1925 Biography - Buffington S. Mayer

Buffington S. Mayer. Fine initiative and ability and progressive methods have been brought to bear by Mr. Mayer in the building up of a general insurance business that is now one of the largest and most important not only in the capital City of Baton Rouge but also in East Baton Parish. He is a substantial and successful business man to whom it is gratifying to accord representation in this publication.

Buffington S. Mayer was born at Baton Rouge, March 27, 1887, and is a son of Benjamin R. and Zerlina (Mendelssohn) Mayer, the former of whom died at Baton Rouge May 4, 1914, and the latter of whom still maintains her home in this city, their marriage having been solemnized May 25, 1882.

Benjamin R. Mayer was born at Natchez, Mississippi, on the 6th of January, 1855, and was a son of John Edgar and Jeanette R. (Ries) Mayer, the former of whom was born in Germany, in the year 1812, and the latter of whom was born in France. John Edgar Mayer was reared and educated in his native land and was a young man when he came to the United States and established his residence at Natchez, Mississippi, where he followed his trade, that of shoemaker, and also became a successful shoe merchant, both he and his wife having there passed the remainder of their lives, and his death having occurred May 25, 1882. Benjamin R. Mayer duly profited by the advantages of the public schools of Natchez, and in 1883 he removed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where his marriage had occurred in the preceding year. Here he engaged in the wholesale grocery business and here also he became prominently concerned with other important enterprises that touched the civic and material advancement of the capital city. He was one of the organizers and became a director of the Bank of Baton Rouge, was the owner of the business conducted under the title of the Baton Rouge & Western Transportation Company, and was one of the founders of the Istrouma Hotel, he was also the organizer of the Baton Rouge & Bayou Sara Packet Company, which placed in operation a line of boats plying between New Orleans and Bayou Sara, and of this corporation he was the president. He was also organizing president of the home electric Company. This company controls and operates a Street railway system in Baton Rouge. This was the first street car line in Louisiana. As may be inferred from the foregoing brief statements, Mr. Mayer had much of leadership in constructive business enterprise, and he was a citizen who commanded the fullest measure of popular confidence and good will. He was a staunch democrat, and his civic loyalty came much into evidence in his eight years of service as a member of the City Council. He was a zealous member of B'nai Israel Temple, as is also his widow, and he was President of this church organization during a period of eight years. Mr. Mayer was affiliated with St. James Lodge No. 47, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Capital Lodge No. 29, Knights of Pythias. He is survived by two sons, of whom Buffington S., of this review, is the elder; Benjamin R.. Jr., the other son, is secretary and treasurer of the Union homestead Association of Baton Rouge.

After preliminary discipline obtained by attending a private school Buffington S. Mayer advanced his education by a course in St. Vincent's Academy and by attending the Louisiana State University until the close of his sophomore year.

In l905 at the age of eighteen years, Mr. Mayer became a local agent for the Union Central Life Insurance Company, and so effective was his service in this connection that he was made, in 1918, the district manager for the company. a Position which he still retains. In 1909 he amplified his activities in engaging also in the fire-insurance business, and among the various and representative insurance corporations for which he is an underwriter is the Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland, which he has here represented for the past decade. His well appointed offices are established in Suite 210-11 Roumain Building. The following estimate, previously published, is consistently reproduced in this connection:

"On December 4, 1903, Buffington S. Mayer, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, entered into an agency contract with the Aetna Companies of Hartford, Connecticut, and so December, 1923, marked the twentieth anniversary of his service as an Aetnaizer. During these twenty years Mr. Mayer has builded well, and in Baton Rouge you can't think of the Aetna without thinking of Buffington S. Mayer."

Mr. Mayer is loyally aligned in the local ranks of the democratic party, and is a member of B'nai Israel Temple, besides being one of the trustees of the church property, and a member of the B'nai B'rith Benevolent Association. He is an active member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and the local Kiwanis Club, and in a fraternal way, is affiliated with St. James Lodge No. 47, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is the owner of real estate in his home city, including his residence place at 105 South Dufrocq Street.

April 12, 1916, recorded the marriage of Mr. Mayer and Miss Beatrice Mayer. Mrs. Mayer is a daughter of the late Leopold and Addie (Levy) Mayer, her father having been a prosperous merchant. Mrs. Mayer was graduated from the Louisiana State Normal School at Natchitoches. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer have two children: Mary Elizabeth and Buffington S., Jr.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 97-98.