Biographical Sketch of F. L. Mayes, Johnson County, Missouri, Warrensburg Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** F. L. Mayes, president of the Commercial Bank of Warrensburg, was born near Montserrat, Johnson County, April 25, 1873, son of A. S. Mayes and Nancy J. (Rothwell) Mayes, natives of Johnson County. A. S. Mayes was the son of John Mayes, a native of Pennsylvania. The father of John Mayes was a native of Ireland who immigrated to America and settled at an early day in Pennsylvania and there his son, John, was born December 19, 1791. The Mayes family moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia and later to Kentucky and in the sunny southland John Mayes grew to manhood. December 19, 1817 he was united in marriage with Nancy H. Berry in Green County, Kentucky, and to this union was born A. S. Mayes, the father of the subject of this review. A. S. Mayes was born in Johnson County, Missouri in 1844. John and Nancy H. (Berry) Mayes came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1835 and for a short time lived in Lafayette County. John Mayes entered government land near Montserrat to which place he moved and which he improved, amking of the land a splendid farm. The Mayes family settled at Montserrat before Johnson county was organized. In 1838, leaving the farm, John Mayes built and operated the first wool carding machine in Warrensburg. He also kept the first hotel for two years. He returned then to the farm and there resided, a quiet, unobtrusive, peace loving citizen. Throughout the Civil War he remained upon his farm. He had united with the Presbyterian church at the age of eighteen and in 1843 joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church. John Mayes was a charter member of the Bethel congregation and was instrumental in the building of Mary's chapel, which was first lo- cated two miles northeast of Montserrat and later moved to Montserrat. His death occurred March 4, 1881, when he was eighty-nine years of age and his remains were interred in the family cemetery near Montserrat. John Mayes was one of the honored pioneers of Johnson county, who spent almost a half century assisting in its growth and upbuilding. A. S. Mayes, father of the subject of this review, was reared on the farm near Montserrat. His life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and he was one of the best known and most highly respected farmers and stock- men of Johnson county. His home was in Montserrat township. He was united in marriage with Nancy J. Rothwell, daughter of James C. Roth- well, of Grover township, who came from Virginia to Missouri. Nancy J. Rothwell was born in Johnson County in 1850. To A. S. and Nancy Mayes were born the following children: F. L., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Stella Jones, Warrensburg; James C., Montserrat; Mrs. Wallace Werner, Kansas City, Missouri; and Charles S., Montserrat. In 1890 the mother died. A. S. Mayes was united in marriage with Mattie B. Rothwell, a sister of the deceasedwife, and to this union were born two children, Nellie and Edwin A., who reside in Warrensburg with their mother. The father died at the age of nearly seventy-one years and is interred in the family cemetery near Montserrat. F. L. Mayes, the subject of this sketch, spent the days of his boyhood on his father's farm in Mont- serrat township assisting his father with the work and attending the district school. He was given good educational advantages and he made the most of his opportunities. He attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg and Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois, gradua- ting from the latter institution in the class of 1892. In 1897 F. L. Mayes and Margaret L. Fryer, daughter of Judge R. T Fryer, of Johnson county, were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Mayes are the parents of two children: Harland F., a graduate of the Warrensburg High School in the class of 1917; and Margaret Frances. From 1893 to 1897, F. L. Mayes served as deputy county collector of Johnson county. In 1897 the Commercial Bank of Warrensburg was organized and Mr. Mayes has been connected with that institution since its organization, serving as the cashier until January, 1917 when he was elected president. The Commer- cial Bank of Warrensburg was organized September 1, 1897, with the following officers: W. L. Hedges, president; A. S. Mayes, vice- president; F. L. Mayes, cashier; W. L. Hedges, A. S. Mayes, F. L. Mayes, Isaac Markward, George W. Houts, James H. Parker, and J. D. Eads, directors and with a capital stock of $25,000. At the time of the organization the bank was located at 122 West Pine street. In 1900, J. D. Eads accepted the position of cashier with the Peoples Bank and W. S. Clark was elected to fill the vacancy onthe board of directors. The present officers are: F. L. Mayes, president; W. L. Hedges, vice- president; W. S. Clark, second vice-president; H. F. Berkley, cashier; A. H. Gilkeson, assistant cashier; F. L. Mayes, W. L. Hedges, W. S. Clark, H. F. Berkley, James H. Parker, George W. Houts and W. J. Mayes, directors. James H. Parker, W. L. Hedges, F. L. Mayes and George W. Houts have been on the board since the organization of the bank in 1897. The present capital stock of this splendidly and carefully managed bank is $50,000 with a surplus of $50,000 and deposits of $380,000 at the time of this writing. The bank purchased their present building in 1912 and remodeled it. They still own the original bank building on West Pine Street. The Commercial Bank of Warrensburg is and has always been conducted along conservative lines and all business exceedingly well managed. Mr. Mayes has reasons to be proud of the institution whose success has been in a large measure due to his tireless efforts and efficient management. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================