National Republican., 1878-08-05
SOMETHING or A FAMILY.
Eleven Children In Thirteen Years, aud Not
n Twin In tho brood,

Twin In the Brood.
While awaiting the departure of q train yes.
terday In the depot Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, the representative Of
The REPUBLICAN,, with others, WAS attracted
by number Of small children clustering
about one man and woman. sitting In the ro-
tunda of tho station. Several Of them were
so near Of n size that It was thought two or
three sets Of twins had gotten loose from not
over-vigilant mothers, whiio ono individual,
who had been making inquiries asserted that
they were all members of one family, and not
double could be found among them. THR
REPUBLICAN, made bold TO consult the father
Of the progeny for the purpose Of seeing what
truth the statement contained.
His name was Frederick Mayo, and he was
about thirty eight ears old, Of short stature,
compactly built, and tho picture Of health.
His wife was some four years his junior In
age, slim In figure, and, while presenting the
appearance Of a woman unknown to sickness,
still sho lacked flesh, and exhibited the evil
dences OF reduction produced by hard work
and maternal cares
Mr.. Mayo stated that he had been married
fifteen years, and was the father Of eleven
children (all these about the depot, oight OF
thirteen years and the youngest a babe In arms.
None ofthcm hal ever known a days sickness,
and, from their round, rosy faces and bright
eyes, 1t could easily be perceived that the
Father was speaking truly. So near of n sizu
worc some OF the boys that, when placed back
to back, no difference was noticeable.
Mr.. Mayo stated that he came originally
from Pittsburg, Pa, purchased land in Nelson
County, Va, from the Virginia Midland Rail.
road Company, and after living there one year
and half, tho company being unable to fur.
nish title to the land, he was compelled TO
vacate aud lose all that he had invested on tho
tract. lie was returning to Pittsburg, and
while feeling that injustice had bcon dono him
in Virginia, still was not discouraged, and sat.
ishcd tat he would get along II health wa:
| given him and his children. Both he and his
helpmate watched over their brood OF it'll,
ones with a careful and loving eye, and doled
| out bountilul supply OF food from large aud
apparently inexhaustible basket. They ex
pected to leave for tho West last night on the
| 0:il5 train.
While this case exhibited enterprise In pop
| ulating tho country, another came to light
rather putting II in the shade so far as mum
| bers In the household were concerned.
An old gentleman, standing aud listening tc
| the conversation from which the above Is con
denscd, remarked to Mr.. Mayo that he had
done nobly for the country, and thought tha
he deserved u pension at the hands of Congress
but said that his experience beat that whicl
| he had listened to- lie stated that hq. wa
| from EientOu, y. C., aud was the father o
twentythree children-ninoteen girls ant
four boys--the eldest being forty-sx and thu
youngest three years OF age; that lie was II
his seventeth year and his present wife II
her thirty-irst; between his marriages he rc
maiued widOwor five years each time tina
he had never known days sickness nor cx
poricnscd oven a headache and did not know
| what the taste Of liquor was like.
| Mrs. Mayo, not hearing the statement of hi
marriages, inquired how many wives he hat
taken, to which he responded three.
We'll" said she quickly, and looking at he
husband, 81 don't intend that he shall remaii
here any longer than do"
1t was evident that she did not relish tn
idea Of a stepmothor's authority over he
| children.
Other parties collected about the family, an
while awaiting the departure of the train, MI
Mayo found abundant opportunity to recoun
tho history Of his already large aud growin
| family.