Erastus May
Biography

Contributed by Rene' Treffeisen



Erastus May, a retired farmer and blacksmith, was born May 23 1820, in the town of Exeter.  
He is a son of Walter May, whose biography is given somewhat at length in this volume.
Erastus May remained at thome until he was twenty-four years of age. He attended the
district school until he was seventeen, and then began to learn the trade of blacksmith.
He has followed that trade and farming most of his life, blacksmithing twenty-two years.
October 10 1844, he married Ann M. Allen, who was born in the town of Richfield, February
22 1823. She is the daughter of Hiram and Lucy (Martin) Allen, the former of whom was a
farmer and spent his last days in the town of Exeter, dying at the age of forty-four; his
wife died when eighty-two years of age. Hiram and Lucy Allen reared six children, four
of whom are now living, viz: Asenath, who is the wife of Cyrus Gilmore, and living in the
town of Exeter; Harriet, the wife of John May, living in Cortland; Elijah, also living in
Cortland; and Ann M., wife of our subject. The parents of Mrs. May were members of the
Methodis Episcopal Church; in politics Mr. Allen was a Republican. After his marriage Erastus May resided first on his farm of seventy-five acres in the
town of Exeter. He carried on general farming for a number of years, but in 1862 sold
his farm and removed to where he now lives. He then followed blacksmithing until 1886,
since which time he has lived a retired life. He and his wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Reputlican; he has served as Assessor
six years. Mr. and Mrs. May have no children.
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