Thomas May family of Lewistown, Illinois
Our family had been in the area quite sometime as far back as 1842 to be exact. My branch came to Illinois about 1842 from Virginia. Much like many families I imagine some were divided on the slavery isue of the times. As for my Great great great grandfathers motivation of moving to Illinois I am having to guess for land and farming. Though there was a division of sort during the Civil War as two of his brothers fought on opposite sides and their father had been a slave owner and grew Tobacco. I am not exactly proud but it makes interesting history I suppose.
Thomas May was the son of Noel and Aleavy (Eddins) May having been born on October 22, 1818 in Virginia. He migrated to Fulton County, Illinois in 1842 where he bought land and farmed. He married Elizabeth Scovel, daughter of Ira & Mary (Chrisley) Scovel on Febuary 18, 1844. They would have seven children.
At one time he was a road commissioner of Lewistown Township. He was a farmer having land southwest of Lewistown in Section 29. In 1873 he became ill & gypsies sold the May family for fifty dollars a remedy which they thought would help but it did the opposite. He died June 20, 1873 weeks later.
The graves and family tree:
Elizabeth his wife was born January 27, 1826 in Havana, Illinois to Ira and Mary Scovel. She died January 4, 1907. Both are buried in the famous Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown, Illinois. Their son, my Great great grandfather took over the farming.
The children of Thomas and Elizabeth:
1. Mary Susan May who was born in 1846 and died in 1925. She married twice first to Dudley Geyer and second to William Wilson. She is buried near her parents at Oak Hill Cemetery.
2. Oleva Jane May was born in 1849 and died in 1920 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery with her first husband. She married twice first to George Rigdon then to Daniel Lockard.
3. Margaret Almeria May was born in 1851 and died young. Her burial location is unknown but possibly on the family farm.
4. Amanda Emma May was born in 1854 . She married John McDermott in 1873. He worked for the CB&Q at one time. They moved to South Dakota and is buried out there.
5. Thomas Allen May was born in 1856 and died in 1932. He married Emma Louellen Wheeler. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
6. James May was born November 7, 1859 and died on August 9, 1909. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery as well. He married Samantha Ellen Coney who was the daughter of Ira and Ellen (Meeker) Coney on October 24, 1883 in Fulton County, Illinois.
James and Samantha's grave:
Property/farm of Thomas May
Section 29 Lewistown Twp:
1871 map
West of Lewistown off Bernadotte Blacktop is a road you make a left called Scovil Hill Road or something like that. The May farm was off of that. The May's farmed there for 90 years until it was sold in 1935. Apparently the May men wanted to expand to other occupations like manufacturing. No structures remain today from their time.
Thomas May was the son of Noel and Aleavy (Eddins) May having been born on October 22, 1818 in Virginia. He migrated to Fulton County, Illinois in 1842 where he bought land and farmed. He married Elizabeth Scovel, daughter of Ira & Mary (Chrisley) Scovel on Febuary 18, 1844. They would have seven children.
At one time he was a road commissioner of Lewistown Township. He was a farmer having land southwest of Lewistown in Section 29. In 1873 he became ill & gypsies sold the May family for fifty dollars a remedy which they thought would help but it did the opposite. He died June 20, 1873 weeks later.
The graves and family tree:
Elizabeth his wife was born January 27, 1826 in Havana, Illinois to Ira and Mary Scovel. She died January 4, 1907. Both are buried in the famous Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown, Illinois. Their son, my Great great grandfather took over the farming.
The children of Thomas and Elizabeth:
1. Mary Susan May who was born in 1846 and died in 1925. She married twice first to Dudley Geyer and second to William Wilson. She is buried near her parents at Oak Hill Cemetery.
2. Oleva Jane May was born in 1849 and died in 1920 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery with her first husband. She married twice first to George Rigdon then to Daniel Lockard.
3. Margaret Almeria May was born in 1851 and died young. Her burial location is unknown but possibly on the family farm.
4. Amanda Emma May was born in 1854 . She married John McDermott in 1873. He worked for the CB&Q at one time. They moved to South Dakota and is buried out there.
5. Thomas Allen May was born in 1856 and died in 1932. He married Emma Louellen Wheeler. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
6. James May was born November 7, 1859 and died on August 9, 1909. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery as well. He married Samantha Ellen Coney who was the daughter of Ira and Ellen (Meeker) Coney on October 24, 1883 in Fulton County, Illinois.
James and Samantha's grave:
Property/farm of Thomas May
Section 29 Lewistown Twp:
1871 map
West of Lewistown off Bernadotte Blacktop is a road you make a left called Scovil Hill Road or something like that. The May farm was off of that. The May's farmed there for 90 years until it was sold in 1935. Apparently the May men wanted to expand to other occupations like manufacturing. No structures remain today from their time.
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