Lloyd D. Payne

As printed in 1914

LLOYD D. PAYNE.

Lloyd D. Payne, a retired farmer living at No. 924 First street. Boone, was born in Boonesboro, this county, the 30th of November, 1856, his parents being James R. and Mary Martha (Devore) Payne, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of S. B. Payne. The mother was born in Richland county, Ohio, a daughter of James P. and Mary (Tomlinson) Devore. Both the Devore and Tomlinson families came originally from that section of the country comprising the states of Alaryland, Virginia and Delaware. Both are well known and their representatives are now found throughout the middle west. The Paynes were planters in Virginia and the great-great-grandfather of our subject came from Ireland. The grandfather on the paternal side was Benjamin Coleman Payne, a native of Dumfries, Virginia, and a soldier of the War of 1812. He became a resident of Cumberland, Maryland, where James P. Payne, father of our subject, was born. Benjamin C. Payne later removed to Clay county. Indiana, where he settled on a farm heavily timbered with black walnut, which it was necessary to clear before beginning agricultural operations. After his removal to Boone he engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time but was eventually compelled to close out his business. He also kept a tavern in Boone, which was a stopping place for travelers in that early day. The structure was in keeping with the time, being built of logs, and it stood just west of the present courthouse. James R. Payne, father of our subject, came to Boone in 1854 with an ox team and moved the grass from the present site of the courthouse.

Lloyd D. Payne grew to manhood in Worth township, his father becoming the owner of a farm on section 12 in 1856. Our subject attended the school of that township in the acquirement of his education, but there were then no organized districts and the neighbors simply banded together and built a schoolhouse, which was located on a piece of swamp land in what is now Colfax township, then belonging to the United States government. Among his early teachers were James Boggs; Mr. Houston; Mary E. Bush, the wife of E. E. Chandler; and Wesley Tout. During the winter of 1872-73 Mr. Payne attended the Excelsior school in Colfax township and later went to the Grayson school, which was located in Worth township and which was taught by Frank Wiley. The first school he attended was named by his father, who called it Fairview, because of the fine view of it to be obtained from the home farm. Our subject left school at the age of twenty, but remained at home until twenty-one, aiding with the work of the homestead. He then went to farming for his father by the month, receiving thirteen dollars, together with board and laundry. He worked thus for nine months and still has sixty dollars which he saved from his earnings. He then began farming independently on eighty acres located on section 28, Jackson township, and kept bachelor's hall for a time, but was later married. He continued to reside upon his 'farm for a little more than eighteen years, during which time he made it one of the best improved places of the locality. On his retirement he removed to Boone, his energy and up-to-date methods of farming, together with his faculty for saving, having secured him a competence.

On the 27th of August, 1894, Mr. Payne was united in marriage to Mrs. Frances F. (Clarke) Holbrook, who was born in Connecticut and when a young woman of eighteen removed with her parents to Cedar county, Iowa, thence to Boonesboro, where her father followed his trade as house over and where he passed away. Mrs. Payne is now a member of the First Presbyterian church, which her husband also attends, but for a number of years she was a member of the Congregational church.

Mr. Payne is a republican in politics, giving his unfailing support to that organization. He relates many interesting incidents of his boyhood when conditions in this county were largely those of the pioneer section. He contributed much to the agricultural development of the county and is well entitled to the life of ease which is now his.

Mr. Payne often speaks of the schools and teachers of his boyhood days at the old Fairview schoolhouse in Colfax township and of the old parental home in that vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are the possessors of considerable property and money. Their real estate consists of a good eighty acre farm five miles east of Boone and a six thousand dollar residence in the city of Boone just across the street west of the Eleanor Moore Hospital. As Mr. and Mrs. Payne have no children they have made a deed of this property to the Eleanor Hospital Association, by which it is to become the property of the same at the death of the grantees. The deed provides that when the hospital association shall take possession of the property conveyed, it shall use the premises and the building on the same for a nurse house for the sick and afflicted and that it shall be called "The Payne Nurse House."

As printed in History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.