by Barbara Payne Citron

Born: January 1, 1870, New York City, NY
Married: January 15, 1896 to Stephen Henry Payne in NY
Died: October 3, 1951, NY

Her mother was dead but a spark had caught and the fire of life gave her a lusty cry! But what could life hold for a baby girl born prematurely and into such a tragic situation? Never to know the love and warmth of her own mother and so tiny that a shoebox was her crib. To be motherless at this crucial time called for crucial decisions to keep her alive. Her family bent to the task and saw to it this tiny bit of life survived; and what a life it was -- and she held on to it for over 80 years!

Jessica was educated at Van Norman Institute during her formative years and later at S.S. Packard Business College and Syracuse University. As a small child school came easy for her. She loved people and always had a large circle of friends.

She grew up amid the hustle and bustle of New York City and guided by her grandmother, Dr. Clemence Lozier and stepmother, Dr. Jennie (de la Montagnie) Lozier, became aware of the plight of indigent, poor women. It was the cornerstone of her life to address these problems through lectures and commentaries which she did with great talent and awareness.

In time, she married Stephen Henry Payne (Harry). He was a rough and ready railroad man and little did he realize on that day in 1896 when he married Jesse Lozier he had a whirlwind on his hands. He was always a loving and supportive husband but eventually became an obscure figure in her background.

Two boys were born to them but only one, Robert (my father) survived to adulthood.

Every fall Jesse dispatched Robert to boarding school where, having caught on to his mother's ways he, too, surrounded himself with friends and activities.

She was a special correspondent and columnist with the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and during World War I was sent to England to write daily about how the English women were coping with the war. The Queen of England publicly recognized her efforts on cementing friendship between the two countries and honored her with a medal.

After the war, she became a commentator on current events equivalent to Walter Cronkite and H. V. Kaltenborne and spoke at facilities all over New York.

In the 1930s she traveled to Europe extensively and her wealthy American friends were now interested in their daughters' meeting and marrying Europe's eligible sons. She was in a position to make these arrangements and made a good living doing so. This was her life and she loved the tempo and swirl of it all.

At home she did enormous charity work such as showing slides of the great masters and their paintings taken at famous European galleries and speaking about her travels at hundreds of various clubs and organizations around town.

She was witty and charming and had a way with words which made her quite popular on the lecture circuit.

As her granddaughter, I knew only the family side -- I was her little "Bahwee" and she tried to be a part of my life as much as she could and I loved her for that.

If you wish to exchange family information,
please e-mail Barbara Payne Citron.

Return to Notable Women Ancestors.