Lewis E. Payson

Who was Lewis E. Payson?

Lewis Edwin Payson 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. He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands. 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.