Byron S. Payne

Byron S. Payne (February 2, 1876 – May 30, 1949) was an American attorney and politician from South Dakota. A Republican, he was best known for his service as the state's attorney general from 1919 to 1923.

Early life Byron Samuel Payne was born in Vermillion, Dakota Territory on February 2, 1876, a son of Byron Spencer Payne and Charlotte Elizabeth (Woodworth) Payne. He was educated in the schools of Clay County and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in 1897. Payne worked as a school teacher and principal until deciding on a career as an attorney.

Start of career In 1902, Payne began attendance at the University of Minnesota Law School, from which he graduated with a LL.B. in 1904.

After Payne was admitted to the bar, he began to practice law in Watertown. In 1906, he entered into a partnership with his brother Jason, which maintained offices in Vermillion and Pierre. Payne managed the Pierre office, and his partners there included Zell Guthrie and John Sutherland. The partnership was later reorganized, and Payne continued to practice in Pierre as one of the principals in the Sutherland & Payne firm. In 1907, he was an original incorporator of the Western Union Accident Insurance Company. In late 1908 and early 1909, he was an organizer of the inaugural celebration for Governor Robert S. Vessey. In March 1909, Payne was one of several Republicans who made up South Dakota's delegation to the inauguration of President William Howard Taft.

Payne was appointed Pierre's City Attorney in 1910, and he served until 1914. In 1912, Payne supported the Progressive Party candidacy of former President Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as a third-party candidate after losing the Republican nomination to Taft. The split between Taft and Roosevelt enabled the election of Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson. Despite supporting Roosevelt, Payne remained in the Republican fold. Payne also carried out an appointment as a special assistant state attorney general in 1914. In addition, in 1914 he was one of the original incorporators of a speculative venture, the Mexican Oil Transportation Company.

In 1915, Payne was appointed first assistant state attorney general, and he served until January 1919. In 1916, Payne was an incorporator of another Mexican oil venture, the Queen Oil Company. In 1917, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Bellefourche & Northwestern Railroad.

Attorney General In 1918, Payne was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General of South Dakota. He won the May primary, defeating Harlan J. Bushfield, Howard G. Fuller, and two other candidates. He easily won the November general election, defeating Democrat Joseph J. Conry and independent candidate Seth Teasdale.

Payne was a candidate for reelection in 1920. He was unopposed for the Republican nomination, He was not a candidate for reelection in 1922, and served from January 1919 to January 1923. Payne was succeeded by Buell F. Jones. He was reelected in 1942. He did not run for another term in 1944, and served from January 1941 to January 1945.

Death and burial Payne died in Pierre on May 30, 1949. He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Pierre. They were the parents of two daughters, Elizabeth and Janet.