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Miner Paign

Miner Paign, one of the original proprietors and still an extensive real-estate owner of Oelwein, where he makes his home, is a pioneer of Fayette County of 1853. He was born in the township of Cold Spring, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., August 6, 1833, and is a son of Stephen and Wealthy (Miner) Paign. Upon his father's farm he was reared until the age of fifteen. In 1848 he left his parents and went to Kane County, Ill., where he resided until 1853, when he came to Iowa. After spending a year working in a sawmill in Auburn he took up his residence on a tract of land just north of Fayette, which he had entered upon coming to the county. He was married in the township of Windsor on the 14th of May 1854, the lady of his choice being Miss Hannah E. Howe, who was born in Washtenaw County, Mich., March 10, 1833, and with her parents, Isaac and Sarah J. (Beers) Howe, came to Iowa in 1852, the family locating in Windsor Township. The father was born in Poultney, Rutland Co, Vt., October 11, 1795, and died February 12, 1878. Her mother was born in Providence, R. I., December 25, 1797, and died April 2, 1870.

Mr. Paign continued farming near Fayette until 1858, when he sold his property and bought a stage line, the route covering the distance between Earlville, Delaware County, and Decorah, Winneshiek County. He carried on business until the spring of 1861, when war having been declared he sold out and entered the army. Enlisting May 20, 1861, he became a member of Company F, Third Iowa Infantry, and served until December of the same year when he was discharged for physical disability, resulting from disease contracted in the service. When he entered the army he weighed one hundred and eighty-seven and when he was discharged his weight was one hundred and thirty-three pounds. During the period of his soldier career he participated in several minor engagements, and on his return from the army was unable to conduct any sort of business or to do any laborious work for several years. In 1869 he embarked in hotel keeping, operating the Gerard House of Gerard, Clayton County, for one year. In 1870 he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Jefferson Township and devoted himself to its cultivation for two years. When the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad was built through the township, he gave the right of way through his farm. The station of Oelwein was established partly on his land and in 1873 he laid out his first addition, consisting of eleven acres, on which an important section of the business part of the city now stands. The tract is bounded on the west by Frederick street and on the south by Charles street. In 1888 he laid out a second addition containing thirty lots and the necessary streets and on the 15th of September, 1890, platted a third addition of eight acres, making forty-three lots, of which he has sold twenty-six. Two months later he laid out a fourth addition of nine acres, making forty-one lots, which he has but just placed on the market. Mr. Paign's city property is conveniently located near the business center of the town and its schools, making it desirable property for homes and also for business locations.

Six children, three sons and three daughters, were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Paign, but all are now deceased with the exception of one daughter: Hannah Rozetta, born March 17, 1857, died September 1, 1860; Frank, born August 5, 1858, died January 24, 1877; Clifford M., born November 27, 1860, died November 11, 1870; Rosa Virginia, born October 5, 1862, died August 20, 1863; Clara May, born April 21, 1864, is now the wife of Alfred Hockings, of Oelwein; Charles Isaac, born January 27, 1869, died May 3, 1872. The son-in-law, Mr. Hockings, was born in Jefferson Township, this county, in June, 1862, and by his union with Miss Paign three children, daughters, were born. The two younger, Nellie Beryle and Hazel, are living, Frankie, the eldest, died at the age of three years. Mrs. Payne <sic> was brought up under the auspices of the Episcopal Church and is an estimable lady, highly respected. In politics, Mr. Paign is independent. He is a member of the Oelwein School Board, in which capacity he has served for six years and is also a member of the present City Council and has served as Justice of the Peace fourteen years. He belongs to Columbia Lodge, No. 83, A. O. U. W., and is a member of Griffith Post, No. 134, G. A. R.