Thomas Hanson PAYNTER, Congress, KY (1851-1921)

PAYNTER, Thomas Hanson, a Representative and a Senator from Kentucky; born on a farm near Vanceburg, Lewis County, Ky., December 9, 1851; attended the common schools, Rand’s Academy in Lewis County, Ky., and Centre College, Danville, Ky.; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1872 and commenced practice in Greenup, Ky.; prosecuting attorney of Greenup County 1876-1882; resumed the practice of law in Greenup; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses and served from March 4, 1889, until his resignation, effective January 5, 1895, having been elected to the judiciary; chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Fifty-third Congress); judge of the court of appeals of Kentucky from 1895-1906, when he resigned, having been elected Senator; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1907, to March 3, 1913; was not a candidate for reelection in 1912; chairman, Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service (Sixty-second Congress); moved to Frankfort, Ky., in 1913 and continued the practice of law; also interested in agricultural pursuits; died in Frankfort, Ky., March 8, 1921; interment in the State Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present