According to an Owosso, Michigan City Directory of 1896, Wm. E. Payne was part owner of Crowe and Payne which was located at 218 - 222 W. Main St. They sold agriculture impliments, wagons, carriages, harnesses, robes, blankets and seeds.
The Crowe & Payne building is located on the northeast corner of Main and Water St. Today it is home to Chicago Title Co. and formerly the Shippee & Smith Dry Dock for many years.
By about 1907, Payne had bought out Mr. Crowe and the business was then called Wm. E. Payne.
The 1913 directory listed the company as Payne & Euler with the same Main St. address. This business closed in about 1923. Payne sold the building to Justin Shattuck in Dec. of 1924.
According to the Owosso Argus Press papers of Oct. 1925, W. E. Payne (born 1863) of Owosso had quite an impact on the automobile industry. And it all started when Payne, who was a very successful business man, manufacturered buggies and carriages in the early 1900's. He even dabbled in the 'horseless' carriage and this model was actually a predessser to one of his early designs.
Payne then sold his company to Robert C. Wilcox in 1924. Wilcox then merged with one of the big three automotive companies. The Argus goes on to say that Payne passed away on October 9, 1925.
This carriage is an example of the a Payne two-seater model built by W. E. Payne & Co. The carriage has shock absorbers on all four wheels for a smooth ride.
Year built...........circa 1895
Height..............4.5 feet
Width...............5 feet
Length..............14 feet
