W. C. Payne.
Music delights the heart of every
one especially when coming from a
finely tuned instrument and among
these engaged in the musical instrument
business here, the most prominent
is Mr. W. C. Payne whose handsome
store is located in the old Postoffice
building on East Main street. The structure
is a most ommodious one containing
3,000 square feet of floor space,
every inch of which is needed for the
extensive line of goods handled. Mr.
Payne deals in pianos, organs, and
small musical instruments handling
only the best grades manufactured.
It has always been his rule to buy
direct from the factories. His specialties
are the "McPhail," "Bush &
Gerts," "Crown," "Smith & Bartons"
and in the way of organs the "Estey,"
"Newman Bros" and "Needham" also
the celebrated Victor Talking Machine
which is the best in the market. Mr.
Payne is one of the pioneer merchants
of Charlottesville having been engaged
in business here for many years. He
was born in Fluvanna county Va.,
and received his education there. In
1856 he located in our little center of
activity and industry and opened a
grocery store. At the opening of hostilities
between the North and South
he enlisted in Company A. Nineteenth
Virginia Infantry and served with
great gallantry in the many engagements
in which his company participated.
In 1862 he was stricken with
typhoid fever which for a time left
him completely blind. He recovered
his sight later but it was left very
much impaired. A peculiar coincidence
is, that during this illness he
was treated at a private residence,
and as the army officials found no
trace of him he was reported dead, and
his name is on the monument in the
grounds of the University of Virginia
as one of the dead. After recovering
from fever, Mr. Payne again entered
the grocery line in which he continued
until twenty one years ago when he
opened his present business. He is
one of the most highly esteemed citizens
in the city and a man of sterling
character who enjoys the respect of
all who know him. He is prominent
in fraternal circles being a Mason and
Knights Templar. Associated with
him are his sons Mr. Carroll Payne
and Mr. Laurie R. Payne both of
whom are bright young salesmen,
while Mr. R. C. Moore is the expert
tuner.
