THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS - 5/22/1946
Mrs. Jennie Payne, 100, oldest native resident of Rock Island county, died at 9 o'clock last night in St. Anthony's hospital, where she had been confined since April 6. She had resided at 914 Nineteenth Street in Rock Island.
Mrs. Payne was born on the site of the present Rock Island Elks Club building, Aug. 17, 1845, the daughter of Major and Mrs. Frazier Wilson.
She received her early education in a one-story school which was located where Spencer Square is now, and in the basement of a Methodist Church, then located on the northwest corner of the former Union Square.
She attended Rock Island high school, where M. B. Reynolds, principal and Mrs. Mary Grace Lynde Davenport, assitant principal, were her teachers. After being graduated from high school, she studied music in Chicago under the late Flo Ziegfeld's father.
Mrs. Payne was married to William Payne in Rock Island in 1870. Her husband was deputy sherrif at the time, and 2 years later became sherrif. Mr. Payne purchased a farm at Osborn, Zuma township, and for a time, the Paynes reside there.
Mr. Payne served 12 years in the Illinois legislature, and Mrs. Payne took an active interest in politics. The couple lived in Springfield while the legislature was in session, and Mrs. Payne often sat with her husband during the proceedings. He died in 1921.
A 6-year-old girl when The Argus began publication, Mrs. Payne recalled when the paper was first published. Her father, Major Wilson, was once chief of Rock Island's volunteer fire department and circuit clerk. Her mother, Mrs. Asenath Wilson, formerly lived in a residence on First avenue and West Seventeenth street. First Avenue was formerly a principle residential street in Rock Island, the late Mrs. Payne recalled.
She could remember when the first train came to Rock Island, and when the first bridge was built across the Mississippi river. She could also recall when the old high school building burned down in 1856, and once declared that the theory the school "mysteriously" burned was "pure fiction".
Honored at Event
On Feb 26. 1940, Mrs. Payne, selected as the oldest native resident of Rock Island county by the Rock Island Kiwanis club, was honored at a club luncheon in the Fort Armstrong hotel, when the 99th aniversary of the founding of Rock Island township was observed.
The pioneer Rock Island resident told of when the Hadsell House, a 2-story frame building, occupoed the site where the Harper House is now located, and of the burning of the Island City hotel. She attended the grand opening of the Harper House, Feb. 22, 1871. Mrs. Payne is said to have been the first girl in Rock Island to ice skate, frequently skating on ice where Spencer square is now located. She was presented a pair of silver skates in recognition of her skating ability.
In recent years, Mrs. Payne spent many of her winters in Florida and California. Music was a hobby and avocation of hers for many years, and she played for organizations in Rock Island and helped found several singing groups.
Mrs. Payne was born in a double house at 224 Nineteenth street, on the west side of Spencer square. The other half of the house, which stood where the Rocket theater is now, was the home of Mrs. Payne's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Norris. Mr. Norris, who was Rock Island's first druggist, was a Democrat. When Stephen A. Douglas, opponent of Abraham Lincoln, came to Rock Island to speak for the first time, in 1854, Grandfather Norris persuaded Jennie, age 9, to ride in the "Democrat's wagon" and took her to see Douglas at the hotel, where Jennie sat on his lap.
Survivors of Mrs. Payne are: Two sons, Frank W. Payne of Barstow, and Ben Payne, Rock Island; a duaghter, Mrs. James D. Lightbody, the former Miss Mabel Payne, of Glencoe; seven grandchildren, Joseph C. Bailey, New York city, Helen P. Bailey, St. Louis, Mo., Martin B. Bailey, Danville, Wilson Payne, New York city, Chester Payne, Chicago, James D. Lightbody, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Kathryn Jane Parker, Neenah, Wis, a neice, Mrs. Grace Haskins, Los Angeles, Calif.; and five great-grand-children. A daughter preceded Mrs. Payne in death.
The body was taken to Knox mortuary. Funeral services will not be set until the arrival of Mrs. Mabel Lightbody from Charleston, N.C., where she and her husband are living temporarily. She is expected to reach here either today or tommorrow.
Mrs. Jennie Payne, 100, oldest native resident of Rock Island county, died at 9 o'clock last night in St. Anthony's hospital, where she had been confined since April 6. She had resided at 914 Nineteenth Street in Rock Island.
Mrs. Payne was born on the site of the present Rock Island Elks Club building, Aug. 17, 1845, the daughter of Major and Mrs. Frazier Wilson.
She received her early education in a one-story school which was located where Spencer Square is now, and in the basement of a Methodist Church, then located on the northwest corner of the former Union Square.
She attended Rock Island high school, where M. B. Reynolds, principal and Mrs. Mary Grace Lynde Davenport, assitant principal, were her teachers. After being graduated from high school, she studied music in Chicago under the late Flo Ziegfeld's father.
Mrs. Payne was married to William Payne in Rock Island in 1870. Her husband was deputy sherrif at the time, and 2 years later became sherrif. Mr. Payne purchased a farm at Osborn, Zuma township, and for a time, the Paynes reside there.
Mr. Payne served 12 years in the Illinois legislature, and Mrs. Payne took an active interest in politics. The couple lived in Springfield while the legislature was in session, and Mrs. Payne often sat with her husband during the proceedings. He died in 1921.
A 6-year-old girl when The Argus began publication, Mrs. Payne recalled when the paper was first published. Her father, Major Wilson, was once chief of Rock Island's volunteer fire department and circuit clerk. Her mother, Mrs. Asenath Wilson, formerly lived in a residence on First avenue and West Seventeenth street. First Avenue was formerly a principle residential street in Rock Island, the late Mrs. Payne recalled.
She could remember when the first train came to Rock Island, and when the first bridge was built across the Mississippi river. She could also recall when the old high school building burned down in 1856, and once declared that the theory the school "mysteriously" burned was "pure fiction".
Honored at Event
On Feb 26. 1940, Mrs. Payne, selected as the oldest native resident of Rock Island county by the Rock Island Kiwanis club, was honored at a club luncheon in the Fort Armstrong hotel, when the 99th aniversary of the founding of Rock Island township was observed.
The pioneer Rock Island resident told of when the Hadsell House, a 2-story frame building, occupoed the site where the Harper House is now located, and of the burning of the Island City hotel. She attended the grand opening of the Harper House, Feb. 22, 1871. Mrs. Payne is said to have been the first girl in Rock Island to ice skate, frequently skating on ice where Spencer square is now located. She was presented a pair of silver skates in recognition of her skating ability.
In recent years, Mrs. Payne spent many of her winters in Florida and California. Music was a hobby and avocation of hers for many years, and she played for organizations in Rock Island and helped found several singing groups.
Mrs. Payne was born in a double house at 224 Nineteenth street, on the west side of Spencer square. The other half of the house, which stood where the Rocket theater is now, was the home of Mrs. Payne's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Norris. Mr. Norris, who was Rock Island's first druggist, was a Democrat. When Stephen A. Douglas, opponent of Abraham Lincoln, came to Rock Island to speak for the first time, in 1854, Grandfather Norris persuaded Jennie, age 9, to ride in the "Democrat's wagon" and took her to see Douglas at the hotel, where Jennie sat on his lap.
Survivors of Mrs. Payne are: Two sons, Frank W. Payne of Barstow, and Ben Payne, Rock Island; a duaghter, Mrs. James D. Lightbody, the former Miss Mabel Payne, of Glencoe; seven grandchildren, Joseph C. Bailey, New York city, Helen P. Bailey, St. Louis, Mo., Martin B. Bailey, Danville, Wilson Payne, New York city, Chester Payne, Chicago, James D. Lightbody, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Kathryn Jane Parker, Neenah, Wis, a neice, Mrs. Grace Haskins, Los Angeles, Calif.; and five great-grand-children. A daughter preceded Mrs. Payne in death.
The body was taken to Knox mortuary. Funeral services will not be set until the arrival of Mrs. Mabel Lightbody from Charleston, N.C., where she and her husband are living temporarily. She is expected to reach here either today or tommorrow.
THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS - 5/22/1946
Mrs. Jennie Payne, 100, oldest native resident of Rock Island county, died at 9 o'clock last night in St. Anthony's hospital, where she had been confined since April 6. She had resided at 914 Nineteenth Street in Rock Island.
Mrs. Payne was born on the site of the present Rock Island Elks Club building, Aug. 17, 1845, the daughter of Major and Mrs. Frazier Wilson.
She received her early education in a one-story school which was located where Spencer Square is now, and in the basement of a Methodist Church, then located on the northwest corner of the former Union Square.
She attended Rock Island high school, where M. B. Reynolds, principal and Mrs. Mary Grace Lynde Davenport, assitant principal, were her teachers. After being graduated from high school, she studied music in Chicago under the late Flo Ziegfeld's father.
Mrs. Payne was married to William Payne in Rock Island in 1870. Her husband was deputy sherrif at the time, and 2 years later became sherrif. Mr. Payne purchased a farm at Osborn, Zuma township, and for a time, the Paynes reside there.
Mr. Payne served 12 years in the Illinois legislature, and Mrs. Payne took an active interest in politics. The couple lived in Springfield while the legislature was in session, and Mrs. Payne often sat with her husband during the proceedings. He died in 1921.
A 6-year-old girl when The Argus began publication, Mrs. Payne recalled when the paper was first published. Her father, Major Wilson, was once chief of Rock Island's volunteer fire department and circuit clerk. Her mother, Mrs. Asenath Wilson, formerly lived in a residence on First avenue and West Seventeenth street. First Avenue was formerly a principle residential street in Rock Island, the late Mrs. Payne recalled.
She could remember when the first train came to Rock Island, and when the first bridge was built across the Mississippi river. She could also recall when the old high school building burned down in 1856, and once declared that the theory the school "mysteriously" burned was "pure fiction".
Honored at Event
On Feb 26. 1940, Mrs. Payne, selected as the oldest native resident of Rock Island county by the Rock Island Kiwanis club, was honored at a club luncheon in the Fort Armstrong hotel, when the 99th aniversary of the founding of Rock Island township was observed.
The pioneer Rock Island resident told of when the Hadsell House, a 2-story frame building, occupoed the site where the Harper House is now located, and of the burning of the Island City hotel. She attended the grand opening of the Harper House, Feb. 22, 1871. Mrs. Payne is said to have been the first girl in Rock Island to ice skate, frequently skating on ice where Spencer square is now located. She was presented a pair of silver skates in recognition of her skating ability.
In recent years, Mrs. Payne spent many of her winters in Florida and California. Music was a hobby and avocation of hers for many years, and she played for organizations in Rock Island and helped found several singing groups.
Mrs. Payne was born in a double house at 224 Nineteenth street, on the west side of Spencer square. The other half of the house, which stood where the Rocket theater is now, was the home of Mrs. Payne's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Norris. Mr. Norris, who was Rock Island's first druggist, was a Democrat. When Stephen A. Douglas, opponent of Abraham Lincoln, came to Rock Island to speak for the first time, in 1854, Grandfather Norris persuaded Jennie, age 9, to ride in the "Democrat's wagon" and took her to see Douglas at the hotel, where Jennie sat on his lap.
Survivors of Mrs. Payne are: Two sons, Frank W. Payne of Barstow, and Ben Payne, Rock Island; a duaghter, Mrs. James D. Lightbody, the former Miss Mabel Payne, of Glencoe; seven grandchildren, Joseph C. Bailey, New York city, Helen P. Bailey, St. Louis, Mo., Martin B. Bailey, Danville, Wilson Payne, New York city, Chester Payne, Chicago, James D. Lightbody, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Kathryn Jane Parker, Neenah, Wis, a neice, Mrs. Grace Haskins, Los Angeles, Calif.; and five great-grand-children. A daughter preceded Mrs. Payne in death.
The body was taken to Knox mortuary. Funeral services will not be set until the arrival of Mrs. Mabel Lightbody from Charleston, N.C., where she and her husband are living temporarily. She is expected to reach here either today or tommorrow.
Mrs. Jennie Payne, 100, oldest native resident of Rock Island county, died at 9 o'clock last night in St. Anthony's hospital, where she had been confined since April 6. She had resided at 914 Nineteenth Street in Rock Island.
Mrs. Payne was born on the site of the present Rock Island Elks Club building, Aug. 17, 1845, the daughter of Major and Mrs. Frazier Wilson.
She received her early education in a one-story school which was located where Spencer Square is now, and in the basement of a Methodist Church, then located on the northwest corner of the former Union Square.
She attended Rock Island high school, where M. B. Reynolds, principal and Mrs. Mary Grace Lynde Davenport, assitant principal, were her teachers. After being graduated from high school, she studied music in Chicago under the late Flo Ziegfeld's father.
Mrs. Payne was married to William Payne in Rock Island in 1870. Her husband was deputy sherrif at the time, and 2 years later became sherrif. Mr. Payne purchased a farm at Osborn, Zuma township, and for a time, the Paynes reside there.
Mr. Payne served 12 years in the Illinois legislature, and Mrs. Payne took an active interest in politics. The couple lived in Springfield while the legislature was in session, and Mrs. Payne often sat with her husband during the proceedings. He died in 1921.
A 6-year-old girl when The Argus began publication, Mrs. Payne recalled when the paper was first published. Her father, Major Wilson, was once chief of Rock Island's volunteer fire department and circuit clerk. Her mother, Mrs. Asenath Wilson, formerly lived in a residence on First avenue and West Seventeenth street. First Avenue was formerly a principle residential street in Rock Island, the late Mrs. Payne recalled.
She could remember when the first train came to Rock Island, and when the first bridge was built across the Mississippi river. She could also recall when the old high school building burned down in 1856, and once declared that the theory the school "mysteriously" burned was "pure fiction".
Honored at Event
On Feb 26. 1940, Mrs. Payne, selected as the oldest native resident of Rock Island county by the Rock Island Kiwanis club, was honored at a club luncheon in the Fort Armstrong hotel, when the 99th aniversary of the founding of Rock Island township was observed.
The pioneer Rock Island resident told of when the Hadsell House, a 2-story frame building, occupoed the site where the Harper House is now located, and of the burning of the Island City hotel. She attended the grand opening of the Harper House, Feb. 22, 1871. Mrs. Payne is said to have been the first girl in Rock Island to ice skate, frequently skating on ice where Spencer square is now located. She was presented a pair of silver skates in recognition of her skating ability.
In recent years, Mrs. Payne spent many of her winters in Florida and California. Music was a hobby and avocation of hers for many years, and she played for organizations in Rock Island and helped found several singing groups.
Mrs. Payne was born in a double house at 224 Nineteenth street, on the west side of Spencer square. The other half of the house, which stood where the Rocket theater is now, was the home of Mrs. Payne's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Norris. Mr. Norris, who was Rock Island's first druggist, was a Democrat. When Stephen A. Douglas, opponent of Abraham Lincoln, came to Rock Island to speak for the first time, in 1854, Grandfather Norris persuaded Jennie, age 9, to ride in the "Democrat's wagon" and took her to see Douglas at the hotel, where Jennie sat on his lap.
Survivors of Mrs. Payne are: Two sons, Frank W. Payne of Barstow, and Ben Payne, Rock Island; a duaghter, Mrs. James D. Lightbody, the former Miss Mabel Payne, of Glencoe; seven grandchildren, Joseph C. Bailey, New York city, Helen P. Bailey, St. Louis, Mo., Martin B. Bailey, Danville, Wilson Payne, New York city, Chester Payne, Chicago, James D. Lightbody, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Kathryn Jane Parker, Neenah, Wis, a neice, Mrs. Grace Haskins, Los Angeles, Calif.; and five great-grand-children. A daughter preceded Mrs. Payne in death.
The body was taken to Knox mortuary. Funeral services will not be set until the arrival of Mrs. Mabel Lightbody from Charleston, N.C., where she and her husband are living temporarily. She is expected to reach here either today or tommorrow.
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