Mayo, Edward L.

Born: 1807-04-07 Moretown, Vermont

Died: 1877-11-16 DeKalb, Illinois

Edward L. Mayo was a lawyer, judge, Democrat, and advocate of temperance. Following his father's early death, Mayo was bound out to a family who treated him well and offered to provide him with an education if he pursued the ministry. He chose to pursue the legal profession instead, and studied under Judge Prentiss of Montpelier, Vermont. Mayo married twice in his life. His first wife died just fourteen months into their marriage. He married again in 1840, to Emily Katherine Holden. They eventually had ten children together, although only four survived beyond infancy. In 1841, he relocated to Sycamore, Illinois, where he established a respected law practice. By 1850, he owned $2,000 in real estate. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Congress in the election of 1854, but was subsequently elected judge for DeKalb County. He won re-election to this position twice. By 1860, he was much more financially secure, owning $8,200 in personal and real property. Although a Democrat, he was a strong supporter of the Union both before and during the Civil War.

Lewis M. Gross, Past and Present of DeKalb County (Chicago: Pioneer, 1907), 1:534-37; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Sycamore, DeKalb County, IL, 384; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Sycamore, DeKalb County, IL, 6; The DeKalb Chronicle (IL), 12 March 1892, 4:4; Gravestone, Elmwood Cemetery, DeKalb, IL.