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Byron S. Payne (February 2, 1876 – May 30, 1949) was an American attorney and politician from South Dakota. A Republican, he was best known for his service as the state's attorney general from 1919 to 1923.

Early life

Byron Samuel Payne was born in Vermillion, Dakota Territory on February 2, 1876, a son of Byron Spencer Payne and Charlotte Elizabeth (Woodworth) Payne.[1] He was educated in the schools of Clay County[2] and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in 1897.[3] Payne worked as a school teacher and principal until deciding on a career as an attorney.[4][5][6]

Start of career

In 1902, Payne began attendance at the University of Minnesota Law School, from which he graduated with a LL.B. in 1904.[7][8]

After Payne was admitted to the bar, he began to practice law in Watertown.[9] In 1906, he entered into a partnership with his brother Jason, which maintained offices in Vermillion and Pierre.[10] Payne managed the Pierre office, and his partners there included Zell Guthrie and John Sutherland.[9][11] The partnership was later reorganized, and Payne continued to practice in Pierre as one of the principals in the Sutherland & Payne firm.[2]

In addition to practicing law, Payne also became involved in politics as a Republican.[12][2] In late 1906 and early 1907, he was one of the organizers for events held to celebrate the inauguration of Coe I. Crawford as governor.[12] Payne was also active in business ventures outside his law practice.[13] In 1907, he was an original incorporator of the Western Union Accident Insurance Company.[13]

In 1908, Payne was a candidate for State's Attorney of Hughes County.[2] He lost the Republican nomination to Glenn W. Martens, who went on to win the general election.[14][15] In late 1908 and early 1909, he was an organizer of the inaugural celebration for Governor Robert S. Vessey.[16] In March 1909, Payne was one of several Republicans who made up South Dakota's delegation to the inauguration of President William Howard Taft.[17]

Payne was appointed Pierre's City Attorney in 1910, and he served until 1914.[18][19] In 1912, Payne supported the Progressive Party candidacy of former President Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as a third-party candidate after losing the Republican nomination to Taft.[20] The split between Taft and Roosevelt enabled the election of Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson. Despite supporting Roosevelt, Payne remained in the Republican fold.[20] In 1913, Payne was elected to the state Republican committee as a representative of the majority (progressive) wing of the party.[20] In 1914, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for a seat in the South Dakota Senate.[21][22] Payne also carried out an appointment as a special assistant state attorney general in 1914.[23] In addition, in 1914 he was one of the original incorporators of a speculative venture, the Mexican Oil Transportation Company.[24]

In 1915, Payne was appointed first assistant state attorney general, and he served until January 1919.[25] In 1916, Payne was an incorporator of another Mexican oil venture, the Queen Oil Company.[26] In 1917, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Bellefourche & Northwestern Railroad.[27]

Attorney General

In 1918, Payne was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General of South Dakota.[28] He won the May primary, defeating Harlan J. Bushfield, Howard G. Fuller, and two other candidates.[29] He easily won the November general election, defeating Democrat Joseph J. Conry and independent candidate Seth Teasdale.[30]

Payne was a candidate for reelection in 1920.[31] He was unopposed for the Republican nomination,[31] and defeated Democrat Peter Ward and independent O. M. Burch in the general election.[32] He was not a candidate for reelection in 1922,[33] and served from January 1919 to January 1923.[34][35] Payne was succeeded by Buell F. Jones.[35]

Later life

Payne in his later years

After leaving office, Payne resumed his law practice and business interests, including serving as president of the First National Life Insurance Company.[35] From 1927 to 1934 he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota.[19]

In 1940, Payne won election as Hughes County State's Attorney.[36] He was reelected in 1942.[37] He did not run for another term in 1944, and served from January 1941 to January 1945.[38]

Death and burial

Payne died in Pierre on May 30, 1949.[39] He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre.[39]

Family

In August 1910, Payne married Jessie Blanche Mallery of Pierre.[40] They were the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Janet.[19]

References

  1. ^ Schwarz, J. C., ed. (1937). Who's Who In Law. Vol. I. New York, NY: J. C. Schwarz. p. 724 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d "Biographical, Byron S. Payne". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. June 4, 1908. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "University of South Dakota: Senior Class Exercises and the Presentation of Diplomas". Omaha Daily Bee. Omaha, NE. June 10, 1897. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "The Home of Teachers". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. September 6, 1899. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "School of Methods". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA. August 1, 1900. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Watertown Public Opinion". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. February 24, 1916. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Board of Regents (June 2, 1904). Thirty-Second Annual Commencement (PDF). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. p. 7 – via University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy.
  8. ^ "Graduates at the State University". Minneapolis Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. May 17, 1904. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Vermillion Notes". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. January 4, 1906. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Start Law Offices". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. January 13, 1906. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Local News Notes: John Sutherland and Byron S. Payne". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. November 15, 1906. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Inaugural Ball". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. December 27, 1906. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Local Laconics: Articles of Incorporation". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. October 10, 1907. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Republican Ticket". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. October 22, 1908. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Proceedings of the County Canvassing Board". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. December 10, 1908. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "For the Inaugural". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. December 10, 1908. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Local Laconics: Byron S. Payne". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. March 4, 1909. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "City Officers". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. May 5, 1910. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c South Dakota State Historical Society (1946). South Dakota Historical Collections. Vol. XXII. Pierre, SD: State Publishing Company. p. 315 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ a b c "Committees Named By Mass Meetings". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. December 4, 1913. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "The Vote for Local Men". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. April 2, 1914. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Personal Mention of Some of Our Candidates". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. February 12, 1914. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Costly Boy Orator". The Saturday News. Watertown, SD. March 5, 1914. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Mexican Oil Company organized at Pierre". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. June 12, 1914. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "The Written Opinions on Matters of Law". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. January 14, 1915. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "New Corporations". Lead Daily Call. Lead, SD. February 1, 1916. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Bellefourche Line Surveyed". The Glasgow Courier. Glasgow, MT. January 5, 1917. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "For Attorney General". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. January 8, 1918. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Pierre Announces Official Returns". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. June 6, 1918. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Norbeck's Plurality Is Nearly 25,000". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. November 20, 1918. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b "Republican Ticket". Lead Daily Call. Lead, SD. March 11, 1920. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Official Count Shows Results". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. December 7, 1920. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Republican Speakers in Primary Campaign". Deadwood Daily Telegram. Deadwood, SD. March 4, 1922. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Payne President State's Attorneys". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. January 22, 1919. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b c "City in Brief: Byron S. Payne". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. January 6, 1923. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "County Election Winners". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. November 8, 1940. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "South Dakota County Election Winners". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. November 8, 1942. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "No Authority". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD. Associated Press. July 27, 1945. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b "Byron S. Payne Funeral Friday". The Daily Plainsman. Huron, SD. Associated Press. June 1, 1949. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "A Charming Event". Pierre Weekly Free Press. Pierre, SD. September 1, 1910. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.

External links


Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of South Dakota
1918, 1920 		Succeeded by
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_S._Payne