"John R. Paine, well known hardware merchant at Clinton, Indiana, was born in the city in which he still resides on Oct. 15th, 1869, and here he has been contented to spend his life. He is a son of James and Narcissus Wright Paine, the father also born in Clinton, this county, his birth having occurred in 1845, he being the son of John and Charlotte Brite Paine. The Brite family came here from Virginia in 1832. The father of the subject came from the state of New York in an early day and went into the hotel business in Clinton, and there spent the rest of his life, being well known in public affairs and was justice of the peace for many years. Of his family of seven children, James, father of the subject of this sketch, is the only one living. James Paine devoted his life to farming and in 1870 went to Kansas and there remained some time, then returned to Indiana, entering the grocery business in Clinton, in which he is still alive. His family consists of five children, namely; Henry, John R., Fred, Frank, Grace and Howard, all living but Fred.
"John R. Paine grew to manhood in Clinton and received a good common school education. Upon reaching manhood he married Ella Scott, daughter of Washington and Anne E. (Bright) Scott, the father of native of Washington County Indiana, where his father was an early settler. The union of the subject and his wife has been without issue.
"Mr. Paine has been engaged in the hardware business in Clinton for some time and he has built up a large patronage with the town and surrounding country, always carrying a large and up-to-date stock of general hardware and farming implements.
"Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias, both at Clinton. He was elected a member of the city council in 1909, his term expiring in 1913. In this position he is doing much for the permanent good of the city."