Payne was born on a farm in Christian County, Kentucky and was self-educated. In 1849, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, 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, in 1852, he married Adeline Mary Prudhomme, the posthumous daughter of Gabriel Prudhomme, who had once owned all of the original Kansas City town site.[1] He worked at Walker, Boyd & Chick, the biggest merchant in the old.[2]
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.
Payne's wife Adeline died in 1867. He remarried to Jeannie Chamberlin in 1892.[1]
Milton J. Payne died at his home in Kansas City on July 17, 1900.[3] Despite his contributions, he was originally buried in an unmarked grave in Union Cemetery; a monument was added later.
