| Notes |
- The Chariton Leader, November 7, 1912
James Madison May was born at Stanford, Monroe county, Indiana, on January 25th, 1849. He was the son of John and Nancy May and when but two years of age his mother died.
In the year 1858, with his father and mother he moved to Iowa, locating in Lucas county, which has been his home ever since. He was educated in the common schools of Lucas county and the Simpson academy at Chariton. He was for five years a teacher in the public schools of Russell and the district schools of this county. At the age of twenty-five he began farming, which vocation he followed up to the time of his last illness.
On December 23rd, 1874, he was united in marriage to Mary Eveline Werts and to them were born eight children, all of whom survive their father. James Virgil, the eldest, resides at Marinette, Wis.; Mrs. Jennie Van Nice, Mrs. Mabel Robb and John, William and Lloyd all reside near Russell; George A., who resides at Audubon; and Belle Susan, who is at home with her mother near Russell.
About eighteen months ago he became ill, his condition proving to be an advanced stage of cancer and already beyond all hope of medical aid and any surgical relief. He chose to submit to an operation in the hope that it was still not to late, but it was found that the disease had spread beyond even what was first suspected and the remainder of his life was the prolonged struggle of a strong man against disease, which had fastened itself with a power too great for human endurance and about 6 o'clock on the evening of November 3rd, 1912, death came to relieve his suffering.
In the evening before his death his condition was not such as to excite immediate alarm and he had requested the family to retire and get their usual rest, but after midnight he became restless and gradually grew weaker, but remaining conscious until the last, when he passed away as if falling in a quiet slumber.
Mr. May leaves besides his wife and eight children, seven grandchildren, three brothers and two sisters.
He was a man of great energy and integrity and humbly sought the good and pure in life. His interests centered around his home and loved ones and he toiled that they might be well provided for. He will ever be remembered as a good man, a kind and loving husband and father.
Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday, conducted by Rev. P. A. Tinkham, interment being made in the Russell cemetery.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the book: The John Jackson and Esther Ann Werts Family History, compiled by Philip W. Allen, 1994
He taught classes in the winter of 1869-70 in the incomplete Presbyterian Church in Russell, Iowa. His mother died when he was young and was raised by his grandparents (White). When he was nine,his grandparents took him to Iowa and he lived with his father. After marriage, he became a farmer and a successful cattle feeder, shipping carloads to Chicago by rail. Although their post office has always been in Russell, their farm was south in Wayne County Around 1885, they purchased a farm about a mile southwest of Russell and built a large house on it in the 1890s. Their eight children lived long lives. James succumbed to skin cancer before age 63. He had a red beard and his skin may have been more susceptible to sun damage than most.
|
1849 - 1912
