My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

BARNEY W. PAYNE. This prominent and influential citizen of Homer, whose lately lamented death took place May 19, 1891, at his residence in Homer, after a long and lingering illness of five years’ duration, was for over forty years a resident and well known personage of this county. His life was cast in three different channels, trade, manufacture, and farming. At each occupation he was successful, and only changed from one to another because of some benefits that he considered would come to him. He was born in Georgetown, Madison County, N. Y., December 1, 1812, and was a son of John C. and Philena (Pierce) Payne.

The same year that our subject was born, the family moved to Hamilton village, N. Y., where he was reared and where his lot was cast until 1844. When he was a lad of eleven years, his uncle, Mr. Payne, sent him to mill, and when on the way he went blind, being taken by the measles, which settled in the eyes. From that age until he was seventeen he did not attend school, but starting in then he acquired a good business education in short notice, for while he was backward in his school education, he was old enough to reason and think for himself, and therefore progressed rapidly. When twenty-nine years of age, he engaged in the dry goods business in Hamilton, and continued thus for three years until 1844. In that year he moved to Jefferson County, locating near Cape Vincent on a farm of 130 acres which he secured by purchase; he also operated a country store, and did a fairly good business in both lines, with the result that he ever steadily progressed on his road toward affluence and plenty. He became a man of position, well regarded for his excellent judgment and unimpeachable integrity. He served as a justice of the peace for a time. In 1851 he sold his mercantile business and the farm that was located on the St. Lawrence River near the Thousand Islands, and moved to Homer, where he and his cousin, J. O. Pierce, bought a cotton factory, then in the hands of and operated by Newton Bros. There they manufactured cotton until the War of ‘61, when they sold out, for it was no longer profitable because of the price of the staple cotton, which had risen to the figure of $1.00 a pound because of the enforcement of the blockade against Confederate ports. When they were in business, the firm was known as J. O. Pierce & Co., Mr. Payne holding the responsible position of manager. They ran fifty-two looms, and employed sixty or seventy men. The firm also engaged in a mercantile business simultaneously with the manufacturing industry, but closed it out when they sold the mill. Shortly after this, Mr. Payne was appointed assistant internal revenue assessor, and filled the office creditably and in his usual able manner for a matter of eight years. He did not find all of his time taken up, so he became interested in farming, and owned a small farm that is now within the limits of the corporation of Homer village.

Mr. Payne was a man accustomed to lead, and he did shine pre-eminently in the councils of his party, where his word carried weight, and where his influence very frequently decided the day. He was a Republican, having followed the Whig standard before the birth of the party of Fremont and Lincoln. He was frequently chosen to represent the town of Homer in various conventions, and it is on record that the interests of his town never suffered at his hands. Since 1855 he had been a member of the Homer Congregational Church, having been converted and brought to the Saviour through the preaching and personal appeals of Elder Jacob Knapp, his brother-in-law. When he took up a project or advocated new procedures in business he was accustomed to throw his whole soul into the affair in hand and do all that could be done to bring matters to a successful conclusion. It was this very characteristic that gave him such a host of stanch and loyal friends, for when he took to a person it was with whole heart, and no one could have been truer in every relation of life. So in the church he settled down to work from the first and made of himself a useful member of the society. At the time of his death he was deacon of the church, and assisted greatly in directing the spiritual work of the society, also contributing valuable advice and the needed pecuniary assistance. He was also a member of the organization of Sons of Temperance, and did what he was able in upholding the hands of those who were engaged in a crusade against the liquor business.

On December 22, 1841, Mr. Payne was married to Lucy A. Bicknell, daughter of Rev. Simeon Bicknell, A.M., of Gouverneur, N. Y. The ceremony that united two loving hearts was performed by Mrs. Payne’s father, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur, N. Y., the vows being taken in the parsonage.

The Bicknell family is of Puritan stock, and was founded in America by Zachary Bicknell, who with his family in 1635 said good-bye to “Merrie England,” and sailed for the New World, where religious freedom might be enjoyed. The Bicknells settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and from there the many descendants scattered all over the United States, many members of this family attaining prominence in business, literature, the ministry, and law. Rev. Simeon Bicknell was a self-made man, having taught school to defray the expenses of an education. He made the best possible use of his talents and the advantages he was able to procure, and became a scholarly, refined gentleman of fine literary attainments. In the pulpit he ranked high as an orator of recognized ability and eloquence. He graduated from Dartmouth College.

Mrs. Payne was born at Marblehead, Mass., November 10, 1823. She obtained a good academic education under the tutelage of her father, attending Franklin Academy at Malone, N. Y., when he was principal, which principalship he filled for five years. Among her classmates, Mrs. Payne numbers a few who have risen to a very prominent position; among these was the late Vice-President William A. Wheeler. After Mrs. Payne finished her education, she engaged in teaching up to the time of her marriage with our subject. After her marriage she devoted herself wholly to her husband, and interested herself solely in those things that would make her the truer and better help-meet, aiding him in various capacities in his many business enterprises, sharing and enjoying his successes, and supporting and sympathizing with him in his reverses. They began with small means, but with a trusting hope for the future, and by a mutual co-operation they accumulated a competency, that placed them far above want, and now leaves Mrs. Payne in comfortable circumstances. Since the death of her husband she has managed the estate, and contributes liberally to all worthy charitable and philanthropic movements. On another page of this work appear portraits* of both Mr. and Mrs. Payne, which add a decided interest to the foregoing biographical notice.

*Portraits were included in the original printed volume.

* * * *

This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.