Le Sueur in Le Sueur County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Dr. William W. Mayo House
The accomplishments of the Mayo family in the field of medicine have brought fame to both its members and to Minnesota, for it was Dr. William W. Mayo and his two sons, William J. and Charles H., who founded the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1903.
This little house was built by William W. Mayo in 1859. It is intimately associated with the Mayo family's early years in Minnesota, for here on June 29, 1861, the Mayos' first son, William J., was born.
His father had emigrated to the United States from England in 1845. By 1854 the doctor was living with his wife in Indiana. He left the family there when he departed suddenly in search of relief from the effects of malaria, saying to his started wife, "Good-bye, Louise. I'm going to keep on driving until I get well or die."
Dr. Mayo's travels took him to St. Paul, the rude capital of Minnesota Territory, where he settled with his family. In 1859 he moved to Le Sueur, where he built this house with the help of his brother James. In 1863 he again moved, this time to Rochester, where in 1889 he was asked to become the medical director of St. Mary's Hospital, the nucleus of the future Mayo Clinic.
Erected 1968 by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Minnesota Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1903.
Location. 44° 27.743′ N, 93° 54.892′ W. Marker is in Le Sueur, Minnesota, in Le Sueur County. Marker is on North Main Street (State Highway 112) south of Swan Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is at Louise Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 118 North Main Street, Le Sueur MN 56058, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Roster of the Le Sueur Tigers (a few steps from this marker); 1923 Minnesota River Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Jolly Green Giant (approx. 0.8 miles away); Le Sueur (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Minnesota River Valley (approx. 2.7 miles away); Joseph R. Brown State Monument (approx. 4˝ miles away); St. Jude's Episcopal Church Congregation (approx. 4˝ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 4˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Le Sueur.
Also see . . .
1. W.W. Mayo House. Minnesota Historical Society website entry:
"The historic home of the founders of both the Mayo Clinic and the Green Giant Company." (Submitted on May 19, 2013.)
2. The W.W. Mayo House. Ney Nature Center website entry (Submitted on May 19, 2013.)
3. Dr. William W. Mayo House. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on May 19, 2013.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,039 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on July 12, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 19, 2013, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.