Charles Paine

Paine was the son of Elijah Paine and Sarah (Porter) Paine, and was born in Williamstown, Vermont. He graduated from Harvard University in 1820,{{cite book |last=Porcellian Club of Harvard University |date=1857 |title=Catalogue of the Porcellian Club of Harvard University |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s0oMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA32 |location=Cambridge, MA |publisher=Allen and Farnham |page=32}}{{cite book |last=Harvard University |date=1900 |title=Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Harvard University |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eA0qAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA144 |location=Cambridge, MA |publisher=John Wilson and Son |page=144}} and became active in several business ventures. Though he never married, he had two children with Lorinda Stevens of Northfield.{{cite web |title=Charles Paine |url=https://classic.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_paine_charles.default.html |publisher=National Governors Association |accessdate=31 October 2012}}{{cite book |last=Bassett |first=Thomas Day Seymour |date=1992 |title=The Growing Edge: Vermont Villages, 1840-1880 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FEx5AAAAMAAJ&q=%22lorinda+stevens%22 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |page=100 |isbn=978-0-9347-2036-6 |via=Google Books}}

Paine moved to Northfield, Vermont in the early part of the nineteenth century to run the family woolen mill. He operated this business until it was destroyed by fire in 1848. Paine's Meeting House was built in 1835 for the mill's workers as a place for worship. It still functions as one today. He had various other business interests including a hotel and a store, but he is most often remembered as the individual who brought railroads to Vermont. He founded the Vermont Central Railroad and served as the first president of the company.{{cite web|title=Charles Paine|url=https://classic.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_paine_charles.default.html|publisher=National Governors Association|accessdate=31 October 2012}}

In Northfield, Paine held the offices of Town Selectman and Moderator of the Town Meeting. In his political life he was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1828 through 1829. He was the 15th Governor of Vermont from 1841 until 1843. During his tenure, a stricter accounting of public funds was established.{{cite web|title=Charles Paine|url=https://classic.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_paine_charles.default.html|publisher=National Governors Association|accessdate=31 October 2012}}

As the founder and president of the Vermont Central Railroad Paine built its headquarters in his home town of Northfield, despite the hilly terrain, earning the enmity of residents of larger, more accessible nearby towns. In the extensive yard, engines and railroad cars were built and repaired.{{cite web|title=Charles Paine|url=http://www.central-vt.com/towns/history/HstNort.htm|publisher=Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce|accessdate=31 October 2012|archive-date=June 26, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626003044/http://www.central-vt.com/towns/history/HstNort.htm|url-status=usurped}} In 1853 the Vermont Central Railroad went into bankruptcy due to overexpansion and, in some cases, mismanagement. The railroad was placed under receivership and renamed the Central Vermont Railroad. Its headquarters were moved to St. Albans.

Paine died in Waco, Texas after three weeks of dysentery while helping the Southern Pacific Railroad choose a route. He is interred at Elmwood Cemetery, Northfield, Washington County, Vermont.{{cite web|title=Charles Paine|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/paine.html#333.32.49|publisher=The Political Graveyard|accessdate=31 October 2012|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102161110/http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/paine.html#333.32.49|url-status=live}} Paine's home at 75 South Main Street, in Northfield is the location of the Northfield Historical Society, and is connected by an extension to the town's Brown Public Library.{{cite web|title=Charles Paine|url=https://sites.google.com/site/northfieldvthistoricalsociety/|publisher=Northfield Historical Society|accessdate=31 October 2012|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107102703/https://sites.google.com/site/northfieldvthistoricalsociety/|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• New England Puritan (published in Boston), Thursday, August 4, 1853

• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/paine.html The Political Graveyard]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19980211041111/http://www.central-vt.com/towns/history/HstNort.htm Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce]}}
• [https://classic.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_paine_charles.default.html National Governors Association]
• {{Find a Grave|23058}}
• [https://sites.google.com/site/northfieldvthistoricalsociety/ Northfield Historical Society]

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{{s-ttl|title=Whig nominee for Governor of Vermont|years=1841, 1842}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Governor of Vermont|years=1841-1843}}

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{{Governors of Vermont}}

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Category:1799 births

Category:1853 deaths

Category:Harvard College alumni

Category:Governors of Vermont

Category:Vermont Whigs

Category:People from Williamstown, Vermont

Category:Members of the Vermont House of Representatives

Category:Whig Party state governors of the United States

Category:People from Northfield, Vermont

Category:19th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly