Polk County, Missouri Biographies - John W. PAYNTER
History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri  1889, published by Goodspeed, Pgs. 687, 688
Polk County Biographies Section

    John W. Paynter, of the Fair Play Mercantile Company, of Fair
Play, Polk County, Mo., was born in Cedar County, Mo., February 8,
1867, and supplemented his common school education with a course
at Ash Grove College, Greene County, Mo.  After leaving school he
entered his father's store, and engaged in mercantile pursuits,
which he continued until September 1, 1887, when he became a 
member of the general mercantile firm of Fox, Potts & Paynter,
at Fair Play.  Immediately after becoming a member of the firm,
they were burned out, but sustained only a small loss, on account
of the insurance, and being able to save some of the goods.  The
firm continued as Fox, Potts & Paynter until December, 1887, when
the firm title was changed to Fair Play Mercantile Company, and
thus it still continues.  They carry form $8,000 to $10,000 worth
of goods, with an annual sale of $30,000.  They do considerable
jobbing work, and constantly employ four men.  Mr. Paynter is the
son of C. W. and Margaret A. (Jackson) Paynter, natives of Virginia
and Tennessee respectively.  C. W. Paynter was born in 1845, and
came to Missouri before marriage, locating on a farm in Cedar 
County.  Later he engaged in merchandising on Bear Creek, Cedar 
County, and there his is occupied in business at the present time.  
During the late war he donned his suit of blue, shouldered his 
musket, went out in defense of his country, and served three years.
He was married to Miss Margaret A. Jackson, in Cedar County, and 
to them were born three children: John W., Elsie and Mary.  The 
mother died in Cedar County about 1873.  The paternal grandfather, 
Huston S. Paynter, was a native of Virginia, and came to Missouri, 
where he died.  He was a farmer by occupation.  The great-grandfather 
Paynter was a native of Germany, and emigrated to America at an 
early date.  He was a strong, active man.  The maternal grandfather 
is a native of Tennessee, is still living, and is a resident of 
Stockton, Mo.  He served in the Federal army during the late war.  
J. W. Paynter is one of the young, but wide-awake, stirring 
business men of Fair Play, Mo.  He is a Republican in politics, 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and keeper of records in 
Hines Lodge No. 114.
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