Rev. William Daniel "Buddy" Payne
Rev. William Daniel Payne

By Spessard Stone


W. D. "Buddy" Payne, a pioneer settler of Myakka Head, Manatee County, 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.

In Manatee County on May 16, 1875, he married Martha Almittie Rich, born April 14, 1858. Rev. John W. Hendry officiated.

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.

They lived in Myakka Head, Manatee County, Florida, just across the Hardee-Manatee counties' line. William and Martha Payne were enumerated in household 468/468 in Precinct 3, Dry Prairie, 12th day of July, in the 1900 Manatee County Census. His occupation was farmer. Martha had given birth to nine children, of whom five were living. Children living with them were Seleeta, Hollis V. and John.



Detail from 1900 Manatee County Census

Rev. William D. "Buddy" Payne died June 14, 1931. Martha Payne died September 21, 1937. They are buried in New Zion Cemetery, Ona, Hardee County, Florida.

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.
2. Seleeta Paune, born June 1882.
3. Agnes C. "Neet" Payne, born June 5, 1884; married Noah Albritton.
4. Hollis Virgil Payne, born June 4, 1892; died Jan. 6, 1946; married Bessie Roberts.
4. John Willingham Payne, born Aug. 18, 1899; died March 14, 1984; married on Sept. 9, 1923 Alphia Lois Jones.
5. James B. Payne, born Aug. 18, 1899; died Feb. 9, 1958; married (1) Lena Hall; (2) Margaret Johnson.


References: Sharon Lokken of Lakeland, Fla.; 1900 Manatee County Census; New Zion Cemetery. This profile is adapted from my profile in The Herald-Advocate of August 14, 1986

February 13, 2001, October 17, 2001, July 16, 2011