John D. Payant was born on Aug. 22, 1935, and is a native of Iron Mountain, Mich. He received a B.S. degree from St. Norberts College and a LL. B. from Marquette University Law School. He served in the Marine Corps from 1954-57. He was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1968, representing the 109th District (Dickinson, parts of Gogebic, Marquette, Iron, and Menominee counties). He is a Roman Catholic, a member of the Kiwanis, the Jaycees, the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, and the Michigan and Wisconsin bar associations. He is married and has four children.
From the description of John D. Payant collection. (State Archive of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 42059123