William Jasper May

William Jasper May date unknown

Birth: May 25th 1840 in Wood County, Virginia
Death: December 20th 1916 in Kansas

Parents: George W. May (1814-1886) and Rachel Smith (1816-1860)
Spouse: Lovina Piper (1850-1885) later Ella G. Piper (1853-1932)

Marriage: Married Lavina Piper in 1870 in Kansas, and later Ella G. Litton Piper in 1887

Children:

1. Katie S. May (1870-1892)
2. Florence May (1874-1952)
3. William May (1877-?)
4. Harry May (1889-?) (from second marriage)

Siblings:

1. Eliza May (?)
2. Flora May (?)
3. Louise May (?)
4. Martha E. May (1838-1880)
5. Salathiel May (1838-?)
6. Isaac Newton May (1842-1931)
7. James M. May (1844-1901)
8. George D. May (1844-?)
9. Rachel L. May (1849-?)
10. Amy J. May (1852-?)
11. Joseph F. May (1855-?)
12. Bennie May (1860-1963)

Military: Served in the Kansas Calvary during the Civil War (Union)

Unit: 11th Kansas Calvary
Co: I
Residence: Grasshopper Falls
Mustered in: 09/15/1862
Mustered out: 09/26/1965
Rank: Corporal (promoted July 1st, 1864)
Source: Kansas State Historical Society

11th Kansas Calvary Co. I movements:
(Source: Suppliment to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Army Part II. Record of Events Vol 21)

Stationed at camp Ewing, Newton County, Arkansas, enlistment to October 31, 1862.

Stationed in the field, Washington County, Arkansas, November-December 1862.

Stationed at Crane Creek, Stone County, Missouri, January-February 1863. (February 25-25-Detached from the regiment and left in charge of the hospital at Crane Creek until February 28.

Stationed at Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas, June 30, 1863. (June 18- Ordered to post duty at Shawnee.)

Stationed at Leavenworth City, Kansas, July-August 1863. (July 19-August 31-On special duty as provost guard at Leavenworth City since July 19.)

Stationed at Westport, Missouri, September-October 1863 (October 7-Ordered from Leavenworth to Westport. The company has been scouting after bushwhackers more or less everyday since and has not been successful in finding any yet.)

Stationed at Hickman Mills, Missouri, November-December 1863. (November 2-The company was ordered from Westport to Little Sante Fe then December 22-Ordered from Little Sante Fe to Hickman Mills. Lieutenant [James J.] Clancy, Sergeants [Irenius C] Myers and [Joseph W.] Biship, [John] Bradshaw and [Frederick] Richardt, and twenty-three privates, detached from the company and left to guard the station at Little Sante Fe. The company has scouted a great deal through this section of country but found nothing of interest to report.

Stationed at Shawnee Mission, Kansas, January-April 1864.

Stationed at Shawnee Mission, Kansas, May-June 1864.
During the month of May patrolled from Shawnee Mission to Oxford, Kansas and from Shawnee Mission to Kansas River, scouting through the country between those places, traveling during the month at least 800 miles.
During the month of June patrolled from Shawnee Mission to Camp Clayton, Kansas, five miles south and back, each day from twelve to twenty miles. Total miles, 380.
Traveled in scouting during the month, 150 miles.
June 14-20-Marched with the company from Shawnee Mission to Aubrey, Kansas, from Aubrey to Harrisonville, Missouri to Pleasant Hill, then twelve miles southeast; thence to Hickman Mills and from there to Shawnee Mission again, making a distance marched of 142 miles. Total during two months, 1,472 miles.

Stationed at Shawnee Mission, Kansas, July-August 1864.

Stationed at Newtonia, Missouri, September to October 1864.
October 12-Marched fro Shawnee Mission and from thence to Hickman Mills to Pleasant Hill to Holden to Lexington.
October 19-23-Participated in the battle of Lexington, in the battle of Little Blue October 21, in battle of Big Blue October 22, and battle of Westport October 23. Followed in pursuit of General Price to Newtonia, Missouri. Distance marched about 450 miles.

Stationed at Shawnee Mission, Kansas, November-December 1864.
October 31-December 31- The company marched since October 31 from Newtonia to Fort Smith, Arkansas via Cassville, Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Cane Hill and back to this station, via Fort Gibson, Fort Scott and Paola, losing near twenty horses on the march in pursuit of Rebel forces under General Price.

Stationed in the field, January-February 1865.
Since last muster the squadron has marched from Shawnee Mission to Fort Riley, 145 miles, from fort Riley to place of muster, 115 miles, an aggregate of 260 miles.

Stationed at Sweetwater, March-April 1865.

Stationed at Camp Gilmore near Platte Bridge, May-June 1865.
The squadron changed stations from Sweetwater Bridge to Platte Bridge in May. Has been scouting all the time, since last muster, having made on one scout eighty miles, another, forty miles, another, 200 miles, another thirty miles, and the last, forty miles. one first liutenant and twenty men fought 250 Indians at the Red Butte on the North Platte River, having one man wounded and one horse killed and killing and wounding a large number of Indians.
Occupation: Farmer

Biography:

William Jasper May was born in Wood County, Virginia (now West Virginia) on May 25th, 1840. He came to Kansas at the age of 17 with his family and settled at Valley Falls. Around the age of 21 William left his fathers home and worked as a farm laborer for $13 a month. At age 23 he bought 50 acres next to his father's land and began farming and raising stock. Early records indicate he had at least 160 acres in 25-8-17 and another source claims he had one of the finest farms of 320 acres in Jefferson County.

In 1862 He enlisted in the Union Army (details above) and in 1864 he was promoted to Corporal. "His regiment did service along the border, in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Indian Territory. He was at the engagements at Kane Hill, Prairie Grove, and in the campaign against General Price, and in the spring of 1865, his regiment was sent on an expedition against hostile Indians in the West. They had several encounters with the "Noble Red Man," and his horse was shot from under him at Platte Bridge, near Sweetwater, and he says when his horse fell that he was up and going on foot, in the opposite direction from the Indians, without the loss of a second. He remained in the service for some time after his term of enlistment expired, until the regiment was relieved, when he returned to Fort Leavenworth and was discharged."

In 1870 William married Lavina Piper, from Indiana in Jefferson County. "In 1875, he went to Barton county, took a homestead and bought additional land, and in 1899, sold his interests in Barton county and removed to Meriden, where he has since lived, practically, in retirement. At one time he owned 1,600 acres of land in Ford county, but he has disposed of that. He is a stockholder in the State Bank of Meriden, and interested in other local enterprises."

"To Mr. and Mrs. May have been born four children: William, a farmer near Meriden, Kans.; Henry, a farmer near Carbondale, Kans.; Florence, married Thomas Stewart, and resides at San Diego, Calif., and Katie, deceased." Lovina died in 1885 and William remarried an Ella G. Piper (who was the widow of John Piper who was brother to Rachel L. May's (William Jasper's sister) husband Hugh Piper.

"Mr. May takes a commendable interest in public affairs, and has served as Mayor of Meriden two terms, and has served several terms on the school board. He is a stanch Republican, and has ever supported the principles of that party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen."

Source:KS-Cyclopedia, Jefferson County Historical Society, and Census data.

Census Information:

The 1850 Federal Census has William J. May living in District 65 of Wood County Virginia. He was 10 and living with his father George W. May (age 36), Mother Rachel May (age 32), brother Salathiel (age 12), sister Martha (age 11), brother Isaac N. (age 8), brother James (age 6), brother George (age 4). All from Virginia.

The 1860 Federal Census has William J. May living in Grasshopper Falls Township, located in Jefferson County, Kansas. He was 19 and living with his father George W. May (age 48), sister Martha (age 21), brother Isaac N. (age 18), brother James (age 17), brother George (age 16), sister Rachel (age 10), sister Amy (age 8), brother Joseph (age 5), sister Louisa (age 3), and brother Barry (age 2 months). All were listed as born in Virginia except Louisa and Barry who were born in Kansas. Their house number was indicated as 64.

The 1870 Federal Census has William J. May living in Douglas Township, Jackson County, Kansas. He was 30 and living with his wife Lovina (age 20), and daughter Katie J. (age 1 month). He indicated that he was born in Virginia, Lavina was born in Indiana, and Katie was born in Kansas.

The 1875 Kansas State Census has William J. May living in Cedar Township, Jackson County, Kansas. He was 34 and living with his wife Lovina (age 25), daughter Katie J. (age 5), and daughter Florence (age 1). They had real estate valued at 800 and personal property valued at 600. His occupation was listed as farmer.

The 1880 Federal Census has William J. May living in Jefferson Township, Jefferson County, Kansas. He was 40 and living with his wife L0vina (age 30), daughter Katie J. (age 10), daughter Florence (age 5), and son William (age 3).

The 1900 Federal Census has William J. May living in Rock Creek, Jefferson County, Kansas. He was 60 and living with his wive Ella G. (age 46), step daughter Mabal (age 18), step daughter Martha (age 15), and son Harry (age 11). I can't make out his occupation and he owned his home free of any mortgage.

The 1905 Kansas State Census has William J. May living in Meriden, Jefferson County, Kansas. He was 64 and living with his wife Ella G (age 52) and son Harry (age 16).

The 1910 Federal Census has William J. May living in Rock Creek, Jefferson County, Kansas. He was 69 and living with his wive Ella G. (age 56). The Census record shows that William and Ella were married for 23 years and that she had 6 children, all still living. The Census always shows that William was retired and living off his own income.

Burial:

Both Lovina and Ella are buried in Meriden Cemetery in Jefferson County. Lovina's tombstone makes mention of William. However, no confirmation of William being buried there.