Education
He attended the common schools and Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois. He studied law.
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 (March 4, 1881-March 3, 1891).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Fifty-first Congress). He resumed the practice of law.
He died in Washington, District of Columbia, October 4, 1909. He was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery.
A number of towns are named after Payson including Payson, Arizona, and Payson, Utah.