Buffington S. Mayer, E. Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Buffington S. Mayer.  Fine initiative and ad~ ability and progressive methods have been brought
to bear by Mr. Mayer in the building up of a general insurance business that is now one of the
largest and most important not only in the capital City of Baton Rouge but also in East Baton
Parish.  He is a substantial and successful business man to whom it is gratifying to accord
representation in this publication.

Buffington S. Mayer was born at Baton Rouge, March 27, 1887, and is a son of Benjamin R. and
Zerlina (Mendelssohn) Mayer, the former of whom died at Baton Rouge May 4, 1914, and the latter
of whom still maintains her home in this city, their marriage having been solemnized May 25,
1882.

Benjamin R. Mayer was born at Natchez, Mississippi, on the 6th of January, 1855, and was a son
of John Edgar and Jeanette R. (Ries) Mayer, the former of whom was born in Germany, in the year
1812, and the latter of whom was born in France.  John Edgar Mayer was reared and educated in
his native land and was a young man when he came to the United States and established his
residence at Natchez, Mississippi, where he followed his trade, that of shoemaker, and also
became a successful shoe merchant, both he and his wife having there passed the remainder of
their lives, and his death having occurred May 25, 1882.  Benjamin R. Mayer duly profited by the
advantages of the public schools of Natchez, and in 1883 he removed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
where his marriage had occurred in the preceding year.  Here he engaged in the wholesale grocery
business and here also he became prominently concerned with other important enterprises that
touched the civic and material advancement of the capital city.  He was one of the organizers
and became a director of the Bank of Baton Rouge, was the owner of the business conducted under
the title of the Baton Rouge & Western Transportation Company, and was one of the founders of
the Istrouma Hotel, he was also the organizer of the Baton Rouge & Bayou Sara Packet Company,
which placed in operation a line of boats plying between New Orleans and Bayou Sara, and of this
corporation he was the president.  He was also organizing president of the home electric
Company.  This company controls and operates a Street railway system in Baton Rouge.  This was
the first street car line in Louisiana.  As may be inferred from the foregoing brief statements,
Mr. Mayer had much of leadership in constructive business enterprise, and he was a citizen who
commanded the fullest measure of popular confidence and good will.  He was a staunch democrat,
and his civic loyalty came much into evidence in his eight years of service as a member of the
City Council.  He was a zealous member of B'nai Israel Temple, as is also his widow, and he was
President of this church organization during a period of eight years.  Mr. Mayer was affiliated
with St. James Lodge No. 47, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Capital Lodge No. 29, Knights
of Pythias.  He is survived by two sons, of whom Buffington S., of this review, is the elder;
Benjamin R.. Jr., the other son, is secretary and treasurer of the Union homestead Association
of Baton Rouge.

After preliminary discipline obtained by attending a private school Buffington S. Mayer advanced
his education by a course in St. Vincent's Academy and by attending the Louisiana State
University until the close of his sophomore year.

In l905 at the age of eighteen years, Mr. Mayer became a local agent for the Union Central Life
Insurance Company, and so effective was his service in this connection that he was made, in
1918, the district manager for the company. a Position which he still retains.  In 1909 he
amplified his activities in engaging also in the fire-insurance business, and among the various
and representative insurance corporations for which he is an underwriter is the Fidelity &
Deposit Company of Maryland, which he has here represented for the past decade.  His well
appointed offices are established in Suite 210-11 Roumain Building.  The following estimate,
previously published, is consistently reproduced in this connection:

"On December 4, 1903, Buffington S. Mayer, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, entered into an agency
contract with the Aetna Companies of Hartford, Connecticut, and so December, 1923, marked the
twentieth anniversary of his service as an Aetnaizer.  During these twenty years Mr. Mayer has
builded well, and in Baton Rouge you can't think of the Aetna without thinking of Buffington S.
Mayer."

Mr. Mayer is loyally aligned in the local ranks of the democratic party, and is a member of
B'nai Israel Temple, besides being one of the trustees of the church property, and a member of
the B'nai B'rith Benevolent Association.  He is an active member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of
Commerce and the local Kiwanis Club, and in a fraternal way, is affiliated with St. James Lodge
No. 47, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  He is the owner of real estate in his home city,
including his residence place at 105 South Dufrocq Street.

April 12, 1916, recorded the marriage of Mr. Mayer and Miss Beatrice Mayer.  Mrs. Mayer is a
daughter of the late Leopold and Addie (Levy) Mayer, her father having been a prosperous
merchant.  Mrs. Mayer was graduated from the Louisiana State Normal School at Natchitoches.  Mr.
and Mrs. Mayer have two children:  Mary Elizabeth and  Buffington S., Jr.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 97-98, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by The American
Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.