My Genealogy Hound

Thomas B. Paine is a prominent pioneer settler of Lamar, Ark., but was born in Giles County, Tenn., January 9, 1825, to G. W. and Mary (Hanners) Paine, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee in 1801 and 1803, respectively, the former being a farmer and wagon-maker by occupation. They were married in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1819, and of nine children born to them two are now living: T. B. and Francis M. The father served three years as judge of Union County, Ill., having moved to that State from Tennessee in 1833 and to Arkansas in 1844, settling in Johnson County, where the father passed from life in 1864, his widow following him to the grave in 1872, she being a member of the Hardshell Baptist Church. Thomas B. Paine was married in this county, September 26, 1844, to Miss Ruth Houston, who was born in Shelby County, Ohio, October 28, 1824, a daughter of John M. and Ruth (Stroud) Houston, who were born in North Carolina and Georgia, May 26, 1787, and March 25, 1790, respectively, their marriage occurring in Dickson County, Tenn., in 1808, and resulting in the birth of twelve children, only two being now alive: Mrs. Paine and Robert. Mr. Houston was a tiller of the soil and in 1837 came to Arkansas, settling in Johnson County, where he died in 1861, having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was also a member, her death occurring in 1858. To Mr. and Mrs. Paine nine children have been born, the following being alive: Louisa (wife of J. G. Blair), Bettie R. (wife of A. Er), Mattie C. (now postmistress of Lamar), and Harry L.; John W., Thomas H., Robert V., Mary C. and Anna are deceased. Mr. Paine has been school commissioner ten years, constable six years, county judge one year, justice of the peace of his township six years, mail contractor eight years, and postmaster of Lamar four years. He owns 120 acres of good land with 100 under cultivation, on which are good buildings of all kinds. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and are worthy and honored citizens of this section. Mr. Paine’s paternal grandfather, John Paine, was a first cousin of the noted Thomas Paine of Tennessee.