"The marriage of Nelson Smith and Miss Susanna May was celebrated atth e bride's home in Ross County, Ohio, September 6, 1855. Their unionhas b een blest by the birth of live children: Frank, Be man, Chancey,Maggie a nd Clara. Mrs. Smith was born in Green Township, Ross County,Ohio, and i s the daughter of Francis and Barbara (Betzer) May, whowere likewise n atives of Ross County, Ohio. It is believed that thepaternal grandfath er, George May, was born in Germany and if so, heemigrated to America a t a very early day and was reared inPennsylvania. He was among the ear liest pioneers of Ross County,where he cleared a farm and spent the re mainder of his life. FrancisMay was reared in his native county where, u pon reaching man's estatehe purchased an improved farm, which he lived u pon until 1858. Thenremoving to Macon County, Ill., he settled in Deca tur where heresided until his death, about 1887. The mother of Mrs. Sm ith was thedaughter of William Betzer, a native of Pennsylvania and of G ermanancestry, He likewise was a pioneer of Ross County, Ohio, and die dthere. His daughter, Barbara, was taught in her girlhood to card woola nd flax, also to spin and weave and made her home with her parentsunti l her marriage. She spent her last days in Decatur, 11l., passingaway p rior to the decease of her husband. Mrs. Smith remained withher parent s until her maniage."
Residences & events:
1840 Green Twp, Ross Co, OH. At census time his household included1 m ale aged 5-10, himself at 30-40, 2 females under 5, 1 at 5-10, 1aged 2 0-30 and probably Barbara, also 30-40. Next door was GeorgeBarnhart a nd Robert Pennington.
7/25/1850 Same place. In that census Francis was a 43 year oldfarmer w ith $5100 in real estate. Barbara was also 43 and they hadthe followi ng children: William H, 18; Susannah, 15; Margaret, 13;Emily, 10; and D avid L, 2. Liivng with them were John Webster, 19,and Nathaniel Barnh art, 22, neither had jobs. Neighbors were theJohn Leasures and David M yers families.
6/3/1860 Decatur Ward 1, Macon Co, IL. Recorded in that census wereF rancis and Barbara May, 52, Margaret, 22, Emily, 20, and David L,11. F rancis was a wealthy MD with $10,000/500 worth of property. Thewhole f amily was born in OH.
DECATUR DAILY REPUBLICAN 10/1/1886
DR. FRANCIS MAY WAS BORN IN GREEN TOWNSHIP, ROSS COUNTY OHIO, JULY 20,1 807. DEPARTING THIS LIFE SEPTEMBER 27, 1886, AGED 79 YEARS, TWOMONTHS A ND SEVEN DAYS. HE MARRIED MISS BARBARA BETZER, JANUARY 20,1831. HE LEA VES A FAMILY OF FIVE CHILDREN, THREE DAUGHTERS AND TWOSONS. THE MOTHER O F THOSE CHILDREN DIED IN 1866. HE WAS MARRIED ASECOND TIME, MARCH 26, 1 868, TO MRS. SARAH A. SWIFT, WHO SURVIVESHIM.
DR. MAY WAS RAISED A FARMER AND CARRIED ON THAT BUSINESS IN CONNECTIONW ITH HIS PRACTICE OF MEDICINE UNTIL HIS REMOVAL TO ILLINOIS, INOCTOBER, 1 857, SINCE WHICH DATE HE HAS GIVEN HIS ENTIRE ATTENTION TOTHE PRACTICE O F MEDICINE AS A CANCER DOCTOR. HE HAS LIVED IN THISCITY IN THE SAME HO USE PURCHASED ON HIS ARRIVAL IN 1857.. HE WASALWAYS REGARDED AS AN HON EST, ABLE AND WORTHY CITIZEN, BOTH HERE ANDIN OHIO. MANY FRIENDS AND R ELATIVES WILL MOURN HIS DEPARTURE. HE WASA MEMBER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN C HURCH EVEN IN EARLY LIFE. THE MEMBERSOF THE FAMILY ARE VERY GRATEFUL T O THEIR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS FOR
THEIR MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS DISPLAYED DURING THE ILLNESS OF THEDECEASE D.
OBITUARY FURNISHED BY JANET DONNER
He did not leave a will but did make a "Deed in Trust" to ReubenBetzer .
