The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-06-26
fine RECORD Of
JOHN c. c. MAYO
New Democratic National
Committeeman.
WAS FIRST A SCHOOL TEACHER
And is At Present Rated as
a Millionaire Many
Times Over.
MADE HIS WEALTH FROM COAL

| MADE HIS fhLih F1tOM tOAl
The following interesting sketch
of the rise of John c. c. Mayo from
a country school teacher in the
mountains of Kentucky to a posi-
tion of wealth and prominence in
Kentucky, which was clipped from
one of our exchanges, will prove of
special interest to our readers:
The new Democratic Committee
man from Kentucky is one of the
most remarkable men the State has
ever produced. Twenty-Five years
ago he was a poor school teacher in
the Kentucky mountains, with no
apparent chance of ever amassing
wealth. To-day he is a millionaire
many times over. His fortune is
estimated at anywhere from $5,-
100000 to 25,OOO,OOO. 1t is con-
stantly growing. He made all his
money in the Kentucky mountains
and he has made it all himself. 1t
is based on the pennies and dollars
he saved out of his scanty earnings
as a school teacher.
The story of Mayo's rise TO
wealth is one of the most interest
ing in the annals of American mil
lionaires. While it is not spectac-
ular. it is a remarkable example of
what foresight and grasping of OPP
portunities at hand may lead to.
Mayo was born 4S years ago in
Paintsville, Johnson county, KY,
which is in the mountains. His
parents had nothing save liveli-
hood, and at an early age young
Mayo began to teach school.
The Kentucky mountains were
full of coal, but at that time the
railroads had not penetrated them
at all. The coal was so far from
market that 1t was valueless and
there was no prospect that there
would be a market for it.
Mayo realized the richness of the
coal fields. He saw that the lands
could be obtained for a little or
nothing and he believed that before
many years the world would need
the coal lands and If he lived untfs
the railroads came, wealth would
be his.
Mayo went to work on this plan.
Mountain coal lands could be
bought for fifty cents an acre. Con-
troll could be secured even cheaper,
through options, as the occupants of
the land would sell options on i'm
mense tracts for a few dollars.
Money was scarce in the mountains
and the titles to the land were
doubtful anyway All the land in
Eastern Kentucky had been given
away at the close of the war under
what were known as Virginia land
grants. But as the original hold
ers and their direct descendants had
not occupied the land, settlers grad
ually came in, took possession, and
in few years were looked upon as
the rightful holders. But there
was always the possibility that heirs
OF the original owners would dis
pute their claim.
Mayo believed that the courts
would decide for the settlers who
had improved the land, so he
bought options from them.
Mayo had made his calculations
wisely and just in time. In the ear
" nineties the development of the
mountains began. Capital turned
its attention to the possibilities
there and the mining of coal began.
Mayo was able to start mining on
some of his property and acquired
more land and more options.
In 1901 Mayo made his first big
strike when he organized the Con-
'olidated Coal Company, with Bal
more and Pittsburg capitalists
For his holdings which went into
the company Mayo received $780,
900 and $250,0OO in stock. In a
ear he had organized four more
companies and he had his first mil
ion.
Since that time his advance has