William Milton Payne waa born 14 May 1809 and was the eighth child of John Payne, Sr. and Hannah Earl Payne. He was born in Orange County, New York, but grew up in Indiana. After moving to Illinois about 1830, he went back to Indiana and married Eliza Hamilton, daughter of Asa and Mary Hamilton.

William taught school at Payne's Point, south of Danville, he managed a distillery, was Assessor and tax Collector, Sheriff and Highway Commissioner. The photo shown of William is one taken for his office as a member of the Olive Branch Masonic Lodge No. 38 in which he participated.

William and Eliza were parents of eleven children.