Caleb Mayo

     Caleb Mayo was born on 16 September 1808 at Orange, Massachusetts.^1,2,3 He was the son of Stephen Mayo and Mary Cheney. He was bound out, at the age of seven, to a neighboring farmer and worked for many years for his board, schooling and clothing. He became a wheelwright and ran a business in Tully for eight years before being burnt out. Caleb then ran a store in North Orange for five years. He sold the store and removed to Orange, where he ran a cabinet shop for twenty years.¹

Caleb Mayo, age 21, married Mary Wheeler Ward, age 19 , daughter of Deacon Daniel Ward and Sarah Jones, on 15 September 1830 at Orange, Massachusetts.



According to Mayo (1965) "He was a man of iron constitution, vigorous and hearty to the end of his long life. Caleb was a strong Republican and a member of the Universalist Church of North Orange."¹ According to the Federal Census in 1860, Caleb was a farmer.⁵ Caleb, age 51 years, and Mary, age 49 years, appeared on the US Census of 1860 at Orange, Massachusetts.⁵ In 1880, a surprise 50th Anniversary celebration was held for Caleb and Mary at their home by their children. Their great granddaughter, Henrietta Sanger, recited a poem in their honor.⁶

Caleb Mayo, age 78, married Sophia J. Westbrook on 24 June 1887 at Brantford, Ontario, Canada.^6,7 Caleb Mayo died on 31 July 1893 at Orange, Massachusetts, at age 84.⁴ According to his obituary, "Mr. Mayo was well known and respected for his uprightness of character, constant and faithful wherever duty called him. He was a man of remarkable physical and mental activity, possessing a kind, pleasant disposition and irrepressible perseverance for daily labor....Last Winter he had a paralytic shock that affected his throat, destroying the natural taste for food and drink and since then has taken but little solid food, living almost wholly on liquids. Aside from this he has suffered from a severe kidney trouble for many years. Four months since he met with a serious accident at the furniture shop and while he fully recovered from the wound he gradually wore out, always patient and uncomplaining." He was buried on 13 August 1893 at Tully Cemetery, Orange, Massachusetts, next to his wife. Caleb's epitaph reads: