Biography of William Burbridge Payne - McDowell Co. WV The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 471 WILLIAM BURBRIDGE PAYNE became in 1890 deputy clerk of the Circuit Court at Welch, McDowell County, and two years later, in 1892, he was elected clerk of this court, by a majority of 500 votes. He was later re-elected, by a majority of 1,500 votes, and each successive election gave him an Increased majority. His last election was in 1920, ,ind at his death early in 1922 he had almost five years to sprve. He was the dean of the Circuit Court clerks of West Virginia, and his long service offers the best testi- monial to his efficiency and his personal popularity. Mr. Payne was born in Crane Ridge, Sandy River District, McDowell County, August 28, 1866, son of John D. and Clara (Cornett) Payne, the former of whom was born in Big Creek District, McDowell County, in 1836, and the latter of whom was born in Johnson County, Tennessee, February 5, 1841. The father's death occurred December 7, 1898, and that of the mother on the llth of June, 1919. During the infancy of William Burbridge the family re- moved to Wyoming County, and while a resident of that county John D. Payne served as a member of the Lower House of the State Legislature, as representative of the district comprising Raleigh, Wyoming and McDowell counties. John D. Payne was a man of exceptional ability, and proved successful as a teacher, a merchant and a farmer, besides which he became a representative member of the bar of Wyoming County and in 1888 was elected prosecuting attorney of that county. He was a loyal soldier of the Union in the Civil war, in which he served four years and nineteen days and gained the rank of sergeant. He was in the command of Colonel Burbridge, in whose honor he named his son, and he took part in numerous engagements, including the battles of Lexington and Cyn- thiana, Kentucky, and Puncheon Creek. Prior to entering service he had been wounded, a bushwhacker lying in am- bush having shot him in the back. His father, Simeon Payne, was one of the early settlers of Monroe County. John D. Payne was one of the early settlers of Monroe County. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, while his wife was a member of the Bap- tist Church. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, and he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Payne was interested in the devel- opment of coal lands in this section of the state and was a citizen of prominence and influence in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Payne became the parents of three sons, of whom William B. was the eldest. David is a prosperous merchant at Mile Branch, McDowell County, and has served as deputy sheriff of the county. Wilburn Grant, the youngest son, died at the age of twenty-three years. The "temple of learning" in which W. Burbridge Payne gained his initial education was a log structure of the pioneer type, and thereafter he continued his studies by attending the State Normal School at Athens. He taught two terms of school in McDowell County and then became a partner of his father in the conducting of a general store in the village of Bradshaw, this county, and this partnership continued for many years, the father having active charge of the store. Mr. Payne had made an excel- lent record as a substantial business man prior to being called into public office. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in his home city of Welch, of the Royal Arch Chap- ter at Northfork, of Ivanhoe Commandery of Knights Templars at Bramwell, and of Scottish Rite bodies and the Mystic Shrine in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the McDowell National Bank at Welch, and was a director of the Welch Insurance Agency. He was a stalwart in the local camp of the republican party, and he attended and supported the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member. May 20, 1896, recorded the marriage of Mr. Payne and Miss Jennie Beavers, who was born in South Dakota, a daughter of Alexander and Mary Ann (Wynn) Beavers. Mrs. Payne during her married life has in addition to rearing her family of children been a helpful factor in her husband's official work, and had the experience of a deputy in his office until his death, and on account of the qualifications of that experience she was appointed by Judge I. C. Herndon, the official successor of her husband, to fill out his unexpired term. Of the children the eldest is Hobart Elkins, who is a graduate of the Ohio Military Institute at Cincinnati and who was ready for service in the World war, is an assistant in the Circuit Clerk's office; Meldrum Dean is at home; Miriam Joyce, the first daughter, died in child- hood; William Burbridge, Jr., is, in 1921-2, attending the Ohio Military Institute at Cincinnati; and Bernice, is the youngest member of the parental home circle. Submitted by Valerie F. Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB 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. 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