Milton Franklin May

As printed in 1906

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 History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.