MAYO, THAD
                        Lake Charles, LA
                                

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Source: Southwest Louisiana Historical and Biographical by William Henry Perrin
published in 1891; page 170.
Typed by Margaret Rentrop Moore

Thad, Mayo, Lake Charles - Thad Mayo, Clerk of the District Court of Calcasieu
parish, was born in St. Landry parish, Louisiana, January 26, 1835. He is the
son of Capt. William and Eliza (Smith) Mayo, natives of Norwich, Connecticut,
and Louisiana respectively.  Capt. Wm. Mayowas a seafaring man in his younger
days.  He came to Louisiana in 1832 or 1833, and engaged in steamboating on the
Atchafayala and Courtaleau, and was in the State service on these streams
until the time of his death.  He was engaged with Captains Gordon, Hinkley and
Carrie in steamboating and navigating the Atchafalaya and it tributaries.  He
died January 25, 1849, when fifty years and one month of age.  He went to sea
with his uncle, Thomas Mayo, captain of a merchant vessel between Liverpool and
New York, when six years of age.  When about eighteen years of age he went on a
whaling expedition as mate.  The captain of the vessell died and Captain
Mayo was appointed to fill his position and conducted the vessel back to
Connecticut from the South Seas.  He lost several boats in the rivers and bayous
of Louisiana.  One, in command of Captain Gordon, was blown up.  Captain was an
old time whig, and it is thought he was a Mason. 
Mr. Mayo's father's family is of Irish and Spanish descent, and his mother's
family French and German.  His mother is still living, and resides with her son
in Lake Charles; she is seventy-six years of age.  Her father, John Smith died
at the age of ninety-eight years; her mother when ninethy-two.

Thad. Mayo wa the oldest of six children, five boys and one girl. At his
father's death he attended to the duties of fettyman at the mouth of Bayou
Plaquemine.  After seceral months he went to New Orleans as salesman, and
remained there for two years.  He returned to Plaquemine, where he found
employment with Bissell & Williams as salesmen.  Then he went to Opelousas,
where he learned the drug business with John Posey, remaining two years.  He
subsequently engaged in business for himself at Washington, Louisiana.  He was
burned out, and returned to the employment of Mr. Posey to a time.  He next took
charge of a drug business at New Iberia for James A. Lee, in which he continued
one year.  After this he turned his attention to reailroading, and and found
employment with New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western Railroad.  He reamained
in this businedd a few months, when he engaged in school teaching at Plaquemine
Brusle and Hickory Flat.  In 1861 he entered the army, enlisting in the
Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment of Volunteers, under Captain H.L. Garland.  He was
hosptial steward at Camp Moore, Corinth and other places.  He participated in
the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Farmington and Corinth, and in the
engagements in the retreat from the last mentioned place.  In the
Trans-Mississippi department he was in the battles of Bayou Lafourche, Berwick
Bay, Bisland, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill.  At the close of the was he was for
some time engaged in the lumber business, logging on the Calcasieu. 
Subsequently he was engaged in carrying mail from Lake Charles toOpelousas on
horseback.  While thus employed he was elected parish assessor, in which
he served until 1867.  From this time until 1872 he was engaged in conducting a
drug store in Opelousas.  He then returned to Lake Charles and became proprietor
of the Lake House, in which he was engaged three years.  He afterward made
several voyages to the Rio Grande, Brazos, San Iago nad Tuxpan, Mexico.  Later
he served as city marshal of Lake Charles for a time, when he was appointed
deputy sherriff, in 1876.  He was next appointed superintendent of registration. 
He took charge of the clerk's office of Asa Ryan in 1876, and at Ryan's death,
in 1878, was appointed clerk.  In 1879 he was elected to the office which he has
held ever since.  In association with John H., his nephew, and J.T. Hewitt, of
Lake Charles, he organized the Calcasieu Shingle Company. 

Our subject married, June 1859, Miss Malina Langley, of Hickory Flat.  To this
union have been born six children, five daughters and one son.  The subject is a
staunch democrat.  He was a whig, and has a great affection for the old party
and its principles.