Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-05
From StockW
( IIOYD'S HAT STORE. Harper House Block

win. in SheIburne Falls Later Sher-
win moved to Northampton. and young
Payne went with him. When, in 1863,
Shcrwin moved to Milwaukee and
opened a large retail and wholesale
store there, Payne went with him and
entered the employ of Sherwin, NOVEL;
& Pratt as boOkkeeper. Prior to that
time he had. on the outbreak of the
civil war. tried to enlist with the Tenth
Massachusetts volunteers, but being
under sized he was rejected.
becomes Partner I'm Milwaukee.
So faithful did the young man work
that he soon won a reputation. and in
1868 became a partner of the house and
subsequently with the successors of
the firm. Sherwin withdrew and went
10 New York and opened large whole
sale house. which soon proved a tinan-
ciaI failure. Shcrwin went down with
crash ana carried the Milwaukee
house ii which Payne was a partner
with him. The house was wound up i'll
bankruptcy.
Having lost all he had. Payne start
ed out to make a fresh start in life.
He had been married just before the
failure. and his position was trying.
With the grit for which he was noted
be started into an entirely new line
of business, and with the late Benja-
min We'll became associated in the in
sUrance business.
Goes Into Politics.
1t was not a business in which he be-
came wealthy. but he lived and got
llOnE It the same time he got into
republican politics. and in 1872 he first
came TO the front in Milwaukee. 1t was
Turing the Grant-Greeley campaign.
Many of the old-time party men were
for Greeley; the younger element was
for Grant. Payne was a young man.
not yet 80. and he set out to organize
ne young republican voters into the
Young Mems Republican league.
1t was in this work that Payne first
attracted attention as a successful cam
DaIgn manager. From that time on he
rose rapidly in politics. His executive
ability as a handler of men and as an
organizer was recognized by the older
hCads of the party, and he became one
IF the local leaders. In 1867 President
Grant appointed him postmaster of Mil
Waukee. Presidents Hayes and Arthur
rCappointcd him. As postmaster. Payne
had plenty of time to devote to politics,
both state and local. and he made good
use of it. lie became a member of the
state central committee and later its
secretary. and then it's chairman.
Became IL Power.
His rise was rapid. and the success
ne had achieved as local leader sent
aim a notch higher. and as state chair
man he was regarded as the head of
the party He was clever and astute.
and much of the credit of the party
success in those days belonged 10 him.
He was q fine organizer, and his COun-
sci was sought by all candidates. He
became a power not only in the county
and state but national politics. serving
as chairman of the republican state
committee, and also representing the
state in the republican national com
mittec for more than ten years.
| His business Interests.
While holding the position OF post
master Mr. Payne became interested
IN various large corporate interests. He
had become a heavy stakeholder in the
| Wisconsin Telephone company and be
came its president. He branChed out
| and while still interested in the tele-
phone company went into the street
railway line. Early in the sos he con
| oeived the idea of consolidating the To-
| cal street car lines. There were -four
of them. all operated by horse and
mule power and giving inferior service
With the aid of Mitchell he succeeded
| in interesting eastern capital. and the
Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light
company was organized and got control
OF the four lines and the two lighting
plants.
| The car lines were changed 10 cleo
trio systems and he became vice presi
dent of the company and resident di
| rector. The service became first class
but the price paid for the lines had
been too great. and the line went into
the hands of a receiver TO which po
sition Payne was appointed. II has
since been reorCanized. with a capital
lof some $lG,ooo.oa0. and IS now on a
paying basis.
| In 1898 Mr.. Payne was elected presi
ldent of the American Street Railway