Charles Paine

Charles Paine (April 15, 1799 – July 6, 1853) was an American Whig politician.

Paine was the son of U.S. Senator Elijah Paine. He was a Harvard graduate (1820), and woolen mill owner. He moved to Northfield, Vermont in the early part of the nineteenth century to run the family woolen mill. He opearted this business until it was destroyed by fire in 1848. He had various other business interests including an hotel and a store, but he is most often remembered as the individual who brought railroads to Vermont. 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 from 1828 through 1829 and the 15th Governor of Vermont from 1841 until 1843.

Paine was president of the Vermont Central Railroad and built its headquarters in his home town of Northfield. In 1853 the Vermont Central Railroad went into bankruptcy due to over expansion 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 buried in Northfield, Vermont.

Sources

• http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/paine.html
• http://www.central-vt.com/towns/history/HstNort.htm
• New England Puritan, (published in Boston) Thursday, August 4, 1853