Stephen L. Mayham

Stephen Lorenzo Mayham (October 8, 1826 – March 3, 1908) was an attorney and politician from Schoharie County, New York. He was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative from New York and a justice of the New York Supreme Court.

Early life
Stephen L. Mayham was born in Blenheim, New York on October 8, 1826, a son of John and Betsey (Ferguson) Mayham. 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. Another brother, Jay Mayham, served as judge of the Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin court. Mayham's brother J. Banks Mayham served as mayor of Murphysboro, Illinois.

Mayham worked on his family's farm while attending the local schools. He obtained his teaching credentials, and at age eighteen began working a teacher in the district schools. 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. 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.

Start of career
A Democrat, Mayham served as Schoharie County's superintendent of schools from 1852 to 1857. From 1858 to 1860 he was Blenheim's town supervisor. From 1859 to 1862 he served as District Attorney of Schoharie County. In 1862, he moved to Schoharie, and in 1863, he served a one-year term in the New York State Assembly.

In 1868, Mayham was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served in the 41st Congress, March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1871. During this term, he served on the Committee on Private Land Claims and the Committee on Expenditures of the State and Post Office Departments. In 1876 he was elected to the 45th Congress, March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1879. During this term, he was a member of the Committee on the District of Columbia and the Committee on State Department Expenditures.

Later career
Mayham served as judge of the Schoharie County Court and the county surrogate court from 1883 to 1887. He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1884 and again in 1892. In 1886, Mayham was elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court, and he served until 1897. Mayham was president of Schoharie's board of education for eight years, and was the first president of the Schoharie Valley Railroad Company. 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.

Death and burial
Mayham died in Schoharie, New York on March 3, 1908. He was buried at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Schoharie.

Family
In 1849, Mayham married Julia A. Martin (1829-1895). They were the parents of sons F. Matt, Don S., and Claude B., and daughter Ida L.