Biography

07/20/1839 - 09/01/1892

Hubbard Bester Payne (R21) Luzerne County 1875-1876

Early Life: 

Hubbard Bester Payne, born July 20, 1839; Kingston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; son of Bester and Polly Pierce Payne; attended local schools education; Wyoming Seminary, Kingston; Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 1861; teacher, Rocky Hill, Hartford County, Connecticut; studied law, admitted, Luzerne County bar, 1863; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1875-1876; unsuccessful election, Congress, 1876; unsuccessful election, Luzerne County, District Court Judge, 1880; superintendent of Sunday School; married, Elizabeth Lee Smith, 1865, children, Louisa S., Hubbard B., Paul D. Payne; died, September 1, 1892 (aged 53), Kingston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; interment, Forty Fort Cemetery, Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:      

Studied law with Congressman Charles Denison of Wilkes-Barre while continuing teaching. Admitted, Luzerne County bar, 1863, practiced with former Pennsylvania State Senator and Congressman Winthrop W. Ketcham, solicitor, United States Court of Claims. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Psi Upsilon Secret Society, Pythologian Society, Phi Beta Kappa, member Ampaictyon Society, Wyoming Seminary; ruling elder, New Kingston Presbyterian Church; past master, district deputy, Kingston Lodge Free and Accepted Masons; member, Wilkes-Barre Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; member, Dieu Le Veut No48 Commandery Knight Templar,Wilkes Barre; vice-president, Pennsylvania Sunday School Association, 1883; director, Miners' Savings Bank of Wilkes-Barre, ten years; trustee, Osterhout Library, trustee, Kinston Young Men's Christian Association.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 21st district, Luzerne County, 1875-1876; chaired, Mines and Mining and New Counties and County Seats Committees; member, Judiciary General and Judiciary Local Committees. Championed a bill mandating that all parents not only prepare children for an elementary education, but charged legal guardians to uphold a compulsory attendance policy.

Unsuccessful election, 12th Congressional District, United States Congress, 1876.

Unsuccessful election, District Court Judge, Luzerne County, 1880. 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members P". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1875). Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 602, 606-609.

Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) Friday September 9, 1892, Page 6

Hubbard Bester Payne (1839-1892) - Find a Grave Memorial