E. D. Payne Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1187-1188 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				E. D. PAYNE. 

	E. D. Payne is the president and founder of the J. C. Elliott 
Company, a wholesale and retail mercantile business conducted at 
Lemmon. This is one of the important commercial enterprises of the 
western part of the state and the energy, insight and ability which E. 
D. Payne displays in the conduct of his interests mark him as a valued 
citizen. He was born in Berlin, Wisconsin, December 15, 1863, a son of 
Ansyl F. and Julia A. (Palmer) Payne, both natives of Indiana, where 
they were reared and married. Subsequently they removed to Wisconsin 
and in 1871 went to Nebraska, where they spent their remaining days 
upon a farm. 

	E. D. Payne was educated in the common schools and remained at 
home until his sixteenth year, when he became a wage earner, working 
with the surveying crew of the Union Pacific Railroad, which was being 
built from Columbus to Fullerton and thence to Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. 
Mr. Payne was engaged on the survey of this section and subsequently 
became identified with the livery business at North Loup, Nebraska, 
where he continued for a year or more. He then went to the northwestern 
part of the state and afterward he and his employer established a 
livery business in Hemingford, Nebraska, where he continued until 1888, 
when he opened a lumberyard at Alliance, that state. He was prominently 
identified with various business enterprises there until 1897, when he 
came to South Dakota, settling at Lead, where he became very actively 
and helpfully connected with important business interests of the town 
as a member of the W. H. Dacy Grocery Company, with which he was 
connected for six years. He next removed to a ranch south of Grand 
River, in what was then Butte but is now Perkins county, and engaged in 
the cattle business for four years. When the railroad was built through 
the county and the town of Lemmon was established, he erected the first 
building on the site and opened the first general mercantile store. J. 
C. Elliott was in his employ and subsequently became connected with Mr. 
Payne in incorporating the business, the latter becoming president of 
the company, with Mr. Elliott as the secretary and treasurer and 
business manager. This is one of the most important commercial 
interests of the western part of the state, business being conducted 
along both wholesale and retail lines, their constantly growing trade 
now covering a wide territory. Mr. Payne is also identified with the I. 
T. Skiles Lumber & Mercantile Company, operating at Lemmon and at 
Chance, South Dakota, and was formerly connected with a mercantile 
house at Meadow, South Dakota, but disposed of his interest there in 
1903. He now has extensive laud holdings in Perkins county and the 
importance of his business connections places him with the foremost men 
of the town. 

	In 1897 Mr. Payne was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Beckwell, 
of Alliance, Nebraska. They occupy an enviable position in social 
circles and theirs is a hospitable home, its good cheer being enjoyed 
by many friends. Each change which Mr. Payne has made in his business 
connections has marked a forward step in his career. His entire course 
has been characterized by an orderly progression, resulting from the 
wise utilization of his time, talents and opportunities, and he is 
today standing in the foremost rank of the business men of Perkins 
county.