A. C. MAYES, Caldwell County, was born March 15, 1830, in Christian County, Ky., and has never lived outside his native State. He is a son of Robert C. Mayes, a prominent farmer of Trigg County, whose death occurred about 1832 or 1833. His mother, Martha Mayes, was a daughter of William Walden, a native Virginian, and one of the early settlers of central Kentucky. He lived for a number of years in Barren County, and later moved to the county of Trigg, where he died about the year 1828. Mrs. Mayes survived her husband about thirty years, and died in 1862, at the age of sixty years. The subject of this sketch is the second of a family of three children, and the only one now living. At the age of sixteen years he commenced life for himself as clerk in a mercantile house in Cadiz, Ky., where he remained four years, and at the end of that time came to Princeton, where he also engaged as clerk for a period of several years. Later he entered the dry goods business, which he continued until 1878, and then established a book and stationery and variety store, which he is conducting at the present time. This establishment represents a capital of about $8,000. Mr. Mayes was married, April 19, 1859, to Miss Anna, daughter of William and Caroline McGowan, by whom he has had two children: Walter (deceased) and Hugh. Mr. Mayes has been called to fill various official positions at different times, having been elected magistrate in 1870, which office he filled for fourteen years; he was also treasurer of Caldwell County for five years, and discharged the duties of that office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, I. O. O. F. and K. of H., and belongs to the Christian Church of Princeton, as does also his wife.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 709.