Milton J. Payne
Encyclopedia
Milton Jameson Payne who served six one-year terms as Kansas City, Missouri Mayor, was also the city's youngest mayor (first being elected in 1855 at the age of 26).
Payne was born on a farm in Christian County, Kentucky
. After being self-educated he moved to St. Louis, Missouri
in 1849 where he worked and saved enough money to head west in the California Gold Rush
. En route he decided to stay in Kansas City, where he married Adeline Mary Prudhomme, the posthumous daughter of Gabriel Prudhomme, who had once owned all of the original Kansas City town site. He worked at Walker, Boyd & Chick, the biggest merchant in the old.
He was among the founders of Kansas City's first newspaper, the Enterprise.
Payne, who always carried a gun while walking the streets, was elected mayor five times between 1855 and 1859 and was elected to a sixth term during the American Civil War
in 1862.
Payne pushed for sewers, and helped build a road system up to 29th Street. His real estate developments included the area where the Liberty Memorial
is now located.
Despite his contributions he was originally buried in an unmarked grave in Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri; a monument was added later.
Payne was born on a farm in Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1797. As of 2000, its population was 72,265. Its county seat is Hopkinsville, Kentucky...
. After being self-educated he moved to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1849 where he worked and saved enough money to head west in the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. En route he decided to stay in Kansas City, where he married Adeline Mary Prudhomme, the posthumous daughter of Gabriel Prudhomme, who had once owned all of the original Kansas City town site. He worked at Walker, Boyd & Chick, the biggest merchant in the old.
He was among the founders of Kansas City's first newspaper, the Enterprise.
Payne, who always carried a gun while walking the streets, was elected mayor five times between 1855 and 1859 and was elected to a sixth term during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1862.
Payne pushed for sewers, and helped build a road system up to 29th Street. His real estate developments included the area where the Liberty Memorial
Liberty Memorial
The Liberty Memorial, located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War I and houses the The National World War I Museum, as designated by the United States Congress in 2004.. Groundbreaking commenced November 1, 1921, and the city held a site dedication...
is now located.
Despite his contributions he was originally buried in an unmarked grave in Union Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri; a monument was added later.