My Genealogy Hound

PINCKNEY M. MAY is quietly passing his declining days in his pleasant home at Knobnoster, Johnson County, where he recently built a cottage according to the most modern plans of architecture. For a number of years he was engaged in business of various kinds and was quite successful, but is now retired from active life. He is a self-made and self-educated man, and obtained what learning he possesses after reaching his majority, when he attended school at his own expense. He is a Democrat of no uncertain stamp, but has never cared for political office. However, while a resident of Hamlin, Kan., he served as Postmaster of the place for a period of four years, to everyone’s entire satisfaction.

Charles P. May, the father of our subject, was a native of North Carolina, and spent the early portion of his life in that state. He fought in the War of 1812, and participated in the battle of New Orleans under General Jackson. Late in life he removed to Nashville, Tenn., where he lived for a year, and then settled in St. Charles County, Mo., where his death occurred in 1856. To himself and wife, Ursula (Johnson) May, were born nine children, of whom Pinckney M. is the fifth in order of birth. Mrs. May survived her husband several years, her death also occurring in St. Charles County.

Our subject is also a native of North Carolina, and was born November 10, 1818. He was brought up on a farm, where he obtained a practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits. When in his twentieth year he started out in life for himself by operating a farm in St. Charles County. Subsequently he engaged in the manufacture of leaf tobacco in addition to running his homestead, and for more than twenty years he was successfully employed in that business. During this time he invested large sums of money in land, which he bought and sold to good advantage. In 1872 he came to this county, where he engaged in farming for a year, and then became a resident of Knobnoster, where he purchased a home and carried on the manufacture of tobacco for some time. For the next four and a-half years he lived in Kiowa County, Kan., where he had pre-empted a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Since then he has made his home in this place.

The first marriage of Mr. May was celebrated in 1837, with Ellen Chambers, who was born in St. Charles County, and who was called to the home beyond in 1856. Six children were born of this marriage. A daughter, Ruth M., is deceased, and those living are as follows: Mary, Mrs. A. J. Whitehead, of Eureka Springs, Ark.; John A., whose home is in Nevada, Mo.; Hattie, wife of James Ray, of St. Charles County; Susie, Mrs. William Muzzy, of Oilman, Colo.; and Fannie, the wife of Joseph Whitehead, of Colorado Springs, Col.

The lady who now bears the name of our subject was in her girlhood days Maggie E. Hammett, and their union was celebrated May 25, 1858. She is a daughter of John and Frances (Saunders) Hammett, who, like herself, were natives of Virginia. They left the East early in the ‘30s, and for a time lived in the western part of the state. Mr. Hammett died in 1834, but his faithful wife survived him some twenty years, reaching the good old age of seventy-two years. The eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. May, Charles Hammett, died when in his tenth year. William M. is engaged in the nursery business in Knobnoster; Edward E. and Pinckney A. are also residents of this place, and are interested in the same business as is their elder brother. Annie Maud, the only daughter, is a well educated and cultured young lady, now living with her parents. Mrs. May, who is a true type of the Southern woman, is courteous to all and a very entertaining hostess. Since their early years, Mr. and Mrs. May have been members of the Methodist Church South and liberal contributors to its success. Socially Mr. May belongs to Lodge No. 245, A. F. & A. M., and his three sons belong to the Knights of Pythias.