Lewis Edwin Payson (September 17, 1840 – October 4, 1909) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

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Lewis E. Payson
Buffalo Weekly Express (Buffalo, NY), January 28, 1886
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 9th district
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by	John H. Lewis
Succeeded by	Herman W. Snow
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 8th district
In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883
Preceded by	Greenbury L. Fort
Succeeded by	William Cullen
Personal details
Born	(1840-09-17)September 17, 1840 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	October 4, 1909(1909-10-04) (aged 69) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Rock Creek Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican

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Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Payson moved with his parents to Illinois in 1852. He attended the common schools and Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois. After concluding his law studies, he was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Ottawa, Illinois in 1862. He moved to Pontiac, Illinois, in January 1865 and continued the practice of law. He served as judge of the county court 1869-1873.^[1]

Payson was elected as a Republican to the Forty-seventh and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1891). He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Fifty-first Congress). He resumed the practice of law.

Payson died in Washington, D.C., October 4, 1909 and was interred in Rock Creek Cemetery.^{[citation needed]}

A number of towns are named after Lewis Payson ^{[citation needed]} including Payson, Arizona, and Payson, Utah.