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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Thomas W. May is justly recognized as one of the prominent farmers of this community. He has also attained to great esteem as a faithful public official of Cross County, now serving as county assessor. A native of Mississippi, he is a son of Thomas W. and Mary A. (Taylor) May, who came originally from Alabama and settled in Mississippi shortly after their marriage, locating in 1871 in Cross County, Ark. Here the senior May bought a farm of 320 acres, near Cherry Valley, which had about seventy acres under cultivation. Shortly after coming to this county he died, and the home place was then divided, and a portion of it sold. Mrs. May still resides on the remainder. Thomas W. May, Jr., our subject, was born in Mississippi in 1859, and until 1879 helped his mother carry on the farm after his father’s death. In that year he was married to Miss Agnes Bowers, of this county, and daughter of Jacob Bowers, a well-known citizen of Cross County. Mrs. May died in August, 1888, leaving four children: Ada, Edna, Effie and Pearl. Mr. May was married the second time on March 26, 1889, to Miss Georgia Jackson, also of Cross County birth. Mr. May has held some public office here for the past eight years. In 1881 he was appointed constable of Mitchell Township, to fill an unexpired term, and was afterward elected to that position, serving two terms. In 1888 he was elected county assessor, which office he still holds. Mr. May bought a farm of 160 acres, in 1885, near Cherry Valley, having about forty acres under cultivation, and has cleared as much more since owning it. He has since bought out the interest of the heirs of his first wife’s parents to a large and valuable estate. An enterprising young man, he is very popular in the community in which he lives.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Cross County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Cross County, Arkansas family biographies here: Cross County, Arkansas Biographies

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