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Stephen Lorenzo Mayham (October 8, 1826 – March 3, 1908) was an attorney and politician from Schoharie County, New York, most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative from New York and a justice of the New York Supreme Court.
Stephen L. Mayham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Justice of the New York Supreme Court for the Third Judicial Department | |
| In office January 3, 1887 – December 31, 1897 | |
| Preceded by | Rufus W. Peckham |
| Succeeded by | Emory A. Chase |
| Presiding Judge of the Schoharie County Court | |
| In office 1883–1887 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Holmes |
| Succeeded by | William C. Lamont |
| Member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 14th congressional district | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | |
| Preceded by | John H. Bagley Jr. |
| Succeeded by | William Lounsbery |
| In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | John V. L. Pruyn |
| Succeeded by | Eli Perry |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from Schoharie County | |
| In office January 1, 1863 – December 31, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | William Lamont |
| Succeeded by | Peter P. Schoolcraft |
| District Attorney of Schoharie County, New York | |
| In office 1859–1862 | |
| Preceded by | Nathan P. Hinman |
| Succeeded by | William H. Young |
| Town Supervisor of Blenheim, New York | |
| In office 1858–1860 | |
| Preceded by | Mathew Feder |
| Succeeded by | Stephen L. Curtis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 8, 1826 Blenheim, New York |
| Died | March 3, 1908 (aged 81) Schoharie, New York |
| Resting place | St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Schoharie, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Julia A. Martin (m. 1849-1895, her death) |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Attorney |
Stephen L. Mayham was born in Blenheim, New York on October 8, 1826, a son of John and Betsey (Ferguson) Mayham.[1] Mayham was one of twelve children, eleven of whom survived to adulthood. His siblings included Thomas Friend Mayham, a physician who served as mayor of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.[2] Another brother, Jay Mayham, served as judge of the Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin court.[2] Mayham's brother J. Banks Mayham served as mayor of Murphysboro, Illinois.[2]
Mayham worked on his family's farm while attending the local schools.[2] He obtained his teaching credentials, and at age eighteen began working a teacher in the district schools.[2] In 1844 he began studying law at the Gilboa, New York Gilboa office of attorney Samuel W. Jackson, who later served as a justice of the New York Supreme Court.[3] He completed his studies at the Ithaca, New York office of Samuel Love and George G. Freer, attained admission to the bar in 1848, and began to practice in Blenheim.[4]
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A Democrat, Mayham served as Schoharie County's superintendent of schools from 1852 to 1857.[4] From 1858 to 1860 he was Blenheim's town supervisor.[4] From 1859 to 1862 he served as District Attorney of Schoharie County.[4] In 1862, he moved to Schoharie, and in 1863, he served a one-year term in the New York State Assembly.[4]
In 1868, Mayham was elected to the United States House of Representatives.[4] He served in the 41st Congress, March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1871.[4] During this term, he served on the Committee on Private Land Claims and the Committee on Expenditures of the State and Post Office Departments.[4] In 1876 he was elected to the 45th Congress, March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1879.[4] During this term, he was a member of the Committee on the District of Columbia and the Committee on State Department Expenditures.[4]
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Mayham served as judge of the Schoharie County Court and the county surrogate court from 1883 to 1887.[4] He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1884 and again in 1892.[5] In 1886, Mayham was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court, and he served until 1897.[4] Mayham was president of Schoharie's board of education for eight years, and was the first president of the Schoharie Valley Railroad Company.[4] After leaving the bench, he practiced law in partnership with his son Claude, and was often sought out to act as a referee for corporate and railroad litigation.[4]
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Mayham died in Schoharie, New York on March 3, 1908.[6][7] His body lays at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Schoharie.[8]
In 1849, Mayham married Julia A. Martin (1829-1895).[9][10] They were the parents of sons Matt F., Don S. and Claude B., and daughter Ida L.[11]
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