John Daniel May was born on 28. Sep. 1834 at Hollow Square, Greene County, Alabama. He was the son of
Stephen D. May and
Jane G. Meader. John Daniel May married
Leona Crownover, daughter of
John Chesney Crownover and
Nancy Castleman, on 1. Oct. 1854 at LaGrange, Fayette County, Texas. John Daniel May died on 16. May. 1922 at Moody, McLennan County, Texas, at age 87. He was buried at Moffat Cemetery, Moody, McLennan County, Texas. John D. May, a successful farmer of Bell County, was born in Alabama, September 28, 1834, a son of Stephen D. May, a native of South Carlina. The later moved to Alabama when a young man, and later to Texas, where he purchased a large farm, and became an enterprising land and slave owner. He died in November, 1885, and his widow still survives, aged seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. May had seven children, viz; five of whom grow to years of maturity: John D., our subject; Steven T., who died in the Confederate service; Francis E., deceased, was the wife of J. M. Wallace; Mary J., wife of John W. Norris, a farmer of Bell county; and Harriet M., wife of T. M. Coon, also a farmer of this county.
John D. May, the subject of this notice, came with his parents to Texas in 1850, at the age of fifteen years, settling in Fayette county. Four years later they came to Bell county, where Mr. May has ever since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. On account of disability he was exempt from military service during the late war. In 1859 he settled on the land he now owns, of which he has made three farms. He as 435 acres of good land in the home place, and also controls 44 acres of other lands belonging to his grand-children. He has about 115 acres of his home farm under cultivation, and raises principally cotton and corn.
Mr. May was married in 1854, to Miss Leona Crownover, who was born January 25, 1836, a daughter of John Crownover, a pioneer settler of this State. The parents died when Leona was a child,and she was reared by John Rabb, an old and well-known citizen of this State. Mr. and Mrs. May have had ten children, seven of who grew to years of maturity: William R., who died April 8, 1884; Mary F., wife of J. E. McClain, a farmer of McLennan county; John W., a farmer of Bell county; Rufany J., wife of J.D. Henderson, a farmer of Bell County; Emma E., wife of W.R. Newman, a stock-raiser of New Mexico; Steven T., a farmer of Bell county; Laura R., wife of H.C. Nelson a resident of Bell county; Annie L., wife of W. T. Newman, a farmer of this county; and Robert L., at home. The mother of our subject is a member of a large and influential family in this state, her ancestors having participated in the Texas Revolution, had many fights with the Indians, and underwent all the hardships of Pioneer life. Mr May is a Democrat in his political views.
From a biographical sketch in "The History of Bell County".