George Edwin Payne

Kansan, Tuesday, December 12, 1933

George Edwin Payne was born April 19, 1867 in Akron, Ohio a son of Arelious and Sarah (Harlstock) Payne. At the age of 18 years he enlisted in the regular army of the 9th calvary and served five years as corporal. He was discharged in 1899, after which he was married to Miss Mary Belle Milton. To this union four children were born, John H., Radorious, Sirelous, and Henry. The wife and two sons, Radorious and Henry preceded him to the great beyond.


When war was declared with Spain he enlisted in the 23rd Kansas and was commissioned second lieutenant by Gov. Leedy and went to Cuba, The company was returned to the United States where he was mustered out, but still having the war spirit he re-enlisted in the 49th U.S. Volunteers where he was commissioned second lieutenant by President McKinley. He was mustered out of the service at San Francisco, Calif., in June, 1901.

On October 23, 1901 he was married to Miss Mary E. Turner in St. Joseph, Mo. in April 27, 1902 they came to Newton and he entered the service of the Santa Fe railroad where he served 27 years and eight months. Ill health caused him to retire in December 1929 on a pension.

He passed away, Dec. 7, 1933 at 8:25 at the Santa Fe hospital at Mulvane. He was a member of the C. M. E. church. He leaves his wife, a son, John, of Newton and Sirelous of Des Moines, Iowa.

Services were held at the C. M. E. church Monday morning Dec. 11 at 10:30 o'clock with Milton Roach, J. P. Rickman, P. J. Page, Lloyd Rickman, H. Abernathy and O. G. Griffith as pall bearers. The Rev. W. V. Williams, pastor, was in charge of the services and a firing squad from the Veterans of Foreign Wars gave the salute and sounded taps at the grave in Greenwood cemetery where he was laid to rest. W. R. Rees, corporal, A. R. Tomlinson, LeRoy Dawson, W. H. Kinnear, H. Steinkirchner, Ben Remp, R. W. Carrenduff of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and August Epp, bugler of the American Legion composed the personel of the squad accompanying the casket to the grave.