Gertrude Lavina (Miller) Payne (1869-1927)

Gertrude Lavina Miller was born in March of 1869, in Prescott, Ontario. She was the third child of John Smith Miller and Mary Louisa (Hance) Miller. Her siblings were Eva, Louisa and William Edsall Miller.

A photo of Gertrude (right) with her cousin Thomas Hance's wife, Addie (left), in the early 1900's.

On September 15, 1898, She married Charles Payne at Prescott Ontario and moved to Syracuse, NewYork Their first home was at 786 Harrison Street, near the University. Here she gave birth to two sons, John Hance Payne in 1899 and Edsall Miller Payne in 1904. Edsall Miller Payne died in 1909.

A copy of Charles and Gertrude's marriage record.

 Charles and Gertrude in 1926.

By 1910, the family was living in Utica, New York and Charles was working for a metal fabricator there. In 1911, Gertrude gave birth to a third son, Edsall Victor Payne. A few years later, the family returned to Syracuse where Charles opened his own business. At that time, the family lived at 111 Murray Ave, on Syracuse's North Side.

Gertrude behind the Murray Ave. home ca 1920.

In searching through local newspapers of the period, I found one story that sheds some light on one part of Gertrude's personality. After learning that her husband had lost a portion of her inheritance while gambling at the gambling house of a local alderman, she brought suit against the alderman to recover the lost monies. This seems to be a gutsy act, particularly at a time when women didn't even have the right to vote. Gertrude recovered an undisclosed amount when the case was settled. 

Newspaper clipping from the Syracuse Post Standard, January 19, 1907, announcing the settlement of a suit Gertrude brought against Syracuse alderman Frank Matty.

In the mid-1920's, Gertrude and Charles moved to a home on LeMoyne Avenue, blocks away from their previous Murray Avenue home. Gertrude died at this home on February 15, 1927. She is buried near other Miller family members at the cemetery near the Little Blue Church in Prescott, Ontario. 

Photo of monument marking Gertrude's grave at Prescott, Ontario taken by Lisa Payne.

To find Gertrude in the Miller Family outline, click HERE. Additional Photos of Gertrude can be found HERE.