David D. Payne, born on November 25, 1871, in Cooke County, Texas, came from a pioneering family with deep roots in American history. His father, Robert Treat Payne, was an early Texas settler who eventually moved the family to Greer County, Oklahoma. By 1890, David relocated to Mobeetie, Texas, to help manage his father’s cattle, marking the beginning of his lifelong career in ranching. At twelve, he invested his earnings in his first cow, laying the foundation for his future in the cattle industry.
Payne initially branded his cattle with “BP” but eventually adopted the “Triple Y” brand in 1924, which he used for the next 24 years. In 1908, he married Jennie Smith, and the couple lived in a dugout on their land for a year before building their home. Over time, Payne expanded his holdings, acquiring 11 sections of land through hard work and frugality. Despite the challenges of early ranching life, Payne thrived, eventually investing in a Ford sedan in 1914, allowing the family to travel to town more frequently.
By 1929, the Paynes built a home in Miami, Texas, where they lived until Jennie’s passing in 1936. In 1940, Payne remarried Nona Shelton Wilcoxon and continued ranching until retiring in 1958 at the age of 87. He passed away on May 25, 1969, at the age of 97, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and dedication to the cattle industry.
