Payne, William K.

Born: 1807-05-17 Shelby County, Kentucky

Flourished: Grand View, Illinois

Payne moved with his parents to Owen County, Indiana, in 1822. He moved to Grand View, Illinois, on his own in 1831 and became a merchant. One of the original settlers of Edgar County, he built his own store and lived in it with his family. In 1834, he married Matilda Wampler, with whom he had four children. Payne managed his business for thirty-five years and served as local postmaster from December 1836 to May 1841, from July 1841 to February 1845, and from May 1849 to May 1853. In 1860, he owned $16,700 in real estate and $6,000 in personal property.

The History of Coles County, Illinois (Chicago: Wm. Le Baron, Jr., 1879), 603; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1832-1844, 12B:492, 1845-1855, 18:48, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; The Biennial Register of all Officers and Agents in the Service of the United States (Washington, DC: Blair & Rives, 1838), 278*; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1839 (Washington, DC: A. B. Claxton, 1839), 260*; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, from the Thirtieth September, 1841, to the Thirtieth September, 1843 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1843), 542*; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1845 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845), *387; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849),*475; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851), 532*; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853), 504*; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Edgar County, IL, 219.