Mormons in Arizona
Harry Lorenzo Payne (1)
Written by Lucy Shumway, 580 East Second Avenue, Mesa, Arizona
Arizona Writers Project
Harry Lorenzo Payne was the third President of St. Joseph Stake, Arizona. He was born January 18, 1879 at Glenwood, Sevier County, Utah, the son of Harry M. Payne and Helen Amelia Buchanan. He was baptized June 9, 1884 by Daniel Cloward, ordained a Deacon by William Stevens and later ordained a priest by Philip H. Hurst; an Elder by Frederick G. Williamson, and a Seventy by Apostle George Teasdale. He was ordained High Priest by Anthony W. Irvine.
ACTIVE CHURCH WORKER FROM EARLY YOUTH
From his early youth he was an active church worker. As a boy he served in the presidency of the Deacons quorum and later became active in the Priest quorum. At the age of 18 , just prior to leaving for a mission to the Southern States, in July he was ordained an Elder then while visiting in Salt Lake City he was ordained a Seventy and set apart as a missionary. He labored in the Southern States as a missionary for two years, (1897-1899), in the states of Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.
After returned from his mission he served in the stake superintendency of the Sunday School. From 1916 to 1919 he served as High Counselor to President Andrew Kimball. After the death of President Kimball he was chosen and sustained as President of St. Joseph Stake, September 7, 1924, by Heber J. Grant and was set apart for that work by him the next day.
FAMILY LIFE
On May 26, 1901, he married Pearl Thurber, which union was blest with eight children. Namely; Lorenzo, Zenatelle, Pearl and Ezrel Junius, Clesne, Albert Elmo, Genievieve, Helen, Harry Thurber. His wife died December 12, 1917 and on March 31, 1920 he married Ethel Done who bore him five chidren: Ethlene, Heber Lavon, Marilyn, David and Beth.
CIVIC LEADER FOR MANY YEARS
Besides being active in a church capacity, President Payne has taken leading parts in secular affairs. From Sevier County, Utah he moved to Colonia Dublan, Mexico, 1891 where he resided til 1912. Here he shared the fate of the co-religionists in being expelled from Mexico. After that he resided in Utah and later moved to Arizona where he had lived ever since.
Among the many ecclesiastical and secular positions which President Payne has filled there was twelve years he served as county clerk in Graham County, Arizona, a member of the Graham County Committee of Boy Scouts. He was president of the Stake Board of Education and President of the Board of Trustees of Gila College, etc.
President Payne was a splendid singer and entertainer and was much loved by the People over which he presided.
(1) Jensen, Andrew, Latter Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. IV.
Arizona Writers Project
Harry Lorenzo Payne was the third President of St. Joseph Stake, Arizona. He was born January 18, 1879 at Glenwood, Sevier County, Utah, the son of Harry M. Payne and Helen Amelia Buchanan. He was baptized June 9, 1884 by Daniel Cloward, ordained a Deacon by William Stevens and later ordained a priest by Philip H. Hurst; an Elder by Frederick G. Williamson, and a Seventy by Apostle George Teasdale. He was ordained High Priest by Anthony W. Irvine.
ACTIVE CHURCH WORKER FROM EARLY YOUTH
From his early youth he was an active church worker. As a boy he served in the presidency of the Deacons quorum and later became active in the Priest quorum. At the age of 18 , just prior to leaving for a mission to the Southern States, in July he was ordained an Elder then while visiting in Salt Lake City he was ordained a Seventy and set apart as a missionary. He labored in the Southern States as a missionary for two years, (1897-1899), in the states of Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.
After returned from his mission he served in the stake superintendency of the Sunday School. From 1916 to 1919 he served as High Counselor to President Andrew Kimball. After the death of President Kimball he was chosen and sustained as President of St. Joseph Stake, September 7, 1924, by Heber J. Grant and was set apart for that work by him the next day.
FAMILY LIFE
On May 26, 1901, he married Pearl Thurber, which union was blest with eight children. Namely; Lorenzo, Zenatelle, Pearl and Ezrel Junius, Clesne, Albert Elmo, Genievieve, Helen, Harry Thurber. His wife died December 12, 1917 and on March 31, 1920 he married Ethel Done who bore him five chidren: Ethlene, Heber Lavon, Marilyn, David and Beth.
CIVIC LEADER FOR MANY YEARS
Besides being active in a church capacity, President Payne has taken leading parts in secular affairs. From Sevier County, Utah he moved to Colonia Dublan, Mexico, 1891 where he resided til 1912. Here he shared the fate of the co-religionists in being expelled from Mexico. After that he resided in Utah and later moved to Arizona where he had lived ever since.
Among the many ecclesiastical and secular positions which President Payne has filled there was twelve years he served as county clerk in Graham County, Arizona, a member of the Graham County Committee of Boy Scouts. He was president of the Stake Board of Education and President of the Board of Trustees of Gila College, etc.
President Payne was a splendid singer and entertainer and was much loved by the People over which he presided.
(1) Jensen, Andrew, Latter Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. IV.