Silas Payne, in early days a stage driver, farmer and river pilot in Wood County and for some time a resident of the city now known as Wisconsin Rapids, was born in Factoryville, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1837. His boyhood and early youth were spent in his native state, where he remained until 1860, when he came to Wood County, Wisconsin. For some time he drove a stage on the Plank road between Sheboygan and Milwaukee, and later he drove the stage between Grand Rapids and Portage. On the breaking out of the Civil War his patriotism led him to offer his services to the United States government, and desiring to have his old acquaintances for comrades, he went back to his native state and enlisted in the 64th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry. In 1862 he was discharged as being physically unfit for service. He then returned to Wood County. Wis., and located at Port Edwards, in the vicinity of which place, in Seneca township, he bought 200 acres of wild land, he being the first settler in that township. On this land he erected a set of log buildings and proceeded to make a home. Later he replaced his original buildings with others of more modern type. There he resided until 1888. For twenty years he was a pilot on the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, taking many fleets of lumber down the rivers in the spring drives. In 1888 Mr. Payne sold his farm and came to Grand Rapids, where he and his wife operated a boarding-house until the latter's death on Feb. 7, 1902. Mr. Payne died Sept. 10, 1906. On July 17, 1864, at New Rome, Wis., he married Ellen Ann Carey, who was born in Joliet, Ill., Aug. 9, 1843, and their children were as follows: Elmer A., now residing in Milwaukee; Roland S., chief of police of Wisconsin Rapids; Lee H., of Millwood, Wash.; Nellie, now Mrs. Lenijski of Madison; John E., William B., Cora E., and Scott E. The four last mentioned are now deceased.

Source: History of Wood County, Wisconsin (1923) compiled by George O. Jones, page 499