The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-24
BILLY" MAY DEAD
lContinued from Page 1.)

nists, he deserted the British flag and cast his lot with the. revolutionists and lived to tell the story of the red- coats striving to capture the price on his head. His son, Henry May, was the father of William Henry May. Henry May married Abigail Gray, in Newtown, who came of another Revo- Iutionary family.
 Billy May attended Selleck's school, which over half century ago was one of the best known private educational institutions in the county. While yet a school boy he secured a hand press and delighted in his frequent edit ons of a little paper he called the Morn ing Horizon This was the begin ming of a newspaper career that was destined to extend for more than half a century.
 In August. 1862, he recruited a com pany of which he was elected cap tain, Go. I. 23d Conn. Vols. A month later. just before he set out for the front he married Belle Mills, the daughter of Captain Lucious Nils, of the Bridgeport Steamboat Co., Short ly after the nuptials. he and his men set sail for New Orleans, enlisting for Eine months. Near the end of his enlistment he was captured and for IA months held prisoner at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas.
 In 1864 he returned to Bridgeport, walking into the town bare footed, in rags and tatters. but carrying over his shoulder a v.o-in that had been pur- chased at a. cost of $100 by his com pany as tribute to his worth. and concealed under his shoulder straps souvenir copies of a tiny paper he had published in the army, the only publi- cation of it's kind ever gotten out dur ing the civil war, known as "The Flag" Copies of this are now pre- served in the Bridgeport Historical Soctety's collection.
 While he was on the field Of action, his first child was born, and living only two months. died before her fa- Nellie, the first of eleven children. of whom the sole survivor is Mrs. Louis M. Rich. wife of the we'll known amusement promoter
 The other children were Marion, Willerette, Henrietta, Richard Stan ton. Lucius. Belle, William, Paul and Charles, the last associated with his about a year ago. Three grandcfil- dren are Harold May and Willial Shelton. the children of Mr. and Mrs. Rich. William Henry May, foreman of the mechanical department of the Bridgeport Telegram, is nephew.
 Returning from the civil war. MT. May resumed his newspaper endeavors. publishing at h.s home at Main and Henry streets, then known as Bone vile, the Bonneville Budget This was succeeded by the Budget, then the Sun" which was published in Fairfield avenue. at the present site of D. D. Smiths cigar store and the Star" which for many years has been Q, refreshing weekly publication, teeming with keen thrusts of humor- ous nature and local celebrities and carrying many quaint verses and epi- grams that attracted widespread at tention.
 In local newspaper office at the time of his death was copy Of a poem dedicated to Washington, pub lished in the war newspaper, t.Tne Flag" which was to be reproduced.
 MT. May was formerly a membt r of St. Johns lodge, F. & A. M, and was one of the most active and best known members of Elias Howe, Jr. Post, G. A. R. Delegations of Elias Howe post, and the Press Club Of Bridgeport will attend the obsequics at Bishops Mortuary Chapel, Satur- day afternoon. Rev. H. A. Dave1i- port will off1ciate. Interment will be in Mountain Grove cemetery.
 Among MT. Mays adyocations was music. He was not only a proficient musician, but an inventor of must cal instruments and devices. Amoi.g these was a patented violin bridge with peculiarly resonant and dura bic qualities, and piano sounding board built along scientific lines.