John Fletcher Payton

CHRISTY, CLAYTON, DODGE, DUNGAN, PAYTON, RICHARDS, SMITH

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 1/10/2010 at 15:13:07

“A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa”
The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1896

John Fletcher Payton has been a resident of Madison county a little less than thirty years. Notwithstanding this he has yet been and eye-witness of most of the growth of the county and has assisted materially in its development. He was born in Blackford county, Indiana, May 30, 1843. His father, Jacob Payton, is a native of Ohio, who at an early day emigrated to Delaware county, Indiana, where he helped build the first house erected in Hartford City. He was a farmer by occupation and followed that calling until old age incapacitated him for farm work. His father, the grandfather of our subject, was William Payton, a native of Pennsylvania, who as a private distinguished himself in the war of 1812. In Delaware county, Indiana, Jacob Payton was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Dungan, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. They resided in Delaware and Blackford counties until 1866, when they emigrated to Iowa and located on a farm in Jefferson township. The father is now living a retired life in the village of De Soto, in his eighty-third year. The mother died at the age of about sixty-three years. They were the parents of eight children.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Huntington county, Indiana, from the age of five years, his parents at that time removing from Blackford county. Here he grew to manhood and in winter seasons attended the district school and in summer assisted in the labors of the farm. In addition he attended the seminary at Roanoke, Indiana, for nine months. He then taught two terms in the public schools of Huntington county, after which he began his life work of farming.

On the first of March, 1866, Mr. Payton was united in marriage with Miss Lottie Richards, a native of Stark county, Ohio, born April 20, 1844, and a daughter of Warner and Magdalene (Smith) Richards. When but seven years of age, she came with her parents to Huntington county, Indiana, but, her mother dying the following year, she returned to Ohio, where she was reared by her uncle, Benjamin Richards. The day following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Payton started for Madison county, Iowa, and on their arrival located on the farm where he now resides, and on which he has made all the improvements. They were the parents of eight children: William E., who married Kitty Christy, now resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Minnie E., now the wife of B. C. Clayton, Dallas county, Iowa; Warren B., who married Jennie Dodge, of Dallas county, Iowa; Rosa C., Byron W., Emma L., Della M., ad Roy D., at home.

Mr. Payton is now the possessor of 240 acres and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He makes no specialty of any particular branch of farming, preferring to give his attention each season to that which he is inclined to think will be most profitable.

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Trustee and Steward. In politics he is a thorough Republican, and has filled carious offices, including Trustee and School Director, serving as president of the school board. In educational matters he has ever taken great interest and has made more than one sacrifice in favor of the public schools. As a citizen his is highly esteemed, and few men in Madison county have a larger circle of friends and acquaintances.