Biography of John A. Payton, 1898, Baker Co., Oregon Surnames: Payton, Pitney ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access and not to be removed separately without written permission. ************************************************************************ Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: W. David Samuelsen - April 2002 ************************************************************************ Morning Democrat, 20 May 1898 Illustrated Souvenir Edition Bowen & Small, Publishers JOHN A. PAYTON But few, if any, stand higher in the estimation of his neighbors and friends than the subject of this sketch. His name is a synonym for all that is true and honorable in a man, and fellow citizen. Mr. Payton was born in Missouri in 1850. Coming here at the age of 13 with his parents, he lived with them on a farm in the Powder River Valley until 1870 attending the public schools in the interim. He then attended the Agricultural College at Corvallis for three years and then taught school in Lane and Benton counties until 1877. Returning to Baker county, he taught here, and in 1880 was elected county school superintendent serving six years. He then again began teaching, which he followed until elected assessor in 1896. He is also largely interested in stockraising, owning eight hundred acres near Wingville. Mr. Payton is married to Miss Rose Pitney, of Lane county, and has four children.