Biographical Sketch of William H. May, Franklin County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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William H. May (deceased) was born in Charlotte County, Va., September
25, 1820 and died in Franklin County, Mo., April 20, 1877.  He was the
son of Robert H. and Mary R. (Portwood) May, who with their family
crossed the Mississippi River and located in Franklin County, Mo., in
the year 1836.  Mr. May was a farmer, although a natural mechanic and
worked a great deal as such more for pastime than for anything else.
He received a liberal education at schools which he attended in Vir-
ginia and Missouri, and although a Democrat in his political views,
never aspired to any official position.  He was not a strict partisan
but would cross the line for better men on the other ticket.  He sym-
pathized with the South, but was no secessionist.  When Mr. May died
the poor lost their best friend, for he was indeed a friend to those
in need.  He lost considerable money at different times in going sec-
urity for his friends.  At his death Franklin County was bereft of 
one of its best citizens, and he will long be remembered as an honor-
able, trustworthy man.  October 20, 1853 he married Miss Judith A.
Franklin, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth T. (North) Franklin.
This lady was born in Campbell County, Va., April 7, 1825, and in 
September, 1848, came to Franklin County on a visit and never return-
ed to her Virginia home, for she met Mr. May and they were married.
This union resulted in the birth of seven children, five now living,
viz.: Mary E. (Mrs. James H. Jeffries), James T., Martha A. (Mrs. C.
B. Wood), L. Frances (Mrs. Ralph L. Thompson) and Nannie N.  Mrs. May
is now living on the farm that her husband left. This farm is located
about seven miles east of Union, on the Rock road, and is well im-
proved.

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