My Genealogy Hound

STOKELY T. PAYNE, physician, was born March 20, 1818, in Culpepper County, Va. His father, William Payne, was a native of North Carolina, and was removed to Virginia by his parents in his youth. His wife, formerly Ava Garnett, was of Virginia birth. After their marriage, they removed to Culpeper County, Va., where their family of twelve children was born, only three of whom are living. They then moved to Orange County, Va., and after a residence there of ten years moved in 1830, to Williamson County, Tenn., where the father engaged in farm pursuits and there died, his wife surviving him until January, 1844. Previous to his death, he had made a trip to Kentucky, and had purchased 1,000 acres of land in Hickman County, on which he had intended to move, but his death occurred shortly afterward. The subject of these lines was reared by his father to farm work, and came with him to Tennessee, when twelve years old, but with an elder brother went shortly after to Washington County, Mo., where he remained four years. He returned to Tennessee and managed the home farm for his mother and attended, and later taught a school. At twenty years of age, he went to Williamson County, and worked eighteen months at the tanner’s trade, when he removed to Mississippi, and served as deputy circuit clerk in Choctaw County one year. Returning to Williamson County, Tenn., he read medicine eighteen months under the instruction of Dr. W. Webb, after which he attended lectures at Louisville, Ky. After a practice of three years in Tennessee and Indiana, he attended the Louisville University, graduating from the same in 1849. He thereafter practiced in Tennessee and seven years in Christian County, this State, and in 1858 came to McCracken County and located upon a tract of timber land upon which his present fine residence is located. The doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is devoting much time to writing and lecturing in favor of prohibition measures. In his professional and social relations he occupies an enviable position, and his influence for good in the community is manifest. He has been married three times; his first two wives, Catherine F. and Sallie N., were daughters of the Rev. James H. Overstreet, of Louisville. His last wife was formerly a Miss Lizzie C. Ratcliffe, of this county. By his first wife there are five children now living: Minnie, wife of Henry C. Fortson; William L.; James B., physician, now residing in Lovelaceville, this county; Stokely and Ava L.