The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-03-02
Sketch OF Rev. HeZekiah May.


necticut, on December 25th 1878, and
died in Tionesta, Pa, July 4th, 1843. His
life was an eventful one, In youth he
witnessed the closing scenes of the Rev.
olutionary war. In early manhood we
find him a student at Yale College, from
which he graduated about the time he
became of age. He was particularly gift
ed as linguist, being proficient in Latin,
Greek, Hebrew and German. In after
life his ability as linguist was of great
value to him, after having studied theol-
ogy he was appointed a missionary to the
early settlers and the Penobscot Indians
of Maine, by the New England Society
for the propagation Of the gospel in the
district of Maine. Moving to Bangor and
preaching to the early settlers there, and
at Oldtown in Maine, an Indian settle
ment some twenty miles above Bangor,
on the Penobscot river. Before he
went to Maine he was married to Marga-
ret White, of Boston, Mass, a linera de.
scendant of an early Puritan family. 1t
was at Bangor that his oldest son was
born, Benjamin, on September 3, 1908,
who it will be remembered died at Tio-
nesta January 10, 1901. He was the last
survivor of the original family. His wife
was lady of excellent ability and fit
companion for the young minister She
was his companion all his life and sur
vived him many years, dying on July 4,
1868. Just a quarter of a century after
his death. This coincidence was noted by
many friends and relatives. He remain
ed at Bangor preaching to the whites
and Indians for several years with great
acceptance. While stationed in Maine he
wrote for his friend, Jedediah Morse, the
great American geographer, history Of
the Burnt Woods of Maine," which is
an article of great merit. an excellent
field for Mr.. Mays fine descriptive pow
ers. (See Morse's Universal Geography
article on Maine About 1916 wishing
to educate his family he removed to
Binghampton, N. Y, and at Oswego re-
mained for awhile, after this at Painted
Post preaching over large district Of
country, establishing churches away
down in Northern Pennsylvania, down
as far as Northumberland county and do
ing great good. In looking over his
journals | have been amazed at the
ground he went over. After leaving
Painted Post, N. Y, we find him at
Franklin, Pa, preaching there and at
Unity church in 1880 and 1881, where he
lived for 2 years preaching there and in
that vicinity two years. The churches
were small and weak in that day. About
this time having large family to sup
port and raise, he being still under the
auspices of the New England society
mentioned. his friend, the celebrated
Elias Boudnot, the founder Of the Ameri-
can Tract Society, understanding his
circumstances gave him tract of land
of about 600 acres at what is known as
Oldtown Flats, three miles above Tio-
nesta to which place Mr. May with his
family removed and settled upon. Here
he preached to the people all through
this section during his life. Tionesta
then being a village he moved to it and
established church. at the same time
his sons built saw mill at Oldtown and
farmed the flats The place Mr.. May
bought at Tionesta was on the north
side of tract of 200 acres, which had
been taken up by Lieutenant John
Range, soldier of George Washington's
army who took it by virtue of military
warrant Range divided the place into
tracts and gave it to his two sons, John
and James Range. Mr.. May purchased
the upper part. which is now covered
with what is the north part Of Tionesta
borough. After his removal to Tionesta
the German settlers began to arrive and
settle on the lands surrounding the place.
They were by Herman Blum, an old
soldier of the Napoleons campaigns, a
man of considerable ability and culture,
with him Mr.. May speedily formed an
and rapidly acquired the
language too for he was in this like his
relative David Brainerd, "The apostle to
the Indians" speedy in the acquisition of
languages and in short time Mr.. May
could talk German as volubly as a ma
tive to the manor born. Consequently
he not only acted as spiritual adviser
to the Germans coming into this coun-
try, but was their temporal adviser too
and during his life was their trusted
counsellor keeping them clear of litiga-
ton and shielding them from imposition.
In short he was regarded by them as an
oracle, his word being both law and
gospel. A man of marked and decided
character, his good example and teach
ings left their impress on the community
to this day He was pioneer of enter
prise and right, carrying the faith of his
fathers to new region, giving a good
example in industry and application, was
the man providentially sent to this Sec
tion for good. If it is true what the
poet says THAT kind words can never
die" then all is true and that is strength
ened in his case by more than words, for
he gave both the precept and the eX-
ample Many children were named for
him one young man Hezekiah May
Range always gave his name in full.
Hezekiah even initiated him so far as to
want to be preacher, commenced to
study but had peculiar ideas as to re-
ligious services. Having been given
life of David Brainerd, for a starter on
his theological course he returned it to
Mr.. May who asked him what he thought
of David Brainerd by this time. He
said, "Well Mr.. May he was big gun no
mistake, but tell you now don't you
think he was just little behindhand in
religion" He wrote little poetry some-
times. There was an early settler Poland
Hunter, who lived on the west side of
the river and who owned a large island
known to this day as Hunters island.
Straying animals from Tionesta village
often got over on this island, injuring
the crops, this of course aggravated Mr..
Hunter very much and some of them
were injured by him in the heat Of his
excitement on each occasion. Mr.. May
had horse and illy named Mike and
Lid that on one occasion got over on to
his island, Poland with a hue and cry
and shot gun drove them away from