SAMUEL E. PAINE, postmaster, Xenia, was born in Brookfield, Orange Co., Vt., October 1, 1824, to Elijah and Cynthia (Esterbrook) Paine. The father was born in Orange County, Vt., and died there. The mother is a native of the same county; and is now a resident of Parsons, Kan., at the age of seventy-seven years. Our subject's early life was spent on the farm, and he was educated in the common schools. At the age of seventeen years, he went to New Bedford, Mass., where for four years he clerked in a store, but then engaged in the mercantile business for himself. In November, 1849, he was married, in New Bedford, to Miss Mercy C. Kirby, a native of Dartmouth, Mass., and a daughter of Capt. Nicholas Kirby, a sailor. She is the mother of six children, five of whom are now living, viz.: Louisa B., wife of A. L. Evans, of Fla.; Fannie M., wife of Joseph E. Tully, of Xenia; Carrie K., wife of Clyde Alexander, of Terryville, Dak. Ter.; Albert B., an artist, and also a paid contributor for several Eastern papers - Waverly, New York Weekly, Saturday Night, etc. - which papers publish his poems; Frank L., at home; and Albert B., deceased. In 1854, Mr. Paine removed to Benton's Port, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile business. He raised Company I Nineteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as Captain August 6, 1862. At the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., he received a gunshot wound in the thigh, which disabled him for service, and on account of this disability he was discharged in April, 1863. In 1865, he sold out his business in Iowa, and came to Xenia, Ill., and for about six years was engaged in farming, but again entered the mercantile life in Xenia, in which he continued for about three years. when he sold out and again gave his attention to farming. His farm, which is near town, contains 130 acres of land in cultivation. August, 1882, he was appointed to take charge of the post office at Xenia, which office he still holds. He is a member of the Xenia Lodges, A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. In politics, he was a Whig, till the Republican party was organized, and since has been Republican. He has held various offices in the village and township, and was the first Republican on the County Board of Supervisors elected from this township, which is strongly Democratic.
Source: 1884 History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois, Part IV, pages 163-164.
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