MAYES, Mathew Mayes

MAYES, PATTERSON, NUTT, KNOWLES, MCBRIDE, CLIFF

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 5/10/2005 at 18:21:37

Mathew Mayes, a substantial citizen and extensive farmer of Black Hawk County, Iowa, owns a fine farm of 320 acres in section 29, Big Creek township. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, November 28, 1852, and is a son of Thomas L. and Deborah(Patterson) Mayes.

Thomas L. Mayes was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1818, and died on the farm of his son, Mathew, September 6, 1886, aged 68 years. In young manhood, he went to Logan County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and was married. In 1859 he traded off his farm in Ohio for the Iowa place, paying at the rate of $1.25 an cre. The land at present would bring $100 per acre. Since his father's death, Mathew Mayes bought the 160 acres adjoining the original farm, for which he was obliged to pay at the rate of $50 per acre.

The Mayes family came by cars as far as Cedar Rapids, and thence by boat to La Porte City, shipping the uprights for their new home from Cedar Rapids. After leaving Pennsylvania, where he was a tanner, Thomas L. Mayes followed farming exclusively. He supported the Republican party and was chosen to fill various local offices. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church at La Porte City, hired the first preacher, and served many years as an elder.

He was thrice married. One of the three children of his first union still survives. One of the offspring of his third marriage, Mrs. Mary Nutt, of Big Creek township, also survives. The children resulting from his union with Deborah Patterson, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio, were as follows: William, of La Porte City: Mrs. Rebecca Knowles, who died at Grand Junction, Colorado; John and Mathew.

The subject of this sketch was a babe of three weeks when his mother passed away, and a lad of seven years, when the family moved to the farm in Big Creek township. He recalls without difficulty the conditions which then existed, and is justly proud of the great changes which have been effected on this property through the industry and good management of his father and himself. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and feeds a great amount of stock, averaging 40 head of cattle, 150 head of hogs of the Duroc-Jersey breed, and turns off a number of first class work horses, of the Percheron Norman blood. He makes something of a specialty of corn, hay, and oats, having 80 acres in corn, 60 acres in oats and the rest in hay. His excellent methods have resulted in success, his farm probably bringing in as much return as any other in the township.

He is surrounded with all the comforts of life, and is a respected and valued citizen.
In 1891, Mr. Mayes was married to Gertrude McBride, who wa born August 18, 1866, in Iowa County, Iowa. She is a daughter of Thomas H. and Mary (Cliff) McBride, the former of whom was born in Missouri, and the latter, in Ohio. One son, Thomas O., has been born to them.

History of Black Hawk County and It's People
1915