Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-17
BRILLIANT MAN, ONCE GOVERN
MeNr AGENT IN AFRICA DIES
+. IN ccscuRlTY.
TAUGHT FIRST SCHOOL
At AMEs EARLY IN 1866
A Life Tragedy Is Revealed IN the
Demise Of Henry May, Friend OF
Henry Ward Beeeher, Appointed &c
Diplomatic Plot By President Lin
colr-AeaItn Blasted by Black Sick
ness.
<By L. K. Hardin.D

henry May occurred last evening AT
the county farm, east Of Ames.
The few words that comprise this
sentence may sound steraotyped TO the
casual reader, hut they cover the ira
gedy OF life. one of the most bril-
liant men that ever lived in Ames
passed away n obscurity as far as the
public is concerned. For many years
resident of Ames ne was native
OF New England, and brought with
MIN 10 this western country, the Ideals
and educational standards of the east
No better informed man on nationa!
or political ines ever lived here-an
svid reader with the intelligence ami
ability TO sift and jude men and meas
ures
Active in Politics,
Henry May was born in WOodstocA,
Conn, almost ninety years ago ana
was young man of promise, who at
tracted the attention OF the leaders IN
his community. Thru the editor of d
paper in Woodstock, Mr.. May vas IN
terested in politics and in the hrst
Lincoln administration was appointed
under recomme ndation of Henry b.
Claflin and Henry Ward Seecher' Do'h
men Of nationwide Importance, 10 a
post as United States commercial agent
at Gaboon, on the west coast OF Atil-
ca. While there many interesting eN-
periences fell TO Mr.. Mays lot. ohe
of these was With Mr. knight aseh'
of the British West African lraolhs
Company. who came to Gaooon IN the
interests Of MS company "hlie MI
Knight was there, the natives toIo min
;nat another white man vas
moons away, the white man proving ~
be Henry VI. Stanley, the noted Airicah
traveller and explorer. Gaooon was oI-s
twenty miles from the equator anu q
trip was made into the interior WIN
Mr. Knight. which resulted in many
interesting experiences.
Meets Noted Travellers.
Mr. Nav met Richard Francis Bur
ron also an African traveller ana eA-
plorer at Fernando Pc. Mr.. Burton
returning his visit later. Mr.. burton
was q man of encyclopedia mlno,
ing mater OF 80 languages and diaIetts'
During the time of Mr.. Burton Nlsi.'
he received request from the bfiHs,
Ceographical society to find ana sehu
to them a gorilla a breed OF HloHnS
m to that time almost unknown
ns,-.,,,s carnn not being able TO flnd
one. Mr. Burton sent our hdti'e
brought one in IN short time - va
,,.hra ACQUISITION 10 the pharmacopoeai
NJ the world was made py Nj. -ha!
Who upon the request OF the ChiUso
States government surgeons sem '--o
arst consignment of Calaoa Deans ~
m, United States. THESE Deans a.
NOW OF great tisc in meolcihe, one
,rsir uses being an alkeloid Wnlch Is
os great value in certain eye oIs'o
while AZ Gatoon. Mr.. May nurseu
during his final illness, SCION ot
British nobility. A nephe" Oh
Thomas Balm, ton McCduiey' VINO Nd"
9cne there in the nope OF resa.h4"e NE
nealth.
Black Sickness RACES
,>,r;ro Tho time he was in Oapooh'
c;ckness. called the black Sickness
RACED. killing natives like mes ol-
+bose surviving. VINO had plenty Vi
o,,;nine and brandy. To this epocn Mt,
Nav laid the beginning Of ms 4a''
,,eaLness which haunted him IKE d
hlack specter for many years, and was
his undoing as far as material success
&, ,he world was concerned. HIS IN
o,,,nbency of office in Africa dated De-
+,een the wears 1s61-ls64, after Which
- ra,rrred Ia New England. His first
,isance in Ames was in 1865. and ne
taught the first school in what was
little scattered village on the 80
-,a;riss which must have made MIN
bomesick for the life and culture ~
,.bicb no had Deen accustomed in Ne"
England. The site OF the sciiooi ""9 .
little brown building on what * ~"
The corner of Lincoln Way ana Russei'
avenue on the east bank o. Sa"a ="
Greek. the building being nioFeG 3'ei
near the interurban tracks n re" Eta'
ago when Reads addition was pa
Here he instructed the youth anu
childhood of Ames until 1879, Wnen ne
moved to Emerson IN Mills county
where he was successfully IN the Hrus
and hotel business. later gong 70 oHi-
aha. where he lived until 1889. when ne
came back TO Ames for a time, iater
living on little place IN l'irilViu t""r-
shin northeast OF Amcs and driving a
milk route for several years
First Rural Carrier.
During the first Mckinley admins
tration, the rural carrier system was
put on from the Ames postoffice, anu
Mr.. May was appointed the first rnrai
carrier by L. G. Hardin. who was then
postmaster Mr.. May performed MS
duties with faithfulness and courtesy.
His proverbial Ill luck here again ap-
peared as he was thrown from ms
wagon and sustained a broken MP
which incapacitated him for several
months, but ne again took up his du-
ties. retaining the work until 1909
when he had the misfortune to break
his shoulder, and from that time on
was unable to work.
His faithful wife of many years was
taken from him that year also, and
from that time he lived with different
families until 1915, when he was taken
VI TO the Nevada Sanitariun. where ne
remained until few months ago. he
was then taken to the new county
home, where his last days were spent
During all The experiences. adven-
TIRES and vicissitudes Of life, Mr.. Ma!
retained his friends. who valued hin
4. because OF the man within him, who
never minimized his own faults mol
NAMED fnte or fortune or other people
THE world was good to him and life
was sweet and friends were true and
Il, these friends trust was never be-
trnycd Men are born and turn to dust
but the memory which survives is more
than the mortal remains. Such mem
ory OF Henry May will endure fol
many years by those friends who hay'