Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Edward L. PAINE ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, August 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Daily Northwestern June 15, 1893 Death of Maj. Paine Over Four Score and Ten A Pioneer Lumberman Passes Away at the Remarkable Age of 92 Years and 17 Days Peacefully and calmly, like one going to sleep, Major Edward L. Paine passed away this morning at seven o'clock at his residence on West Algoma street. The end was not unexpected, nor was it attended with any of the sufferings and trials which usually surround the bed of death. For eight months the deceased had been confined to his bed, or practically so, by the slow disintegration of natural forces. He had no definite disease; suffered no pain. It was a final giving out of the body in all its parts; a death of old age in the most perfect exemplification of that term. Until two weeks ago Mr. Paine read the papers and took an active interest in worldly affairs and things about him. A few days ago it was evident that the end was approaching, and his daughter, Mrs. Elmore of Milwaukee, was summoned to his bedside. He gradually sank away until the end came this morning. Major Edward L. Paine was a native of Pomfret, Conn., where he was born May 29, 1801. He was therefore ninety-two years and seventeen days old at the time of his death. His father, Rev. Edward Paine, was a son of Captain Nathan Paine of Connecticut. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Massachusetts, having emigrated from Norfolk county, England, in 1638. Edward L. was an only son. His mother died when he was only eight days old. Later his father married again and moved to Pennsylvania in 1809, where ten years later he was drowned in the Susquehanna river. Edward L., in the meantime had engaged in teaching school at the munificent salary of $8 a month. At the age of twenty Mr. Paine entered a mercantile establishment at Wilkesbarre as a clerk, and subsequently went into business for himself at Brooklyn, Pa. In 1824 he married Eleanor Ross, daughter of Jesse Ross, whose father was killed in the Wyoming massacre. Later Mr. Paine lived for a time at Elmyra and Canisteo, N.Y., and in 1854 came west and after a year's residence in Milwaukee settled in Oshkosh. With his eldest son, C.N. Paine, he erected a sawmill, and the business then established has since grown into the mammoth establishment now operated by the Paine Lumber company. Soon after the business was founded George M. Paine also entered the partnership and the firm was C.N. Paine & Co., until in 1883 it was merged into the present stock company. In 1870 E.L. Paine withdrew from active business in the firm, since which time he has led a quiet life, devoting much of his time and means to the advancement of church work, to which in recent years he was devotedly interested. His liberal contributions and encouragement went far towards securing the erection of the elegant stone church now occupied by the Algoma Methodist society. His title of major was acquired when he was a young man in Pennsylvania. He organized an independent artillery company and was made major thereof, which title has followed him through life. Major Paine too more interest in church and educational matters than in public affairs, although he was twice commissioned by the governor of Wisconsin to positions of honor and trust. Which he fulfilled with credit. For many years he was president of the Winnebago Bible society and was for some time one of the trustees of the Lawrence university. He has frequently represented his church as a lay delegate at conference gatherings, and in 1888 was a delegate to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church held in New York, and was the oldest of over 500 delegates in that conference from all points of the globe. Major Paine was the father of four sons and one daughter; Edward R. of Milwaukee, Charles N. and Nathan, now deceased, George M. president of the Paine Lumber company, and Mrs. R. P. Elmore of Milwaukee. His wife died in 1891 after a happy married life of sixty-seven years. The funeral will be held at five o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Friends are requested to kindly omit flowers.