By Spessard Stone
W. D. "Buddy" Payne, a pioneer settler of the New Zion settlement, was a Baptist minister, farmer, and writer.
William Daniel Payne, commonly known as "Buddy," was born on March 22, 1854, near Jasper, Hamilton County, Florida. He was the eleventh of twelve children of Joseph Smith and Henrietta (Smith) Payne.
After the death of his mother, Buddy went to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Rev. John W. Hendry, in Chicora, Polk County, Florida. In 1871, the Rev. Hendry resettled on Brushy Creek in the New Zion settlement of Manatee County.
Buddy was greatly influenced by his brother-in-law, and, like him, became a Baptist minister. Known churches Rev. Payne served included: Oak Grove Baptist (1895-96, 1899), First Baptist Church of Wauchula (1897-98), Lily Union Baptist Church (November of 1897-October 1898), and New Zion Baptist Church (1897-1901).
W. D. Payne was also a farmer, notary public, and writer. He wrote two short biographies, commissioned by New Zion Church in memory of two of the church's most prominent members, Rev. John W. Hendry and Robert Roberts. The first, A Brief Sketch of the Life and Work of John W. Hendry A Pioneer Baptist Preacher of South Florida was published in 1907 by the Advocate Press, Wauchula. It provided, not only an insight into the Rev. Hendry's life, but also an interesting glimpse of pioneer days. A Short Sketch of Robert Roberts Embracing A Story Of His Military Life In The War Between The States, Payne's second work, contained a brief biography of Robert Roberts (1842-1912) by Payne and an account of Roberts' Confederate service told to Payne.Rev. William D. "Buddy" Payne died June 14, 1931. In Manatee County on May 16, 1875, he had married Martha Almittie Rich. Rev. John W. Hendry officiated. Martha was born April 14, 1858 and died September 21, 1937. They lived in the New Zion settlement, in Manatee County, Florida, just across the Hardee-Manatee counties' line. They are buried in New Zion Cemetery.
Issue of William D. and Martha (Rich) Payne:
1. Sarah Edna Payne, born April 8, 1876; died October 8, 1907; married in 1897 Jesse W. Taylor (June 28, 1870-Oct. 1, 1907).
2. Agnes C. "Neet" Payne, born June 5, 1884; married Noah Albritton.
3. Hollis Virgil Payne, born June 4, 1892; died on January 6, 1946; married Bessie Roberts.
4. John Willingham Payne, born August 18, 1899; died on March 14, 1984; married on September 9, 1923 Alphia Lois Jones.
5. James B. Payne, born August 18, 1899; died on February 9, 1958; married (1) Lena Hall; (2) Margaret Johnson.
References: Sharon Lokken of Lakeland, Fla.; New Zion Cemetery.
This profile is adapted from my profile in The Herald-Advocate of August 14, 1986
February 13, 2001 & October 17, 2001 & May 6, 2002, midi = "When You and I Were Young Maggie," arranged by Taylor's Traditional Tunes.