HOW PAYNE AVENUE GOT  ITS NAME

         by Doug Chapell

 

    Payne Avenue was named after Rice W. Payne, a 19th century tourist from Virginia.  How a street in St. Paul came to be named after a Virginia Gentleman is a tale that stretches back 250 years.  Payne’s ancestors were some of the earliest English colonists in America, arriving as part of the original complement of adventurers who founded the Virginia Colony in 1602.  They settled on land near the Potomac River and became farmers.  More family members arrived in 1603 and 1604.  Over the next two centuries the family grew to become a large, wealthy family of planters, bankers, and lawyers.

    Rice William Payne was born into this happy privileged life in 1818 in the town of Warrenton, Fauquier County, in the north of Virginia, very near to Washington D.C.  His father and an uncle owned and operated a large bank in Warrenton, along with owning large tracts of land in both Virginia and Texas.   Rice grew up to become a lawyer in his hometown.  

    In 1856, when he was 38 years old, Payne set out on a trip to see the western frontier.  He travelled to St. Paul, which at that time was the head of navigation on the Mississippi.  He liked the bustling city enough to invest $1000 to purchase 20 acres of land east of downtown.  That 20 acres laid west of Swede Hollow in the area now known as Railroad Island.  It wasn’t worth much at the time, because there was no road to connect it to the growing downtown area.  Payne, however, apparently thought it was a worthwhile purchase.  After a short stay in the city, Payne continued his tour of the West and then returned home to Virginia.

    When the Civil War began, Payne accepted a commission in the Army of Northern Virginia, eventually attaining the rank of Major.  This led to the loss of his land in Minnesota.  After the war, the State ordered the confiscation of all land owned by those who had fought for the Confederacy.  Payne’s land was forfeited under this order.  Around 1880, a viaduct was built, connecting downtown with the areas to the east.  Now the 20 acres that Rice Payne had owned were accessible to the city.  They began to support a neighborhood and a road was built that branched off to the north, along the west bank of Swede Hollow.  This road, that ran through Payne’s Parcel began to be called Payne Avenue.  Now, 120 years later, Payne’s visit to St. Paul is long forgotten, but his name continues to be known to all who live on the East Side.

 

 

 

Record of an estate case administered by Rice Payne in Fauquier County Virginia in 1860:

"Edwin W. James v. Rice W. Payne

1861-030 Chancery Court, Fauquier, Edwin W. James vs. Rice W. Payne, Admr. of Sarah E. James, decd.

Edwin W. James complains that Sarah E. James recently of Fauquier, recently deceased, made will which was recorded (and attached supposedly but not included here). No executor named in will, May term, 1860, Rice W. Payne named administrator.

By the will Sarah bequested the whole of her estate except her land to be equally divided between her sister Susan K. James, and her brothers Waverly James, Duncan James, David T. James and your orator. Will further provided that Susan K. James should hold the property of the orator and Waiverly in trust. Estate has been appraised, 19 slaves, many of whom are young and will appreciate in value, appraised at $10,000. Liabilities are between 5,000 and $6,000 and will be paid through sale of personalty and some slaves. Rice Payne has advertrised to sell 12-15 slaves on July 23, 1860 before selling perishable property or ascertaining accurately debts and liabilities. States sale should not take place."

 

 

Rice W. Payne

Born Oct. 7, 1788

Died Sept. 25, 1884

 

 

Researched by Jim Nolan