Mr. Payne sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Alex Black, in 1889, and coming to Charleston, associated himself with Arnold, Abney & Company, and established the wholesale business of Payne Shoe Company which commands a large wholesale trade throughout this region, extending into Ohio and Kentucky. The large six-story building now occupied by the company was built and completed in 1910. This firm employs from ten to fifteen salesmen, and has had a successful and prosperous business from the beginning.

Mr. Payne was not only the organizer of this large business, but has been president of the company since its organization. He has also been a director of the Charleston National Bank for eighteen years, and is a director in the firm of Noyes, Thomas & Company, one of the largest wholesale dry goods houses in this section. He has taken an active part in the development of the city of Charleston, having erected quite a number of substantial business blocks, besides his handsome residence property on Kanawha Street. Mr. Payne is a Mason of many years standing, and has occupied a prominent position in that fraternity. He has been trustee of the Masonic Temple for the past fifteen years. Mr. Payne is also Past Potentate of the Beni-Kedem Temple, Past Eminent Commander of the Kanawha Commandery and Past Master of Kanawha Lodge. He has been an extensive traveller, having visited most of the principal countries on the globe, and last winter returned from an extensive trip to South America, visiting all the principal republics and capitals of that country.

Mr. Payne was married in 1883, at Blacksburg, Virginia, to Miss Emma Edmondson, formerly of Memphis, Tenn. She as well as Mr. Payne are both members of the First Presbyterian Church, of Charleston, and are both active workers, Mr. Payne being Chairman of the Board of Deacons. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are the parents of two living children - Henry E. and Marguerite. Henry E is associated with his father as vice president of the Payne Shoe Company. His daughter Marguerite has just finished her school life, having graduated at Madam Lefebvre's school (Edgeworth) at Baltimore. Henry E. Payne married Miss Lucy Couch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George S. Couch, of this city.