[1] He was educated in the schools of Clay County[2] and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in 1897.

[10] Payne managed the Pierre office, and his partners there included Zell Guthrie and John Sutherland.

[12][2] In late 1906 and early 1907, he was one of the organizers for events held to celebrate the inauguration of Coe I. Crawford as governor.

[16] In March 1909, Payne was one of several Republicans who made up South Dakota's delegation to the inauguration of President William Howard Taft.

[18][19] In 1912, Payne supported the Progressive Party candidacy of former President Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as a third-party candidate after losing the Republican nomination to Taft.

[20] In 1913, Payne was elected to the state Republican committee as a representative of the majority (progressive) wing of the party.

[29] He easily won the November general election, defeating Democrat Joseph J. Conry and independent candidate Seth Teasdale.

[31] He was unopposed for the Republican nomination,[31] and defeated Democrat Peter Ward and independent O. M. Burch in the general election.

[35] After leaving office, Payne resumed his law practice and business interests, including serving as president of the First National Life Insurance Company.