Byron S. Payne | |
---|---|
10th Attorney General of South Dakota | |
In office January 1919 – January 1923 | |
Governor |
Peter Norbeck William H. McMaster |
Preceded by | Clarence C. Caldwell |
Succeeded by | Buell F. Jones |
State's Attorney of Hughes County, South Dakota | |
In office January 1941 – January 1945 | |
Preceded by | Otto B. Linstad |
Succeeded by | Robert C. Riter |
Personal details | |
Born | Vermillion, South Dakota | February 2, 1876
Died | May 30, 1949 Pierre, South Dakota | (aged 73)
Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Pierre, South Dakota |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Jessie Blanche Mallery (m. 1910–1949, his death) |
Children | 2 |
Education |
University of South Dakota University of Minnesota Law School |
Occupation | Attorney Insurance company president |
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
Payne died in Pierre on May 30, 1949. [39] He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre. [39]
In August 1910, Payne married Jessie Blanche Mallery of Pierre. [40] They were the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Janet. [19]
Byron S. Payne | |
---|---|
10th Attorney General of South Dakota | |
In office January 1919 – January 1923 | |
Governor |
Peter Norbeck William H. McMaster |
Preceded by | Clarence C. Caldwell |
Succeeded by | Buell F. Jones |
State's Attorney of Hughes County, South Dakota | |
In office January 1941 – January 1945 | |
Preceded by | Otto B. Linstad |
Succeeded by | Robert C. Riter |
Personal details | |
Born | Vermillion, South Dakota | February 2, 1876
Died | May 30, 1949 Pierre, South Dakota | (aged 73)
Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Pierre, South Dakota |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Jessie Blanche Mallery (m. 1910–1949, his death) |
Children | 2 |
Education |
University of South Dakota University of Minnesota Law School |
Occupation | Attorney Insurance company president |
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
Payne died in Pierre on May 30, 1949. [39] He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre. [39]
In August 1910, Payne married Jessie Blanche Mallery of Pierre. [40] They were the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Janet. [19]