| W W Payton |
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a son of Rev. John H. and Temperance (Dragoo) Payton. The father was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and when a boy removed with his parents to Washington County, Ohio, and from there to Fayette County, Indiana. In the early days of Delaware County he entered land in Liberty Township. that county, about half of which lie cleared from the heavy timber. In 1842 he removed to Liberty Township, and while living there was ordained a preacher in the Methodist church. In 1849 he wentto Bluffton to take his first charge, and one year later was appointed to the church at Monmouth. From there he went to Auburn, Allen Circuit, thence to Leeshurg, where he spent two years, and subsequently had charge of churches at North Manchester, Columbia City, eighteen months, Bluffton, one year, Winchester, one year, Albany, one year. From Albany he went to Selma, where he remained until 1865, after which he spent four years and a half in Woodhull, Henry County, Illinois, going thence to Champaign County, where he resided until his death, December 14, 1883, his widow being still a resident of Champaign County. W. W. Payton, the subject of this sketch, made his home with his parents, attending the schools of the various places where his father's pastoral duties called him. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, July 2, 1861, and was assigned to Company K, Nineteenth Indiana Infantry. He regiment rendezvoused at Indianapolis, going thence to Washington City, where it joined the Army of the Potomac, First Corps, General McDowell. He participated in the battles of Gainesville, Manasses Junction, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. His regiment wintered at Belle Plain. He was in the first day's fight at Gettysburg, where his corps lost its commander, General Reynolds, and where our subject was wounded and taken prisoner, but left in hospital. On the third day of the battle, he was recaptured and sent to Philadelphia, where he remained in hospital three and a half months. He was then transferred to the hospital at Indianapolis where he was furloughed, and in December, 1863. rejoined his regiment near Rappahannock Station, Virginia, going thence to Culpeper Court House where he re-enlisted. He was promoted Sergeant of Coinpany K, March 1, 1864, and April 21 following he was made Commissary Sergeant of the Nineteenth Indiana Regimeut. He went with his regiment to Petersburg, where he was discharged October 19, 1864, on the consolidation of the Nineteenth, Seventh, Fourteenth and Twentieth Indiana Regiments. After his discharge he returned to his home, teaching school that winter, and the following spring he removed to Henry County, Illinois, wliere he was engaged in farming four years. He then went to Champaign County, Illinois, and three and a half years later came to Indiana, where he has since divided his time between farming and mercantile pursuits. He established his business at Dunkirk, December 13, 1881, and by his reasonable prices, and strict attention to the wants of his customers he has built up a good trade. Mr. Payton was married November 5, 1863, to Miss Adaline Bowen, a native of Blackford County, Indiana, and a daughter of William and Rebecca Bowen. She died December 17, 1886. Their only child, Charles W., who was born July 23, 1871, died March 2, 1872. On the 16th day of August, 1887, Mr. Payton was married to Miss Lizzie Brotherton, a native of Randolph County Indiana, but then a resident of Dunkirk, Jay County, Indiana, a James T. and Lucy A. Brotherton. Mr. Payton is a charter member of Benjamin Shields Post, No. 289, G. A. R. which he has served as Adjutant and Quartermaster. He is a member of Dunkirk Lodge, No. 275, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to Dunkirk Lodge, No. 306, I. O. O. F. |
portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state: engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1887 |