My Genealogy Hound

John Mayes, an old and prominent citizen of Washington County, Ark., was born in Guernsey County, East Tenn., June 23, 1810. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Moody) Mayes, were natives of Virginia, the father being a soldier in the War of 1812, and a farmer and mechanic by occupation. John Mayes was married in his native State to Miss Sarah McGhee, who bore him four sons and seven daughters; two daughters died in infancy, but the rest grew to manhood and womanhood. In 1848 John Mayes and family left East Tennessee and came to Washington County, Ark., where he has been identified with building interests ever since. He has been a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1843, and since 1856 has been a secularized minister of that denomination. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, is an exemplary citizen, and a kind neighbor and considerate friend. His eldest son, William Zera Mayes, was born in Grainger County, Tenn., May 28, 1835, and was reared in Arkansas, where he adopted his father’s calling, that of a house carpenter and builder, and followed that occupation in Colorado from 1859 to 1860. From that date until 1875 he continued his trade in Arkansas, when he removed to his farm and there resided until his death, which occurred August 7, 1888. He was universally respected and esteemed, and his death was lamented by all who knew him. He was a skillful carpenter, and erected some of the finest residences and business blocks in Fayetteville, among which are McIlroy’s Bank, the Mountain House, S. K. Stone’s store, and the State University. May 1, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Campbell a daughter of James and Minerva (Simpson) Campbell, natives respectively of Tennessee and Kentucky, the former being born in 1809 and the latter in 1814. They were very early settlers of Arkansas, and were married at Evansville in 1833. Mr. Mayes and wife became the parents of three children: Nora, wife of W. M. Simmons; Ida, and John F., the eldest of the family and the only son. The latter was born in Washington County on the 16th of March, 1862, and after receiving an exceptionally good common school education, he entered the A. I. U., taking a scientific and classical course, and graduated from that Institution as an A. B. in 1883, ranking third in a class of fifteen. After leaving college he was engaged in stock dealing for about a year, but gave up this position and became superintendent in charge of the lumber department of J. S. McDaniel, of Fayetteville. May 29, 1888, he was married to Miss Sarah Mulholland, a young lady of culture and refinement, and a graduate of the A. I. U., in the class of 1885-86. Mr. Mayes is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is chief of the fire department of Fayetteville, and is a young man who has already taken a representative position among the citizens of the town and county, and by the judicious management of his business enterprises has acquired a comfortable competency.