Bert Wildred Payne was born 1 Sep 1886 to Elijah Payne (1846-1917) and Mollie F. Davidson Payne (1845-1928) in Hancock County, Kentucky.
By 1913 they were living in Henderson, in Fishtown. Based on the following articles I’d say he was a rough individual.
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Sat, Jul 26, 1913
The city patrol wagon was the center of attraction Friday when three women were ridden through the streets therein. They were Mrs. Josie Henderson, Mrs. Geneva Gibson and Mrs. Lillie Payne, all residing in
“Fishtown.” They had not been out of police court thirty minutes when they were arrested.
They were there as witnesses in the case of Bert Payne, husband of Lillie Payne. The husband had resented his wife’s charge of his showing attention to Sarah Holmes and had beated her.
He was fined $5 and costs. No sooner than the sentence was pronounced, the women left and made their way to the Holmes woman’s house located in what is known as the Green-yard.” Here they called out the Holmes woman and between them they gave her a first-class whipping; for which they were arrested a short time later. Mrs. Henderson is the mother of the Payne and Gibson women. She told the police she was gullty. “We sure beat her up,” she said. She declared the Holmes woman alienated Payne’s affections from his wife.
The Gleaner • Tue, Nov 16, 1915
Fishtown, at the foot of eighth street on the Ohio river, is said to have been the scene of a rather sensational shooting late Monday afternoon. The participants in the “scrap” were Bert Payne, who is said to have fired one or more shots at Will Furgerson and his wife and baby. Officer Head arrested Payne shortly after the trouble and landed him behind the bars at the police station. An examining trial will probably be held before Police Judge Todd Wednesday afternoon.
Particulars as to the shooting were hard to obtain. Some of the officials said there was nothing to the trouble, while others said Payne had evidently fired one or more shots as claimed by Furgerson. Payne is said to have told Officer Head that he tried to kill Furgerson. The particulars will be brought out at the examining trial when it is held.
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Sat, Mar 31, 1917
Bert Payne, who resides in “Fish-town,” was arrested Friday afternoon by Deputy Sheriffs Green and Bastin upon a warrant sworn out by his wife, who alleges that he drew a shotgun on her and threatened to kill her. Payne and his wife reside in “Fish-town” on the Ohio river bank near the foot of Eighth street. Payne’s examining trial will be held Saturday morning at 10 o’clock before Judge Young.
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Thu, Apr 05, 1917
Lilly Payne filed suit Wednesday against her husband Bert Fayne for an absolute divorce, alleging cruel and inhuman treatment.
Bert Payne enlisted in the army joining CO. K. 167TH Infantry during World War 1.
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Tue, Aug 20, 1918:
“I like France befter than I thought I would. Some of the boys who came over in April say they like it fine.” This comes in a letter from Private Bert Payne, who recently arrived in France, to his mother, Mrs. Mollie Payne, of this city. He says he had a big time on the Fourth.
Payne returned to Henderson after the war, continuing to live on the river.
Bert Payne died on 22 Dec 1929 (aged 43) in his houseboat. He is buried in Fernwood Cemetery.
Obituary:
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Tue, Dec 24, 1929:
Funeral services for Bert Payne, 41 years old, local man who was found dead in a houseboat near Dam 48, were held at 2:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon at the home of his brother, Joe Payne, with the Rev. W. O. Connell officiating. Burial was in Fernwood.
He is survived by another brother, Jec Payne, city, and a sister, Mrs. Drucia O’Connell.
Since the houseboat was on the Indiana side of the river, an inquest was held by Coroner Max Lowe, Evansville, the verdict being that Payne had died of pneumonia and hemorrhages.
