The May Families of Pickaway County, Ohio

BOHN L. MAY, whose extensive farm of 175 acres is all in one body and is located in section 35, Walnut township, was born in this township, October 13, 1860, and is a son of George J. and Mary (Heim) May. The early history of the May family may be found elsewhere in this work, in the sketch of Milton Franklin May.

John L. May was reared and educated in Walnut township and has resided on the same farm since he was 16 years of age. To those whose fate compels a yearly removal to a different home, this fact is very suggestive of peace and comfort and doubtless Mr. May looks upon it in that way. He has been identified with the business and agricultural interests of Walnut township almost all his mature life. For five years he ran a grocery store at East Ringgold, where he was also postmaster, but he sold out this store in 1893. Until January

1906, lie kept out of the grocery business but on that date, in association with his brother Lyman, he again became interested at East Ringgold, his brother operating the store. Mr. May buys and sells hogs, sheep and wool and devotes the larger part of his farm to the raising of hogs. His land is well improved and in 1900 he erected what is considered the finest bam in the township. For a number of years Mr. May has also been agent for the Ohio Farmers’ Fertilizer Company.

On November 24, 1887, Mr. May was married to Emma J. Snyder, who is a daughter of Dildine Snyder, a sketch of whom will be found in this book. Mr. and Mrs. May have four children, all of whom survive, namely: Ralph E., Walter W., Alva D. and Virgil G.

Mr. May is a Democrat and has always been more or less prominent in party matters in the township, serving as constable for four years, when but 21 years of age. In the fall of 1905 he was elected a justice of the peace, in the administration of the duties of which office he has administered to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In religious belief Mr. May is a Methodist, belonging to the East Union Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. May and son Ralph E. are members of the Nebraska Grange at Nebraska.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JILTON FRANKLIN MAY, whose reputation as an excellent farmer and successful stock-raiser extends all over and beyond Muhlenberg township,, justifies this favorable opinion in his capable management of a farm of 426 acres. Mr. May belongs to one of the old pioneer families of Pickaway County and was born April 1, 1867, on the May homestead, in Walnut township, Pickaway County. His parents were George J. and Mary (Heim) May.

Mr. May comes of French and German ancestry. His grandparents were John A. and Magdalena (Rohrer) May, the former of whom was a native of Loudoun County, Virginia, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. On the material side the great-grandfather was a native of Germany and an early settler in Maryland. The family was founded in Ohio in 1836 by John A. May, who settled in Walnut township, Pickaway County, when the country was still a complete wilderness. Since then the May family has been intimately identified with the progress and development of Pickaway County. John A. May lived until 1887, leaving behind him a good name and a fine estate which he had wrested from the dense forest which surrounded his little log cabin for years after he had settled here.

George J. May, father of Milton Franklin May, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, June 1, 1832, and still survives, residing on his farm near East Ringgold. He was four, years old when his parents came to Pickaway County, where he has spent his long and useful life. He was united in marriage with Mary Heim on March 21, 1858. She was born in

Pickaway County, Ohio, July 31, 1840, a daughter of John and Susanna Heim. They were very early settlers in Walnut township and at death left a comfortable estate. Mrs. May died November 12, 1898, at East Ringgold. The children of George J. May and wife were: William, John L., Nelson H., Milton Franklin, Calvin M. and Lyman. Mr. May is a prominent member of the United Brethren Church and has long been one of the trustees. In politics he is a Republican.

Milton Franklin May was reared in Walnut township and attended the common schools. Until he reached his majority, he remained at home assisting his father, and then started into business in partnership with his brother, John L. May. They embarked in a grocery business at East Ringgold, which they continued for four years under the firm name of May Brothers. John L. May then bought our subject’s interest and the latter returned to the management of the homestead farm, where he remained for three years. Then he embarked on his own account in a grocery business at Circleville and continued there until he rented the large farm which he so ably manager. This property belongs to Mrs. Ida L. Rife. Mr. May operates it as a grain and stock farm, working it on shares. He has done his own stocking and owns some 40 head of cattle, 100 hogs and 50 head of sheep. He does not breed horses but uses some 14 in the operation of this large body of land.

On November 28, 1889, Mr. May was married to Carrie Rife, who was born July 9, 1868, in Pickaway County, and is a daughter of John and Miranda (Minshall) Rife. John Rife was a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, while his wife was born in Ross County, Ohio. Jacob Rife, father of John, was from Pennsylvania and settled in Fairfield County at an early day. William Gilmore Minshall, grandfather of Mrs. May, was born in Virginia and came to Ross County, Ohio, with his parents when only one year old. He married Elizabeth Jones, of Ross County, Ohio. John Rife and wife had seven children, as follows: Alice; John E., a contractor at Columbus; Charles M., a grain dealer at Circleville; Carrie, wife of our subject; Cora, wife of W. L. Wells, of Columbus; Samuel Tilden, a farmer of Circleville township; and Emanuel J., a resident of Ashville, Ohio. Seven children have been bom to Mr. and Mrs. May, as follows: Tracy R., Clyde F., Ida A., Mary M., Grace C., Georgie M. and Kenneth M.

In political sentiment, Mr. May is a Republican. He has been a member of the School Board of Muhlenberg township for the past five years and for two years has been its president. He is a leading member of his party here and has served four years as a member of the Republican County Central Committee. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Modem Woodmen of-America.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD P. MAY, whose fine 158-acre farm of well-cultivated land is located in Pickaway township, at Kingston, is one of the well-known agriculturists and leading citizens of this locality. He was born on his present farm, on December 8, 1850, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Steele) May and grandson of Henry May, Sr., who founded the family here.

Among the pioneer settlers of Pickaway township, the May family were always prominent in those efforts looking to the development of agricultural enterprises and educational and religious advancement. Henry May, the father of Edward P. May. carried on ( a tanning business at Kingston for a quarter of a century. He was largely interested also in farming and up to the time of his death, in

! 1893, was one of the leading and reliable citizens of Pickaway township.

Henry May, by marriage to Margaret Steele, became connected with another of the old and honorable families of the county. Their surviving children are: Jane E., widow of James Machir, residing at Kingston; Alice C.. who married Charles E. Ware and resides at Miamisburg, Ohio; and Edwin P.

Edwin P. May was reared in Pickaway township. and was educated in the home schools. - For a short period of his early business life, he was engaged in a coal and lumber trade at Kingston, after taking a business course at Wilt’s Commercial College, at Dayton, Ohio. With this exception his life lias been devoted to agricultural pursuits.

On November 5. 1896, Mr. May was united in marriage with Mrs. Alice L. (Strawn) Freshwater, widow of Abram Freshwater, formerly of CTbana, Ohio, and a daughter of the late George Strawn, of Logan, Hocking County, Ohio. Mrs. May has one daughter by her first marriage, Miss Blanche Freshwater, an accomplished musician, who secured her musical education at WoOster College, at Wooster, Ohio.

In politics, Mr. May has always been identified with the Republican party. He is one of the trustees of Mount Pleasant Cemetery. For many years he has been an active member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder. He is a man who is held in high esteem by all who know him and is a worthy representative of the best type of the citizens of Pickai way township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES H. MAY, attorney-at-law at Circleville and one of the leading Republican politicians of Pickaway County, was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 20, 1873, and is a son of Dr. John B. May.

Dr. John B. May was born in North Carolina, where he was reared and educated. He settled in Ohio during the Civil War and became one of the most prominent physicians and surgeons at New Holland, Pickaway County.

Charles H. May was reared from the age of three years at New Holland, Pickaway County, his parents having removed there from Bourneville, Ross County. After completing a common-school course, he taught school for two years and then took the teacher’s course at the Ohio Normal University at Ada. After thorough preparation, in the fall of 1894 he entered the senior class of the Cincinnati Law School and in the following year was graduated with his degree of B. L.

Mr. May came immediately to Circleville and entered into partnership with Charles Dresbach, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, the firm name being Dresbach & May. The partnership was continued until Mr. Dresbach was appointed by Governor Nash to succeed the late Judge Festus Walters on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas. Since then Mr. May has practiced alone and has become a prominent figure in the different courts and. has been a successful leader in many important cases.

On June 24, 1903, Mr. May was married to Pearl Bennett, a daughter of William Bennett, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a retired farmer and large owner of real estate at Muncie, Indiana.

Since early manhood Mr. May has been interested in politics and public affairs and his abilities have been recognized by the Republican party. On numerous occasions he has been chosen for important party positions. For five years he served as chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee. He was a delegate to the last great Republican National Convention in 1904, which nominated Theodore Roosevelt for President of the United States.

In fraternal life Mr. May has numerous connections. He belongs to Lodge No. 392, F. & A. M., at New Holland; Lodge No. 65, Order of the Eastern Star, at New Holland; Lodge No. 237, Knights of Pythias, at New Holland; Circleville Lodge, No. 77, B. P. O. E.; and Camp No. 6334, M. W. of A., at New Holland. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.