information from 1850 Dearborn County, Indiana Federal Census and Probate Record of Stephen Payne

4.

 Hoosier Journal of Ancestry Vol. V, #1, pg. 26

5.

 Indiana Source Books, Volume II, pg. 84

6.

 Territorial Papers of the U.S., Vol. II, pg. 246, 1813

7.

 From a biographical sketch of Thomas J. Payne, grandson of Stephen Johnston Paine (Sr.) in Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, pg. 758-759

8.

 Information from 1820 Federal Census and Probate Record of Stephen Payne

9.

 Indiana Land Entries, Vol. I, pg. 77
10. 1820 Indiana Federal Census
11. Information from 1820 Federal Census and Probate Record of Stephen Payne
12. Indiana Land Entries, Vol. I, pg. 46 & 75
13. Indiana Source Books, Vol. III, pg. 95
14. 1830 Indiana Federal Census
15. History of Dearborn & Ohio Counties, Indiana, pg.
16. Based upon circumstantial evidence: Probate Record for 1836 and plotting of land ownership on Manchester/Sparta township maps.
17. Dearborn County, Indiana Probate Complete Record Books
18. Article courtesy of DawnF1863@AOL.com.
19. Indiana Marriages through 1850, Indiana State Library Genealogy Division (on WWW)
20. 1850 and 1860 Illinois Federal Censuses
21. Research of Ms. D. Francis Paine
22. 1850 Indiana Federal Census
23. Indiana Marriages through 1850, Indiana State Library Genealogy Division (on WWW)
24. Information from children of Stephen J. Payne (Jr.), see note (7) and the Centennial History of Argentine, Kansas, pg. 170-171
25. Indiana Marriages through 1850, Indiana State Library Genealogy Division (on WWW)

Submitted by Brad Moeller, Great-great-great grandson of Stephen J. Moeller