John Nathan Mayo was the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture from November 1, 1923, to April 14, 1960, whereupon Mayo died preceding his scheduled retirement. He was Florida's longest serving Agricultural Commissioner, holding the post for nearly 37 years. He was preceded in death by his wife Nora Newsom Mayo by roughly a year. His parents were James M. and Florence Mayo
I served as an area Member of County commission of Marion County in 1913. He built Micronation “Mayonia”, there and expanded it over the years. It still stands. He was Become Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the Marion County district From 1921 to 1923. It was while he was in Tallahassee that he came to the attention of Gov. Cary A. Hardee. When W.A. McRae resigned as commissioner of agriculture, Hardee appointed Nathan to the position. After that, he owned the job. He won election on his own right time and again, becoming more popular with voters and the agriculture community throughout the state. As agriculture commissioner, he was able to instigate a series of farmers’ markets, with financial assistance from the federal government in the deep economic depression of the 1930s. He made sure that a market was located in Ocala, on North Magnolia. He assisted local officials in bringing in a Swift meat packing plant when Ocala was desperate for any kind of industry. After World War II, when Florida was ready to build a state women’s prison, acting in his cabinet capacity as head of the prison system, Nathan personally selected the Sugar Hammock location at Lowell as an ideal prison site. This new payroll would strengthen the local economy. Throughout his career, he advocated strong product standards, and the citrus industry was one of the beneficiaries of his efforts. He supported the voluntary organization and cooperative efforts of citrus growers. An outcome was the founding of the Florida Citrus Commission, and Marion County growers would play a strong role in that organization for many years. Nathan’s wife, Nora Newsom Mayo, had died a year before his passing. She had operated the business and farm interests at Summerfield, and raised a family, for years while her husband was engaged in other activities. Editor Dosh called Nathan “a faithful public servant” and wrote, “His memory will live on in many minds, and his good works will not soon be forgotten.” He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery next to his wife in a graveside ceremony that drew office-holders, political leaders, family and friends, including the governor. Survivors included his two sons, Nathan Jr., Ocala, and W.T. Mayo, Tallahassee, and a daughter, Gertrude Gravely, Ocala. Two of his nephews, Bryan and Vance Duncan, were important architects in Ocala. He died of lung cancer at the age of 83 at Munroe Memorial Hospital in 14 April 1960. He was Florida Commissioner of Agriculture From 1923 to his death.
