In 1849, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked and saved enough money to head west in the California Gold Rush.

En route he decided to stay in Kansas City, where, in 1852, he married Adeline Mary Prudhomme, the posthumous daughter of Gabriel Prudhomme, who had once owned all of the original Kansas City town site.

Payne pushed for sewers, and helped build a road system up to 29th Street.

His real estate developments included the area where the Liberty Memorial is now located.

[3] Despite his contributions, he was originally buried in an unmarked grave in Union Cemetery; a monument was added later.