John C. C. Mayo

Infobox person
name = John Caldwell Calhoun Mayo
residence = flagicon|Kentucky Paintsville, Kentucky


imagesize = 100px
caption = John C. C. Mayo
birth_name =
birth_date = September 16, 1864
birth_place = Gulnare, Kentucky
death_date = May 11, 1914
death_place = New York, New York
death_cause = Bright’s Disease
occupation = Entrepreneur, Teacher, Politician
party = Democrat
religion = Methodist
parents = Thomas J. and Mary E.

John Caldwell Calhoun Mayo (September 16, 1864 - May 11, 1914) was an American entrepreneur and politician.

Early life

Mayo was born in Gulnare, Kentucky to Thomas Jefferson Mayo and Mary E. Mayo. His family moved to Johnson County, Kentucky in 1870 where they established a home in Paintsville. Mayo attended subscription schools until he entered as a prep into Kentucky Wesleyan College in Millersburg. He graduated class of 1879 and began teaching school in Paintsville at the age of 22. While attending college, Mayo realized the potential of coal and other mineral deposits in the Big Sandy Valley.cite web
url= http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/people/M.html
title= Johnson County History ...And That's a Fact! - Personalities
accessdate= 2007-06-08
author= Johnson County Historical Society
date= Unknown
format= HTML] cite web
url= http://www.kwc.edu/alumni_hofdetail.asp?id=1
title= Kentucky Wesleyan College - Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
accessdate= 2007-06-08
author= Kentucky Wesleyan College
date= Unknown
format= HTML]

Rise to wealth

During his teaching tenure, Mayo began to buy land and mineral rights in eastern Kentucky using his paltry teaching salary. He would then in turn sell the land or the rights to the land to eastern iron and coal companies at a considerable profit, while convincing them to invest in exploration and mining of the region. As he continued to buy and sell options to land, he eventually became a partner, agent or representative for many of the large firms.cite web
url= http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/people/M.html
title= Johnson County History ...And That's a Fact! - Personalities
accessdate= 2007-06-08
author= Johnson County Historical Society
date= Unknown
format= HTML] cite web
url= http://www.kwc.edu/alumni_hofdetail.asp?id=1
title= Kentucky Wesleyan College - Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee
accessdate= 2007-06-08
author= Kentucky Wesleyan College
date= Unknown
format= HTML]

Mayo Mansion

and in turn to the house also. Construction of the mansion was completed in December 1912 with costs in excess of $250,000 [cite web
url= http://www.ourladyofthemountains.info/mission.htm
title= Our Lady of the Mountains School: Mission and History
accessdate= 2007-06-08
date= 2006
format= HTML] ($5,218,361 after being adjusted for inflation). Mayo Mansion is recognized as a registered historic place in Kentucky.

Politics

Mayo was a millionaire by 1910, and he was already exerting political influence. He used portions of his wealth to help elect governors and congressmen. He also contributed heavily to the presidential campaign of Woodrow Wilson. He is also the only eastern Kentuckian to ever be a member of the Democratic National Committee.cite web
url= http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/history.html
title= Historical Overview of Paintsville and Johnson County
author= Johnson County Historical Society
accessdate= 2007-06-08
date= 2006
format= HTML]

Death

In 1913, Mayo went on a three month tour of Europe, including London and other foreign capitals. This tour was a trip of both, business and pleasure. On August 20, he returned to Paintsville. An elaborate reception was given by John E. Buckingham, a close friend of Mayo. Citizens from all over the area went to welcome back "Johnson County's most prominent resident". Unknown to the guests at the reception, Mayo was already suffering from Bright's Disease. It was soon released to the public that Mayo was ill.

Originally, the newspapers reported that Mayo had pneumonia and was resting at his mansion. Mayo didn't stay resting for long. A week later, Mayo conducted business as usual, but citizens of Paintsville could tell he was seriously ill.

Specialists were soon called in from Cincinnati. Mayo had been experiencing periods of unconsciousness according to reports. Bright's Disease had attacked the function of the liver, but news reports were still hopeful for a quick recovery. On March 1, 1914, Mayo was taken by special train to the Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, where an entire floor was occupied.

. He died two days later, on May 11, 1914 and the Waldorf Astoria.

Nearly 5,000 people attended his funeral on May 14, 1914. Funeral services were held at what is now known as Mayo Memorial United Methodist Church, the same church that Mayo had built just across the street from his mansion. The governor of the Commonwealth, James B. McCreary, brought a delegation of state officials to Mayo's funeral. Senator C. W. Watson and Representative C. B. Slemp represented the U.S. Congress. Citizens of Johnson County held a vigil at the train station until the train carrying Mayo's body pulled into the terminal. Mayo's body was transported to Mayo Mansion to lie in state. From the announcement of Mayo's death on May 11, until after the funeral, all of the towns businesses and banks were closed.cite web
url= http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/history.html
title= Historical Overview of Paintsville and Johnson County
accessdate= 2007-06-08
date= 2006
format= HTML] cite web
url= http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/people/M.html
title= Johnson County History ...And That's a Fact! - Personalities
accessdate= 2007-06-08
author= Johnson County Historical Society
date= Unknown
format= HTML] cite web
url= http://www.johnsoncountykyhistory.com/people/mayo.html
author= Johnson County Historical Society
title= John C.C. Mayo
accessdate= 2007-06-08
date= 2006
format= HTML]

References