Edward C. Payne Biography


	This biography appears on pages 660-661 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDWARD C. PAYNE, who is a member of the board of commissioners of 
Brown county, is one of the representative farmers and stock growers of 
this section of the state and is one of those loyal and progressive 
citizens who have contributed so materially to the development of the 
resources of our great commonwealth. Mr. Payne claims the old Empire 
state as the place of his nativity, having been born in Jefferson 
county, New York, on the 2d of August, 185.3, and being a son of 
William and Emily Payne, both of whom are now deceased, being survived 
by five of their children. The subject of this sketch was reared on the 
homestead farm, securing a common-school education and proving himself 
fertile in resources while still a young man, in that he showed 
facility in turning his hand to varied lines of work. At the age of 
twenty-five years he removed to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he 
remained two years, at the expiration of which, in 1880, he came to 
what is now the state of South Dakota and entered claim to his present 
half section of land, four miles south of Warner. He has made all the 
improvements on this fine homestead and developed into one of the most 
attractive and valuable farms in this section. In March, two years 
after securing this land, Mr. Payne was joined by his family, their 
first domicile being an unpretentious board shanty of most primitive 
order. In the fall of 1882 he erected a substantial residence, to which 
he made additions in 1887 and 1903, so that the house is now a 
commodious and attractive one, well adapted to all needs of the family 
and constituting a pleasant home. He has under cultivation an entire 
section of land, from which he has secured a total yield of six 
thousand bushels of wheat in one year, while he also devotes special 
attention to the raising of high grade shorthorn cattle. Mr. Payne is 
signally fortunate in having upon his farm an ample supply of water for 
all purposes, the same being secured from an artesian well which he 
sunk in the year 1900, the same having a flow of ninety five gallons a 
minute, while there are only three other such wells in the county, his 
having been the first, while he has further increased the value of the 
facilities thus afforded by the construction of an artificial pond 
which offers storage for a large amount of water and enables him to use 
the same in the irrigation of his well kept gardens. Since 1885 Mr. 
Payne has operated a threshing outfit, and has made this a profitable 
enterprise in connection with his farming. In politics he is a staunch 
supporter of the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he 
has been an active worker in his county. In the fall of 1902 he was 
elected a member of the board of county commissioners for a term of 
four years, assuming the duties of the office on the 1st of January. 
1903. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebekah, having 
passed the official chairs in the former lodge, which he has also 
represented in the grand lodge of the state, while Mrs. Payne is also a 
member of the Daughters of Rebekah.  

	In 1873 Mr. Payne was married to Miss Rosa Grappotte, who died in 
1890, being survived by five children, William, who is engaged in 
farming in this county; Emory, who is a resident of New York city, 
where he has attained a high reputation in athletic circles; Floyd, who 
is engaged in railroad work; Frank, who is a machinist; and Carrie, who 
remains at the paternal home. In Day county, this state, on the 27th of 
October, 1892, Mr. Payne was united in marriage to Miss Katie Ryman, 
and they have one daughter, Trilvian.