My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. MAYES, president of the Columbia Banking Company and a prominent business man of the town, is a native of Maury County, born March 3, 1827, son of John M. S. and Rebecca S. (Witherspoon) Mayes, both South Carolinians by birth. John M. S. came to Tennessee with his father, Dr. Samuel Mayes, in 1806, locating in Williamson County, and the following year removed to Maury County. He has been a farmer all his life, and is one of the old and respected citizens of the county. His early life was much devoted to hunting, fishing and held sports, and although his fortunes suffered severely during the late war he still retains a comfortable competency, and attained his ninetieth year May 29, 1886. He served six months in the Seminole war in 1836, and was an old-line Whig as long as that party existed. At the breaking out of the war he was a firm supporter of the Union, but after the State seceded his sympathies were with the Southern cause. Two of his sons were in the Confederate Army. Our immediate subject resided on his father’s farm and secured a good education at Centre College, Danville, Ky., graduating in 1848. He then began the study of law, which he abandoned six months later and entered mercantile life as a clerk. From 1851 to 1861 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and after the close of that conflict, up to 1875, he kept a hardware store, and then retired from active business life and took a tour through Europe. In 1878 he became connected with the First National Bank of Columbia, and has acted as its president up to the present time. In September, 1884, he became connected with the large dry goods firm of Frierson, Mayes & Co., of which his son Walter M. is active manager. In 1857 Willie B., daughter of John W. Cheairs, of Spring Hill, became his wife, and two sons and three daughters were born to their union. Mr. Mayes is strictly independent in politics, but has generally supported the Democratic party since the war.