PAYNE, John T.

PAYNE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/9/2021 at 12:03:36

John Thomas Payne
Born 1851, Indiana

J. T. PAYNE, Justice of the Peace, of Hayes Township, Ida County, was born
in Clay County, Indiana, in 1851, a son of William Benjamin and Malinda
Sturdevant) Payne, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of North Carolina. When a young man the father moved to Clay County, Indiana, was there married in 1853; purchased a farm in Boone County, Iowa, which
he improved, and in 1883 opened a farm in Ida County. He afterward moved to Ida Grove, this county, where he died May 4, 1891, and the mother still resides in that city. The former took an active part in politics in Boone County. Mr. and Mrs. Payne reared a family of seven children, namely: Candacy, of Hayes Township; J. T., our subject; M. L., a contractor, of Sioux
City; Julia Ann, wife of W. M. Pilcher, of Hayes Township; B. F., also of this township; George H., a bridge inspector on the Denver & Ft. Worth railroad at Henrietta, Texas; and Laura, wife of Charles Lovett, of Blaine
Township.
J. T. Payne, our subject, was reared and educated in Boone County, Iowa. May 18, 1875, he purchased 100 acres of prairie land on section 20, Hayes Township, Ida County, two years later erected a small house, and began farming his land. In 1890 he built his fine, frame residence, one and a half story, 28 x 41 feet, and also a fine barn, 30 x 36 feet. Mr. Payne has devoted considerable attention to his grove and orchard, which now contains about ten acres. He has added to his original purchase until now owns 240 acres in a good state of cultivation, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In his political views he takes an active part in the Republican Party; served three years as member of the County Board of Supervisors; was the first Assessor of Hayes Township, serving four years; was Secretary of the School Board five years; Township Clerk two years and has filled the position of Justice of the Peace since 1888. Assisted in organizing and naming Hayes Township, in 1878, which was taken from Corwin Township; assisted in organizing the school districts and was Secretary of the Board during the erection of six Bchool buildings. The lumber for the first building was hauled from Denison.
Mr. Payne was married in this township February 29, 1880, to Miss Georgiana Friott, a native of Vermont, but reared in Massachusetts to the age of nine years, then removing to Chicago, where she lived five years when, in 1878, came to Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa. Her parents still reside in Ida Grove. Our subject and wife have five children: Ruby, Rodney, Armour, Luva and Cornelius. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are among the early and well known pioneers of Hayes Township. Socially our subject is Noble Grand of Ida Grove Lodge, No. 259, I. O. O. F., is a member of Golden Rule Encampment, No. 43, also of the K of P., at Ida drove. Religiously he is one of the Trustees in the Church of God. Mr. Payne and Mr. William Pilcher are the original settlers of Hayes Township, and the former has always taken an active interest in everything for its good.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.311