From History of Logan County - 1886, Mt Pulaski Township - page 797:
John W. Mayer married Mary Mattfeldt, of Michigan, Of the four children born to them, three are living-- Harmon, Oscar and Clarence. Freddie died aged two years. They were all born in Mount Pulaski. Mr Mayer began the saddlery and harness business in Mount Pulaski in 1866, forming a partnership with his brother Jacob in 1872. Both brothers cast their votes for the Democratic party. <----- Snip information on Brother's family -----> The Mayer Brothers are well known amoung stockmen as owners of the the magnificent stallion, King o' the Lyons, a thoroughbred, Clydesdale horse, registered in the Scotch Clydesdale stud-book, as 1461, and in the American Clydesdale stud-book (volume 2), as 1251. He was imported in 1881 by Huston Brothers, and purchased by J. Mayer & Brother in March, 1883. The horse is in color a deep, rich blood bay, with black legs, mane and tail, and weighs 2,050 pounds. He is seventeen and one-half hands high, and has taken 2 sweepstakes premiums at the Logan County Fair, one in a ring of twenty-one horses. His sire was Lord Lyon, No. 489, dam Flora, No. 59, she by Victor, No. 892, and has a registered pedigree extending back seventy-five years. He is beyond question the best horse of his class in Logan County. General Garnet is another imported Clydesdale horse, No....<----- snip more horse information -----> These gentlemen have won an enviable reputation among the horsemen of this section and their horses are recognized as among the first-class stock animals in Central Illinois.

See the full transcription of the Mayer Bros. Biography from the book History of Logan County - Mt. Pulaski Section - Published in 1886, Chicago Interstate Publishing; Chicago, page 796, under his brother Jacob's record, in this file.
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John is listed as Mayers on his marriage license.
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33 in 1880
John W. b. July 31, 1846 d. November 1932
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Census Place: Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinois
Source: FHL Film 1254227 National Archives Film T9-0227 Page 178D

John W. MAYER Self M M W 33 IL [born 1847]
Occ: Harness Maker Fa: WERTEMBERG Mo: PA
Mary E. MAYER Wife F M W 32 MI
Occ: Housekeeper Fa: HAMBURG Mo: HAMBURG
John H. MAYER Son M S W 10 IL
Fa: IL Mo: MI
Oscar W. MAYER Son M S W 8 IL
Fa: IL Mo: MI
Clarence MAYER Son M S W 11M IL
Fa: IL Mo: MI
Emma D. MATFELDT SisterL F S W 19 IL
Fa: HAMBURG Mo: HAMBURG