JUDGE HORACE ALLEN MAYHEW

Sacramento County

Biographies

JUDGE HORACE ALLEN MAYHEW

JUDGE HORACE ALLEN MAYHEW. The versatile ability possessed by Judge Mayhew enabled him in his younger years, before the encroachment of age had rendered advisable his retirement from life’s activities, to practice law with gratifying results also to preach the Gospel with eloquence and convincing power, and further to fill the position of judge of the superior court with the same impartiality of judgment and keenness of discrimination characteristic of him in all the affairs of life. For many years he has lived on the corner of Fifteenth and J streets, Sacramento, where he has a comfortable home, filled with the comforts that age demands, and surrounded by friends endeared to him by the associations of the past. Fortunately, not-withstanding his venerable age, he enjoys fair health and the possession of all of his mental faculties.

The lineage of the Mayhew family is traced to England, whence they migrated to Massachusetts during the colonial period of our country’s settlement. James, son of Nathan Mayhew was a native of Massachusetts and devoted the greater part of his life to the calling of agriculture. For a time he made his home in Maine, but eventually followed the tide of pioneer settlement toward the west and settled on a tract of raw land near Delaware, Ind., where he remained until his death, in 1883. Two years before his death occurred the demise of his wife, who was Marion, daughter of Zebulon and Katherine Allen, of old established New England ancestry, long resident in Massachusetts.

Near the town of Strong in Franklin county, Me., Horace Allen Mayhew was born December 13, 1821. Such educational advantages as the county afforded were placed within his reach. After leaving the common schools he attended a private school at Strong also one at Farmington, the same county, and still later was a student in a select school taught by a prominent educator whose son later became governor of Maine. While attending school his vacations were devoted to teaching and with the money thus earned it was possible for him to take up the study of law, which he carried on with enthusiasm and earnestness. After his admission to the bar he practiced in Strong about four years. However, realizing that he might attain a higher success in the newly-settled regions of the Mississippi valley, in 1847 he moved to Indiana and settled in the town of Versailles where he engaged in the practice of law until 1860. From there he moved to Rensselaer, the same state, where he remained for seven years, meanwhile serving as pastor of the Presbyterian church. During the four ensuing years he was pastor o the Presbyterian Church in Austin Minn. In 1871 he came to California and at first settled in Red Bluff, Tehama county, where he held the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church until 1886, retiring during the latter year to accept the office of judge of county court of Tehama county, to which he had been chosen at the county election, under the old constitution, for four years. Later, under the new state constitution, he was appointed by Governor Perkins judge of the Superior court, which responsible position he filled with the greatest fidelity for a period of two years, and then retired from the public service.

The marriage of Judge Mayhew united him with Miss Mary J. Pike, who was born at Kingfield, Me., February 1, 1827, a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Wood) Pike, and who remained a devoted helpmate to her husband, sharing his joys and dividing his trials, until they were parted by her death at the Sacramento homestead, in August of 1903. Both had ever been earnest workers in the cause of Christianity and both from early years were actively identified with the Westminster Presbyterian denomination. Of their union five children were born, three of whom survive, namely: Charles P., a merchant engaged in business at Red Bluff; Frank J., who follows mercantile pursuits in San Francisco; and Mary E., wife of William T. Phipps, prominent attorney of Sacramento. The investments made by Judge Mayhew in previous years bring him sufficient returns to surround his advancing years with comfort, his possessions including his Sacramento real estate as well as a valuable ranch in Tehama county and property in Sutter and Fresno counties. He is a Knight Templar Mason and past grand master in the lodge of Odd Fellows.

Louise E. Shoemaker, transcriber, October 18^th, 2007.

Source: “History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California” by J. M. Guinn. Page 717. Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.