Permelia Payne, 1845-1935
- by Alice Marie BeardThe
daughter of one man with a
mystery, Permelia married another man who was
himself a mystery. After she left that husband, she went
on to be a mystery herself.
Permelia was born in 1845 into the Payne family of
Vermilion Co., Illinois. Her mother died before she was
two years old. Then her father left for a few years to
fight in the Mexican War. In later years, she claimed
that when she was about 15, she met Abraham Lincoln three
times in the span of less than a year. Her story may have
been true, or it may have been fantasy.
When she was almost 19, she thought she married Tom Doyle. In fact,
she married Frank Reed, who had
assumed the alias "Tom Doyle." She bore two
children by Tom. Tom and Permelia parted, and she joined
with Joseph Malcolm. She had five children by Joseph. No
marriage record has been found for Permelia and Joseph,
and no divorce record for her 1st marriage has been
found. However, Permelia's first husband went on to marry
three more times in their home county; that suggests
there must be a divorce record somewhere.
Permelia told folks that Tom had died before she and
Joseph married.
Thirty-one years after Permelia and Joseph's first child
was born, Permelia's niece (her brother's daughter)
married the son of Permelia's 1st husband and his 2nd
wife.
This is Permelia's
story as it appeared in the
Sioux City Journal newspaper 12 Feb
1928.
"Local
Lady Knew Abraham Lincoln"
- by George
O. Leach
While
Lincoln was campaigning for his first term as
president, Mrs. Malcolm accompanied her father,
John Payne, Jr., to Evansville, Ind., to attend a
banquet given in honor of Mr. Lincoln, at which
he was to speak. A novel method of selecting
partners for the banquet table was employed. Each
lady was given a ticket with a number on it, and
each gentleman received a numbered ticket, and
the numbers were matched. Mrs. Malcolm and Mr.
Lincoln held tickets with corresponding numbers.
Mrs. Malcolm states that, although she does not
remember anything definite Mr. Lincoln said at
the banquet, he was very human and enjoyable as a
partner.
"When I first saw Mr. Lincoln there at the
banquet that night," she said, "I
thought he was the homeliest man I ever saw. His
face was so rough and lined; he had such a big
nose, and he didn't have his whiskers then,
either. But, after I drew him for a supper
partner, and we talked a while, he didn't seem
homely at all. He surely had wonderful eyes. He
did not talk very loud in conversation, but when
he was really tickled about anything he laughed
right out loud, like he meant it."
The next time she met him was a few weeks after
he had been elected president for the first time.
He was either going to Washington or returning
from Washington. Mrs. Malcolm does not remember
which nor does she remember the exact date, but
it was arranged that Mr. Lincoln was to stop off
at Danville. The citizens of Danville gave him an
ovation. A procession was formed of 500 couples
of Lincoln supporters, and Mrs. Malcolm was
chosen to lead it. She was mounted on a coal
black hourse and rode the conventional side
saddle of that day. She led another black horse
and, on a litter between the two horses was
erected a huge banner bearing the name of Abraham
Lincoln. The procession was formed at the edge of
town, ladies and gentlemen riding horseback, in
couples. The gentlemen were dressed in blue suits
and the ladies, including Mrs. Malcolm, wore
riding skirts, white shirtwaists and blue caps.
When they came to the pavilion erected in the
square with Mrs. Malcolm leading, Mr. Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglas, who was also to speak there
that day, ran down to help her off her horse. Mr.
Lincoln got there first, and after assisting her
to alight, he claimed her as a partner for the
first dance which was to be held immediately
following the speaking.
Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas each spoke thirty
minutes. Mrs. Malcolm says the President made
some very pointed remarks concerning the slavery
situation in his speech. Mr. Douglas, in his
speech, took his defeat for the presidency with
very good grace and made a fine talk.
The dancing commenced at three o'clock in the
afternoon, starting with a schottische, which
Mrs. Malcolm danced with Mr. Lincoln. She says
that, although he was ungainly and rather
awkward, she enjoyed dancing with him better than
she did with the more polished Mr. Douglas, who
was short, and she is quite tall. Even now, Mrs.
Malcolm is better than five feet, eight inches
tall, and is not at all stooped. Lincoln and
Douglas both danced almost every set, dancing
round dances such as schottisches, polkas,
waltzes, the Virginia Reel, also quadrilles, or
square dances as they were called. When the ball
closed at four o'clock in the morning, Mr.
Lincoln, in the presence of the assembly, placed
a wreath of white roses he had had made on Mrs.
Malcolm's head in honor of her leading the
procession and carrying his banner. Mrs. Malcolm
wore the wreath on her 7 mile ride home that
morning, and kept it for many years until it was
destroyed from so much handling.
Two days later she accompanied her father to
Springfield, Ill., where she again met Abraham
Lincoln and visited with him at the capitol
building. Lincoln said, "Here's the little
lady who lead the procession for me the other day
down at Danville." He insisted that she
should sit down and visit a while. He asked her
if she was tired after the dance. She said she
was, and he assured her "that he was about
tuckered out himself." During the
conversation the subject of religion came up, and
Mr. Lincoln said that he had no religous
affilations, but that if he ever joined a church
it would be Christ's church. When they parted,
Mr. Lincoln shook hands with her and told her he
hoped she would live to be a hundred years old.
Mrs. Malcolm smiles as she observed that she was
getting well along toward that age now. This was
the last time she saw him.
Mrs. Malcolm also tells of a very tragic
experience in her family which shows how bitter
people became over politics during the Civil War.
[In August 1863] her father was shot. It seems
that her half-sister, a little girl six years
old, pinned what was known as a
"Butternut" pin, the emblem of the
Democratic pro-slavery party, on the lapel of her
father's vest. Mr. Paine did not notice the
button, and when he went into town, it remained
where the little girl had pinned it. He entered a
store, and while there, a man who was an ardent
anti-slavery advocate, came in and noticing the
pro-slavery emblem, ordered it removed. Mr. Payne
did not intend to be bluffed and refused.
Whereupon the man drew a heavy calibered revolver
and shot him in the abdomen, the bullet coming
out through his side. Her father's brother,
Milton Paine, sheriff of the county at that time,
happened to be in the store. He started for the
man and was shot in the hand. Another bystander,
a friend of her father's, shot and killed the
man. Mr. Payne lived only a few days, dying of
blood poisoning as a result of the wound.
Politics were taken very seriously in those days.
Shortly after the Civil War, Mrs. Malcolm married
Thomas Doyle, who had been a northern soldier.
They came west and took a homestead near Wood
River, Nebr. Two children were born to them
there. Shortly after the birth of the second
child, Mr. Doyle died, and for several years
after his death, Mrs. Malcolm supported her two
children by her own efforts.
Then she married Mr. Malcolm and moved to a farm
near Otoe, Iowa, where she lived for many years. |
Is there any truth to
Permelia's story? Perhaps no truth; perhaps more truth
than even Permelia realized. If Permelia spoke the truth
about her encounters with Abraham Lincoln, it would
suggest that someone in her social or family circle was
able to see Lincoln once while he was campaigning for
president in 1860, and twice after he was elected but
before he left Springfield, IL, on 11-Feb-1861 to travel
to Washington, DC. If these meetings happened,
15-year-old Permelia was simply there with family -- her
father and perhaps other family members.
It is tempting to dismiss Permelia's story as hyperbole.
However, Permelia had an uncle whose life might argue
against dismissing Permelia's story:
One of her Payne uncles had been a Captain in the Black
Hawk War; Abe Lincoln had also been a Captain in that
war. That is a "so what?" until you consider
that this uncle had two known interactions with Lincoln.
In 1836, this uncle was involved in a law suit. Lincoln,
the Circuit Judge for the District that included
Danville, Vermilion Co, IL, was the presiding Judge over
the trial in Danville. Years later, during the Civil War,
this uncle was a Captain in the Union Army. He was home
on furlough and did not get back to his company on time;
consequently, he was mustered out of service. He wanted
his commission restored. He got signatures from other
officers on a petition to set aside the mustering out
order. He sent the petition to his old friend Ward Hill
Lamon, identified in a Vermilion Co., IL, history book as
a former law partner and personal body guard of Lincoln.
By orders of Lincoln himself, this uncle was restored to
this former rank and commission. [from Beckwith's
"History of Vermilion Co., Ill.," pub. 1879]
Did Permelia meet with Abe Lincoln three times when she
was 15? It's plausible, but not proven.
OBITUARY:
Permelia's
obituary appeared in The Anthon Herald
newspaper (Anthon, Iowa). It appears below. As with any
obituary, it may not be 100% correct. There is a claim in
the obituary that Permelia once lived next door to
Abraham Lincoln and his wife (Mary Todd). This researcher
has found no indication that Permelia ever lived next
door to Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln and
Mary Todd married November 4, 1842, in Springfield,
Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1844, Lincoln and his wife
purchased their first and only house. It was in
Springfield, Illinois, at the corner of Eight and Jackson
Streets.
Permelia was born June
of 1845 in Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois.
Initially, she lived with her father and mother in
Danville. Her mother died in April 1847. In about 1848 or
1849, her father joined the U.S. Army and went to Texas
where the United States was waging war with Mexico over
Texas. Her father returned sometime before 1854. While
her father was in Texas, Permelia resided with her
paternal grandparents in Vermilion County. In 1860, she
was 15 and her father had returned from war; he had
remarried, and Permelia was living in Vermelion County
with the Samuel SONGER family.
The Anthon Herald,
18 December 1935, page 1:
OBITUARY:
Mrs. Permelia Ann Malcom, a
resident of Woodbury County [Iowa] for thirty-five years,
passed away at the home of her son, G.W. Malcom, five
miles south of Anthon [Iowa] on Saturday morning,
December 14, 1935, following a lingering illness at the
age of 95 years, 6 months and 7 days of age.
Permelia Ann Payne, the daughter of
John and [Virletta] Payne, was born June 7, 1840, at
Danville, Illinois. Her childhood and womanhood were
spent in Illinois where for a time she was a neighbor of
Abraham Lincoln.
At the age of twenty-two, she
married Thomas Doyle of Danville, Illinois, and to them
two sons were born, A.I. Doyle of Milner, North Dakota,
and F.M. Doyle of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In 1868 she married Joseph Malcom
at Kearney, Nebraska. Five children blessed this union:
Mrs. Clara Rogers who preceded her in 1933, G.W. Malcom
of Oto, Mrs. Mae Drake of Los Angeles, California, Mrs.
Lenora Jorgensen of Correctionville.
In 1880 the family came to a farm
west of Anthon and resided in the home of C.A. Malcom
[her son] of Spencer, Nebraska, and this community the
remainder of her life. She was a charter member of the
Christian Church of Anthon, having joined in 1887 when
the church was planned.
Besides her children, she leaves
thirty-six grandchildren, sixty-one great grandchildren
and four great-great grandchildren, a total of one
hundred seven descendants. She also leaves one brother,
J.B. Payne of Potomac, Illinois. Her husband died in
1914.
Funeral services were held in the
Federated Church at Oto [Iowa] on Monday,
December 16, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Milton Dills, pastor of
the Christian Church in Correctionville, officiating.
Burial was in Bethel Cemetery, Piero, under direction of
Wilson-Hull Funeral Home of Correctionville.
Permelia & the
man she married at age 19:
HUSBAND: Thomas Reed DOYLE (born
Francis REED)
BORN: Abt
Nov 1835, at sea?, Quebec, Canada
DIED: 8 Feb 1916, Kankakee, Kankakee Co., IL
BUR.: 15 Feb 1916, St. Patrick Cem. (Resurection Cem.),
Danville, IL
MARR: 17 May 1864, Vermilion Co., IL
FATHER: probably named Robert REED
MOTHER: probably named Agnes BELDON or MONK
====================================
WIFE: Permelia Ann PAYNE
BORN: 7
Jun 1845, Danville, Vermilion Co., IL
DIED: 14 Dec 1935, Oto, Woodbury Co., Iowa
BUR.: 16 Dec 1935, Peiro, Woodbury Co., Iowa
FATHER: John PAYNE, Jr., son of John Payne, Sr., & Hannah
Earle
MOTHER: Virletta O'NEAL, dau. of William O'Neal & Melinda
Grimes
====================================
CHILDREN
====================================
1) Addison Ithamore DOYLE
BORN: 26 Jan 1865,
Danville, Vermilion Co., IL
DIED: Jul 1954
BUR.: Anthon, Woodbury Co., Iowa
SPOUSE: Alice Eroa ROGERS
MARR: 23 May 1886, Anthon, Woodbury Co., Iowa
----------------------------------------------------
2) Francis Marion DOYLE
BORN: 27 Aug 1866,
Catlin, Vermilion Co., IL
DIED: 31 Jan 1940, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota
BUR.: 1 Feb 1940, Anthon, Woodbury Co., Iowa
SPOUSE: Myrtle Estella BAYS
MARR: 1896, Anthon, Woodbury Co., Iowa
====================================
Permelia & Joseph MALCOLM:
Joseph MALCOM
BORN: 12
Apr 1835, Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY
DIED: 8 Aug 1914, Decatur, Burt Co., Nebraska
BUR.: 10 Aug 1914, Bethel Cemetery, Peiro, Woodbury Co.,
Iowa
MARR: (no legal marriage; began living together in 1868
in either Fremont or Kearney, Nebraska, according to
their later stories)
FATHER: Horatio MALCOM
MOTHER: Lucina STREATOR
====================================
Permelia Ann PAYNE
BORN: 7
Jun 1845, Danville, Vermilion Co., IL
DIED: 14 Dec 1935, Oto, Woodbury Co., Iowa
BUR.: 16 Dec 1935, Peiro, Woodbury Co., Iowa
FATHER: John D. PAYNE, Jr.
MOTHER: Virletta O'NEAL
====================================
CHILDREN
====================================
1) Clara Delilah MALCOM
BORN: 5 Jan 1869,
Neola or Red Oak, Montgomery Co., Iowa
DIED: 28 Mar 1933, Decatur, Burt Co., Nebraska
BUR.: Hill Crest Cemetery, Decatur, Nebraska
SPOUSE: Harcourt P. ROGERS
MARR #1: 2 Jan 1889, Cherokee, Cherokee Co., Iowa
[divorce case #2887, filed 19 Oct 1912, District Court,
Burt Co., Nebraska]
MARR #2: 8 Jul 1918 [2nd marriage to same man]
[divorce, 30 Jan 1920, Burt Co., Nebraska]
----------------------------------------------------
2) George William MALCOM
BORN: 25 Dec 1870,
Avoca, Pottawattamie Co, Iowa
DIED: 18 Sep 1959, LeMars, Woodbury Co., Iowa
BUR.: Peiro, Woodbury Co., Iowa
SPOUSE: Minnie Matilda Jane HUMPHREYS
MARR: 18 Mar 1894
----------------------------------------------------
3) Harriet May MALCOM
BORN: 8 Mar 1872,
Avoca, Pottawattamie Co, Iowa
DIED: 4 Feb 1937, Wilmar, Los Angeles Co., CA
SPOUSE: Henry W. DRAKE
MARR: 16 May 1895, Sioux City, Woodbury Co., Iowa
---------------------------------------------------
4) Charles Alonzo MALCOM
BORN: 22 Jul 1874,
Avoca, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa
DIED: 1 May 1966, Lynch, Boyd Co., Nebraska
---------------------------------------------------
5) Lenore Laurina MALCOM
BORN: 26 Jul 1879,
Avoca, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa
DIED: 13 Feb 1961, Correctionville, Woodbury Co., Iowa
BUR.: Correctionville, Woodbury Co., Iowa
SPOUSE #1: Otto Nicoli JORGENSON
MARR #1: 6 Oct 1895, Woodbury Co., Iowa
SPOUSE #2: Fred SCHEELHAASE
MARR #2: 17 Sep 1941
Photo of Permelia's gravestone is HERE, at findagrave.com.
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