Allen J. Payton (March 7, 1861–March 1, 1917) was an American farmer and politician. He represented Spencer County in the Indiana General Assembly.

Allen J. Payton
Member of the Indiana State Assembly
from the Spencer County, Indiana district
Personal details
Borncirca 1861-62
Indiana, U.S.
Died1917 (aged 54–55)
Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Residence(s)Rockport, Indiana, U.S.
OccupationFarmer
[1]

Early life and education

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Allen J. Payton was born in Indiana March 7, 1861.[1]

Career and life

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Payton worked as a farmer. He operated a farm in Luce Township, Indiana in 1880. On June 3, 1881, he married Anna Stevenson. The couple would go on to have five children.[1]

Life in politics

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Payton ran for the Indiana General Assembly, to represent Spencer County, in the 1888 election, running against Benjamin B. Brown. Payton won the election after an investigation into voter fraud.[1][2]

Later life

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Around 1900, Payton served on a committee to place historical markers at select sites in Spencer County where Abraham Lincoln or his family resided or spent time.[3]

By 1910, Payton was serving on the board of the Independent Telephone Association.[4] Payton died in Evansville, Indiana on March 1, 1917.[1]

Legacy

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A collection of Payton's letters are held in the collection of the Indiana State Library.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Gellert, Linda (15 March 2015). "Collection: Allen J. Payton letters". Indiana State Library Manuscripts Catalog. Indiana State Library. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. ^ Emmis Communications (September 2001). Indianapolis Monthly. Emmis Communications. p. 86.
  3. ^ Ehrmann, Bess Virginia Hicks; Southwestern Indiana Historical Society, Evansville (1938). The missing chapter in the life of Abraham Lincoln; a number of articles, episodes, photographs, pen and ink sketches concerning the life of Abraham Lincoln in Spencer County, Indiana, between 1816-1830 and 1844. Chicago, Ill., W.M. Hill.
  4. ^ "Phone men to meet in South Bend in 1910". The South Bend Tribune. Newspapers.com. 14 May 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2020.