Byrd Maynard Payne and his wife Sallie A.M. Jennings built the second story of the Lone Mountain house around 1908 and lived there the rest of their lives. They reared nine of their ten children there, having lost one in infancy. Eight of these children survived to have families of their own, and are considered the eight branches of the Payne Family Tree rooted at Lone Mountain:
Irene ~ Clarence ~ Tip ~ Sally ~ Anne ~ Jim ~ Kathleen ~ Roger
These nine children were a varied lot. Just about the only thing they always had in common was that they loved each other and loved being together. After World War II they began to scatter around the country and around the world, but they always found their way back to Lone Mountain. They brought spouses and gaggles of children with them. Even now, well into the fifth generation of Byrd and A’s descendants, the family has kept the house as their gathering place.
This website is dedicated to them and to their wish that their home place be taken care of and kept in the family.