#1 Published in the September 15, 1926 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska

E. H. Payne passed away at the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, where he had been taken a week before for an operation for what was thought to be gallbladder trouble. The operation revealed an abscess had formed under the right lung from the inflammation of the gallbladder trouble and two quarts of pus was drained out. Water soon filled the cavity and the heart was affected so that death ensued, despite every effort of the physician and surgeon. The body was brought here and a short service was held at the Magnus Johnson residence and the funeral service at the Episcopal Church at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, Rev. Chas D. Hering officiating. His wife was at his bedside when the end came, also his mother, Mrs. W. H. Rogers, of Chelsea, Okla. Besides these he leaves two children, Victor, aged 5 and Mary, 4 years old. Ell Hugh Payne was born in Washington D. C., November 7th, 1882, so was almost 44 years of age. He lived in Virginia for a time then in Pittsburg, Pa., later at Chelsea, Okla., where he met Miss Nellie Johnson, who was visiting friends there. They were married in this city June 2nd, 1920, and lived at Chelsea for two years. The past four years they have made their home on the Magnus Johnson farm north of Blair. The bereaved wife and mother have the sincere sympathy of many friends.

#2 Published in the Thursday, September 16, 1926 Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

ELL HUGH PAYNE DIES

Son-in-law of Magnus Johnson Passes Away in Omaha Hospital

Ell Hugh Payne, 43, a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Magnus Johnson of Blair, died at 1:30 Sunday morning at Clarkson hospital in Omaha following an operation for gall bladder trouble, from which he had suffered for the past month. Mr. Payne was removed from the Blair hospital to the Omaha institution only a few days before his death. His condition had been considered critical for the past two weeks.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Episcopal church in Blair, the pastor, Rev. Charles Hering officiating. The services were attended by a large crowd of neighbors and friends of Mr. Payne, who had held him in high esteem during the four years he farmed on his father-in-law’s place, five miles north of Blair on the bottom.

Mr. Payne is survived by his widow and two children, Richard, 5, and Mary 4. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. W.H. Rogers of Chelsea, Oklahoma, who was summoned to Blair by the critical illness of her son and who was with him at the time of his death. Mr. Payne had no brothers nor sisters.

The deceased was born in Washington, D.C. in 1883 (?) and was married six years ago to Miss Nellie Johnson. Before moving to Blair, Mr. Payne resided in Oklahoma.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

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