Lewis E. Payson

Lewis Edwin Payson (September 17, 1840 – October 4, 1909) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Payson moved with his parents to Illinois in 1852. He attended the common schools and Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Ottawa, Illinois, in 1862. He moved to Pontiac, Illinois, in January 1865 and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the county court 1869-1873.

Payson was elected as a Republican to the Forty-seventh and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1891). He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Fifty-first Congress). He resumed the practice of law. He died in Washington, D.C., October 4, 1909. He was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery.

A number of towns are named after Payson including Payson, Arizona, and Payson, Utah.

References

• Lewis E. Payson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Greenbury L. Fort	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 8th congressional district March 4, 1881 - March 3, 1883	Succeeded by William Cullen
Preceded by John H. Lewis	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 9th congressional district March 4, 1883 - March 3, 1891	Succeeded by Herman W. Snow

Article about Lewis Ediwn Payson: http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2009/mar/04/who_was_lewis_edwin_payson/