Christopher H. Payne

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 11, 2010

1. Christopher H. Payne Marker

Inscription. Born in slavery in Monroe Co., Sept. 7, 1848, he worked as servant in the Confederate army. Served as teacher and ordained Baptist minister; estab. West Virginia Enterprise, Pioneer, & Mountain Eagle papers; later a lawyer. First African American elected to WV legislature, 1896; delegate to Repub. Nat. Conventions and Consul General to Danish West Indies, 1903-17. Died, Dec. 5, 1925, St. Thomas.

Erected 2003 by WV Celebration 2000; West Virginia Division of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1813.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 38° 10.837′ N, 81° 19.15′ W. Marker was in Montgomery, West Virginia, in Fayette County. It was on 2nd Avenue (West Virginia Route 61) 0.1 miles east of College Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Montgomery WV 25136, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the New River Gorge

and in Greater Charleston Area.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Montgomery Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Montgomery

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Montgomery (approx. 0.2 miles away); West Virginia Institute of Technology (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fayette County / Kanawha County (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fayette County / Kanawha County (approx. half a mile away); Ancient Works (approx. 3 miles away); Pratt (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.

2nd Ave (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 11, 2010

2. 2nd Ave (facing west)

Photographed by Dave W, July 27, 2024

3. Christopher H. Payne Marker

Marker missing, pole still in the ground.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,432 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on July 27, 2024, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 14, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on July 27, 2024, by Dave W of Co, Colorado.