J. T. Payne submitted by Conley Wolterman Justice of the Peace of Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa, was born in Clay County, Indiana, in 1851. He was the son of William Benjamin and Malinda (Sturdevant) Payne ~ the former a native of Maryland and the latter of North Carolina. When a young man, the father moved to Clay County, Indiana. A farm was purchased in Boone County, Iowa and in 1883 opened a farm in Ida County. William and Malinda had 7 children: Candacy of Hayes Township; J. T. Payne (the subject of this biography); M. L. Payne, a contractor of Sioux City; Julia Ann, wife of W. M. Pilcher, of Hayes Township; B. F. Payne; George H., a bridge inspector on the Denver & Ft. Worth railroad at Henrietta, Texas; and Laura, wife of Charles Lovett of Blaine Township, Ida County, Iowa. J. T. Payne was reared and educated in Boone County, Iowa. He purchased 160 acres of prairie land in Section 20, Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa on May 18, 1875. Two years later he erected a small house and began farming his land. In 1890, he built his frame residence, and a fine barn. He had a grove and orchard of 10 acres. He engaged in general farming and stock raising and added 80 more acres of land. He served three years as a member of the County Board of Supervisors, was the first Assessor of Hayes Township ~ serving 4 years, was Secretary of the School Board 5 years, Township Clerk 2 years, and started as Justice of the Peace in 1888. He assisted in organizing and naming Hayes Township in 1878, since Hayes Township was taken from Corwin Township. He assisted in organizing the school districts and was Secretary of the Board during the erection of 6 school buildings. The lumber for the first building was hauled from Denison, Iowa. Mr. Payne was married in Hayes Township on February 29, 1880 to Miss Georgiana Friott, a native of Vermont and reared in Massachusetts to the age of 9 years. Then they moved to Chicago, where Georgiana lived 5 years, and then in 1878, came to Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa. J. T. and Georgiana had 5 children: Ruby, Rodney, Armour, Luva, and Cornelius. Mr. Payne and William Pilcher were the original settlers of Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa.

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