John Payne Jr. (1815 - 1863)

Born 6 Apr 1815 in Hamilton Co., Ohio

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Sep 1863 at age 48 in Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois

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Biography

John Payne, Jr., was shot on the Court House steps in Danville, Illinois, on August 24, 1863. He was shot for wearing a "butternut pin," a symbol of support for Confederate troops, or for the support of the idea that states could secede from the Union. Less than a month later, John died from that gun shot.

John had served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. He had three sons serving in the U.S. Army during the Civil War; he had a brother serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Civil War. He was no coward. He was simply a man with his own opinion about what was happening in the Civil War.

John was twice married. First, to Virletta O'NEAL; they had seven children -- six of whom lived to maturity. Second, to Priscilla NIXON, the widow BEEZLEY; they had three children, all who lived to maturity.

Sources

• 1840, 1860 U.S. Census. Illinois marriage records. Grave stone. Published history for Vermilion Co., Illinois.