Biographical Sketch of William J. Mayes, Johnson County, Missouri,
Warrensburg Township

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.

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Wm. J. Mayes, the well-known and highly respected mayor of Warrensburg,
was born May 7, 1847, in Warrensburg township, just east of Pertle
Springs, in Johnson county, Missouri.  He is the son of John B. and
Martha A. (Gillum) Mayes.  John B. Mayes was born December 22, 1821,
in Green County, Kentucky.  He was the son of John and Nancy (Berry)
Mayes, who came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1834, and after a year 
spent in Lafayette county settled in Warrensburg, where he conducted a
hotel and operated a carding machine.  Later he removed to Montserrat
township, Johnson County.  John Mayes was born in Pennsylvania and with
his parents moved to Virginia, and later to Kentucky.  In March, 1834,
John and Nancy Mayes came to Missouri to make their home in the then
thinly settled West.  Both are now interred in the family cemetery near
Montserrat.  John B. Mayes came to Missouri with his parents in 1834.
January 14, 1844, he was united in marriage with Martha A. Gillum in
Grover township and to this union was born William J., the subject of
this review.  John B. Mayes was reared on the farm and his entire life
was devoted to farming and stock raising in Montserrat township, where
he also for many years conducted a general store.  He was justice of
the peace in Montserrat township from 1850 to 1861 and county judge for
twelve years, taking the office in 1871.  He died June 12, 1905, at
Montserrat and his widow now resides in Kansas City, Missouri, with her
youngest daughter, Mrs. Minnie Gott.  Mrs. Mayes was ninety years of 
age June 22, 1917.  Wm. J. Mayes attended the public schools of Johnson
county.  At the age of fourteen years he began life for himself, work-
ing as a hired hand on a farm.  The Mayes family moved to Illinois in
1863.  They returned to Missouri in 1865.  Prior to 1872, Wm. J. Mayes
was employed as a cowboy in Texas and New Mexico.  In 1872, Wm. J.
Mayes and Anna J. Lee, daughter of Dr. J. L. Lee of Montserrat township
and a pioneer physician of Johnson county, were united in marriage.  Mr.
and Mrs. Mayes are the parents of the following children: Mrs. Eula G.
Lyons, Birmingham, Alabama; Finis E., who lives on the grandfather's
farm in Montserrat township; Roy B., who is a farmer living in Montserrat
township; Elta Lee, at home; William Ray, who is a farmer in Montserrat
township; and John Jesse, who is employed as bookkeeper at Knob Noster
for the Knob Noster Brick Plant.  Mr. Mayes was elected mayor of Warr-
ensburg in April, 1913.  He was re-elected in 1915 and again in 1917
and is now serving his third term in office.  He has always known Ewing
Cockrell, the author of this volume.  In addition to the manifold 
duties of his office, Mr. Mayes devotes some attention to his splendid
farm of fifteen hundred acres in Montserrat township.  He is one of the
most successful farmers and stockmen of Johnson county and has been an
extensive stockman all his life.  At present he has two hundred head of
young cattle on his farm, which is one of the best in the state.  Mr.
Mayes is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
Warrensburg Lodge Number 673.  He is a director of the Commercial Bank
of Warrensburg, of which he was one of the organizersw, and he is pres-
ident of the Home Telephone Company.  He is also president of the Knob
Noster Brick and Tile Company.  He is a man of unusual activity and has
never taken a vacation in his life.  He is a quiet, unassuming man,
public spirited and one of the leading business men of the county.

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