Lewis E. Payson
Lewis Edwin Payson was a U.S. representative from Illinois.
Biography
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Payson moved with his parents to Illinois in 1852. He attended the common schools and Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois. After concluding his law studies, he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Ottawa, Illinois in 1862. He moved to Pontiac, Illinois, in January 1865 and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the county court 1869-1873.Payson was elected as a Republican to the Forty-seventh and to the four succeeding Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands. He resumed the practice of law.