My Genealogy Hound

GEO. W. PAYTON, grocer, was born in Harrisonville, Cass county, Mo., Sept. 8, 1844. His parents, Greenberry and Amelia (Hayden) Payton, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky. His father was born in 1808, now deceased. His mother was born about the year 1822 and died in 1845. Subject grew to manhood in Cass county and was educated principally at Harrisonville. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company C, Hurst’s Regiment, Missouri State Guards, for six months; then re-enlisted in Third Missouri Cavalry under Maj. Brown, and served until the fall of 1864, He participated in the battles of Carthage, Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, Farmington, Corinth, and a number of others. After the war he engaged in farming and the mercantile business for a decade. He came to Joplin in the spring of 1874 and engaged at first in mining for about eighteen months and then embarked in the grocery business until 1878, then accepted the position of deputy sheriff of Jasper county, under John S. McBride. He served two years and then re-embarked in the grocery business. Mr. Payton was married in Scotland county, Mo., Oct. 9, 1867, to Miss Anna M., daughter of Judge J. V. Headen, of that county, Mrs. Payton was born in Scotland county, Mo. From this union there have been five children: Lewis and Elizabeth, now deceased; Eugene, Annie Pearl, and Geo. W., Jr. Mrs. Payton is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Payton is a man of good business qualifications and takes great interest in public matters.