U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Payne, John Barton (b. 1855) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York 1915 Author: Lyon Gardiner Tyler, LL. D. Volume III, page 367 Payne, John Barton, born at Pruntytown, Taylor county, Virginia, January 26, 1855, son of Dr. Amos Payne and Elizabeth Barton Smith, both natives of Fauquier county, Virginia. His great-grandfather, Francis Payne, was an officer in the continental army. He was educated at Orleans, Virginia, and began business life as clerk in a store at Warrenton, Virginia, at times acting as assistant in the office of the county clerk of Taylor county; meantime he read law, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He early became interested in politics, and acted as chairman of the Democratic committee of Taylor county in the Tilden and Hendricks campaign, and was a frequent delegate to senatorial and congressional district conventions. In 1877 he removed to Kingwood, Preston county, West Virginia, where he came to a place of prominence at the bar and in political affairs. He afterwards removed to Chicago, Illinois, and became judge of the superior court, and president of the Chicago Law Institute. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Second SOURCE: --------------------------------------------------------------------- The National Cyclopędia of American Biography James T. White & Company, New York 1909 Volume X, page 112 PAYNE, John Barton, lawyer, was born at Pruntytown, Taylor Co., Va., Jan. 26, 1855, son of Dr. Amos and Elizabeth Barton (Smith) Payne, both natives of Fauquier county, Va. His great-grandfather, Francis Payne, was an officer in the Continental army. John B. Payne was educated in the schools and by private tutors in Orleans, Va. He began active life as clerk in a general store at Warrenton, Va., and later acted as assistant to the clerk of the circuit court of Taylor county, Va. Meantime having read law, he was admitted to the bar in September, 1876. Almost from the start he was prominent in politics, and early became a leader. His marked ability as an organizer, and power of oratory, prominent in the campaign of Tilden and Hendricks, won him the position of acting chairman of the Taylor county Democratic committee. Later he was a delegate from the county to the Democratic senatorial and congressional conventions. He located at Kingwood, Preston Co., W. Va., in March, 1877, and rapidly built up a large practice. In 1878 he was chairman of the county Democratic central committee; in 1880 was temporary chairman of the congressional convention at Grafton; was chairman of the Preston delegation at the Fairmont congressional convention; was a member of the congressional executive committee, and delegate to the state convention at Martinsburg. He was active in the presidential campaign of 1880 in behalf of Gen. Hancock, making numerous speeches throughout Virginia and Pennsylvania. In May, 1881, he was chosen by the bar special judge of the circuit court of Tucker county to sit in a chancery cause to which the regular incumbent, Judge Ice, was a party. He was mayor of Kingwood in 1882, and on the expiration of his term removed to Chicago, Ill., where he has since resided. In this new location Mr. Payne duplicated his former brilliant record and rapidly acquired a recognition and well-merited prominence both socially and professionally. He became president of the Chicago Law Institute in 1889. In November, 1893, he was elected judge of the superior court of Cook county for a term of six years. Of the ten candidates on the Democratic ticket, he was the only one elected, receiving a majority of 5,000 votes. He resigned the position on Dec. 5, 1898, to engage in the general practice of law, and in February, 1899, formed a partnership with Edwin Walker under the style of Walker & Payne. Judge Payne is an active member of the Union League and Midlothian Country clubs and of the Chevalier Bazzard Commandery, K. T. Politically he is a Democrat; his religious affiliations are with Triniiy Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married, in October, 1878, to Kate, daughter of the late Judge Edward C. Bunker, of the circuit court of West Virginia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------