The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-11-16
JUDGE A. G. MAYERS.
From Browns History OF Newton County

From Browns History OF Newton County ] u
The following sketch is contributed =.
" friend who has been long and IN ~ !.
,imately acquainted with Judge May "
rs : =,
Judge Alonzo G.. Mayors, of the sth !,
Judicial district, Is one of the few re-
naming landmarks of East MiSsis- y
,ippi. A native of Wayne county, :
BORN in 1921, he had only such educa- y
tional advantages as could be obtain
ed at that early day in the schools OF : :
bis immediate vicinity. That dis .
orator and statesman-Ed-
ward Eycrett-declared that the boy
or girl who could read correctly, spell
well, write a legible hand, and under -,
stand the three first rules in arithme- :
tic, had the foundation, and could
thereafter educate himself or herself,
without the aid Of the schools. This
truth is illustrated in the life of
Judge Mayors; his father died, lcav-
ing widow and several children, he
the eldest. His first employment was
that of clerk in general stores in the
towns OF Quitman and GarIandsville;
his idle time was spent in study and
miscellaneous reading. Before he
reached his nineteenth year, he was
esteemed a fair scholar and well in
formed young man.
Seeing no employment that prom
ised better results, he adopted for
short time school teaching, but it is
said by those who knew OF his career
as 'school MASTER" that any boy
who asked to he shown how to work
difficult sum, generally received Sc
we're leprimand and was sent back to
his seat with the information that
"boys to learn to cypher, should work
their sums without assistance"
While as a boy, pursuing such voca-
tions as afforded Il support, his mind
was fixed on the law in the mean
time he acquired vast store OF in
Formations; he had read history, poetry
and fction; his literary taste was
most excellent and refined. Among
the poets, Byron and Moore were his
favortes, and often, when with one
or two chosen friends, he would repeat
some of the most beautiful stanzas
from these honored authors.
lie read law at the village of Gar
landsyille, with the late Judge john
Watts, and was licensed at term OF
the circuit court Of his native county
. before he obtained his majority.
He located at Raleigh, in Smith
: county, in 1914. to practice his pro-
fession, and was regarded as one OF
: the rising young men Of the State. He
: was a candidate in 1S45 for district
! attorney he was pronounced Wing
> and the judicial district largely DEM
I ocratic; he entered the canvass with
G limited means, but attractive in per-
. son, marked energy, ready and full OF
r exquisite humor, he received a cordial
e and generous support. In one OF the
r counties of his district, after being
t from home several weeks, night oyer
t took him at the house Of an old gen
s tleman who had a good following In
n his nciyhborhood; was close-tlstcd
;, but scrupulously honest. The young
:. lawyer had not penny in his purse
e but after supper he excrted himsel
IS to be agreeable-he wanted not Onl,
% the influence Of his host, but no charge
y for his nights lodging-he made
l. splendid impression, and before bed
rs time was informed that he weult
n SWEEP THE BEAT. Next morning
,r when the servant announced that tn
ID strangers horse was ready with on
le foot in the stirrup, he grasped the oil
ID gentlemans hand and said, "Goo'
'e bye, Uncle johnny; it's no use to asl
ID my bill, for l know you don't kee
le tavern" He was defeated for dis
1T trict attorney by his Democratic or
poncnt by two votes.
cr While practicing at Raleigh, a
,h elderly lady, of large wealth for tina
st county, Mrs. p, became involved in
m lawsuit about negro. She appeare
ch at court, and went to the office of NJ
ce Mayors and said, "Mr. Mayors, ! al
Is In trouble and want you to tell H
en- what to do" He said, "Give me te
dollars, aud / will do So" She car
fully counted out ten dollars in silv'
IL, and handed him, and inquired, "No
OF what shall do?" Employ a lawye
a' madam" i.
er, Some years after his candidacy Il
an district attorney, he was nominate
ur by the Wing party of his Congress
a ional district against the late Hon. .
me G. Brown, for Congress. Govern
zee Brown wrote him proposing a list
en- appointments for joint discussio
six Mayors replied "Tliat he understo
IA that Brown had made oil his arrani
Of ments to be returned to Congrc'
and that Mrs. Brown confidently
ht, pected to spend the coming winter
ter W ashington, and that he could r
find it In his heart to disappoint h
/. therefore, he would decline the 9,
~ ~. test and pursue his profession"
~. In l847 he removed to Pauldil
~. 'u,, and formed partnership with
'"' late Judge Henry L. Mounger, q
the law firm Of Mounger & Mayors g
lies tinued until Judge Mounger's del
hat IN 1851. In 1874 lie married N