The Big Sandy news., 1914-06-05
JOHN c. c. MAYO.

-f
II does from one who knew the dead
philanthropist we'll:
OF the passing of Col. ]. c. c. Mayo
much has been written and many just
appropriations of his worth as man
and public spirited citizen have thus
been made. Much also has been said
of his great generalship and wise lead
ership in the commercial world. These
have been just tributes to the man OF
whom 1t may be justly said, he was
business genius. But of these things
1 shall not speak except to say | have
seen no word of praise of his lofty ge-
nuis with which ! could not most
heartily agree.
Ny one purpose is to speak OF a
phase OF his many sided activity with
which / became associated with him
and too, that with which / was the
most familiar. / entered upon the dis
charge of my duties as Presiding Elder
of the Ashland District in September,
l19lO. Soon after conference l receiv-
ed word to come to his home that we
might talk over the work of the church
| in the Sandy valley. / found him not
| ready to tell just what should be done,
but to advise a careful canvass of the
| situation, with the assurance that
wherever church should be built or a
plant enlarged he stood ready to help.
He faithfully fulfilled that promise.
| His relation to the commercial activ-
tiles of that section was such as to
make him the best of counselor and
adviser as to the when and where to
locate church. Hence in advance of
the real opening of certain territory
he put US in possession of information
which led to opening of one of our
most promising Missions in the Sandy
valley.
Mr.. Mayo was one of the busiest, If
not the busiest, man l ever knew. His
varied interests making such demands
upon his time and energy as to have
worn out an ordinary man much soon
er than he succumbed.
Notwithstanding this fact, l never
found him too much occupied to talk
over plans to plant the church where
il should be. / never submitted him
plan for a new enterprise or OF en-
larging plant that he did not at once
enter into it with hearty interest and
loyal cooperation.
While the State and his one section
have lost a great factor in its develop
ment, and his family has sustained an
irreparable loss the Church has suffer-
ed in his death loss far greater than
we are now able to see. Not only his
ready and princely financial aid, but
his wise council and first hand knowl-
edge were alike given in unstinted
measure.
When shall we see his like again
We shall miss him. But the work that
found so large place in his busy life
found utterance and expression in so
many ways, shall stand as eloquent
witnesses to his faith in the future not
only of his beloved section and country
but of the Church of God.
The substantial tokens of his faith
in the things above mentioned are to
be seen, not only in his home town of
Paintsville, where the Sandy Valley
Seminary graces the hill overlooking
his palatial home and the magnificent
stone church, both of which stand as
witnesses to his generosity and munif-
fcence, for to him chiefly the building
of both must be accredited. But in
Van Lear, Auxier and Beaver Creek,
both at the conjunction with the Big
Sandy, and further up the creek, Pike
vile and Inez, also stand buildings TO
which he made liberal contributions.
/ am sure he left not alone monufnents
of brick and stone and else Of that
character, but enduring and enlarg-
ing spheres of usefulness and activity
are being given direction in the Sandy
Valley Seminary, the cherished ideal
- l.; far Iii inp N
citizenship for which he sought every
means of development. / am sure had
he lived that Sandy Valley Seminary
would have received help to larger
work than that institution can now do.
In all his work for the churcIS and
Seminary his good wife was no less
interested than he. That she knows
his plans and purposes am sure. that
she win carry them out no one whu
knows her will doubt for a moment,
for no more kindly or sympathetic
friend and helper of the church and
the needy is in the list of my acquaint-
ance.
No man whom ! have known was
more loyal to friend than j.. c. G..
Mayo. His abundant prosperity vas'
mortgaged by his generous spirit TO.
the needy In the days that are to be
the name of j. C. C, Mayo will live on,
his deeds will keep him alive for aye.
He has passed from the scenes of his
activity here but while he lived. he
deported himself as man who recog-
nized the kinship Of the human family
and exemplified in his life the senti-
ment expressed In these lines:
"There are hermit souls that live with
drawn
In the peace of self-content;
There are souls, like stars that dwell
apart,
In a fellowless armament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze
their paths
Where highways never ran
But let me live by the side OF the road
And be friend Of man."
| Methodist Layman's Herald.
oLENHAYES.
| Several from this place attended thu