Frank L. May
Allamakee county is fortunate in numbering among her public
officials so able, efficient and far-sighted a man as Frank L.
May, now serving as county attorney. His is in addition a
successful and able lawyer, practicing at the bar as a member of
the firm of May & Dempsey and connected through his
representative patronage with much important litigation. He was
born in Crawford county, Kansas, March 29, 1873, and is a son of
Roan C. May, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1838, and
was a representative of one of the pioneer families in Iowa, his
father, John May, having moved from Ohio to Allamakee county in
1852. He settled in Lansing township, on what is now known as
May’s Prairie, and there entered land, opening up and
developing a new farm. His son Roan was fourteen years of age
when the removal was made and he spent the remaining years of his
childhood and youth in helping in the work of clearing and
improving the property. He later engaged in farming for himself
in Lansing township but finally moved to Crawford county, Kansas,
where he purchased land. Upon this he resided for seven years but
at the end of that time moved back to Iowa and located in New
Albin, where he now resides in retirement. He married in
Allamakee county Miss Elizabeth Yeoman, a native of Illinois and
also an early settler in Iowa, having come to this state in 1853.
Frank L. May was reared in his parents’ home and acquired
his primary education in the public schools. After completing it
he became a teacher and engaged in that occupation for five years
before going to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took up the study
of law. After receiving his degree he went to South Dakota,
locating at Madison, where he opened an office and began the
practice of his profession, remaining there for one year. At the
end of that time he returned to Iowa and made his home at
Lansing, where he secured a large and representative patronage
and won recognition as a strong and able practitioner, whose
ability in the handling of intricate legal problems justified his
classification with the most successful lawyers in the state. Mr.
May remained in Lansing until 1910, when he was nominated and
elected county attorney of Allamakee county. After the expiration
of his first term of office he was reelected to the position
which he is now filling, discharging his duties in an energetic
and able way. He is connected also with the general practice of
law here, for 1911 he formed a partnership with J. W. Dempsey a
young man of excellent education and unusual legal ability, under
the firm name of May & Dempsey. The partners are connected
with much important litigation and the firm is known as strong
and reliable.
Mr. May married, near Lansing, on the 2d of April, 1896, Miss
Marie Goettle, who was born and reared in Allamakee county, a
daughter of Carl Goettle, of this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. May have
one daughter, Marie H. E. Mr. May is a Master Mason, holding
membership in Evergreen Lodge, No. 144, F. & A. M., at
Lansing. He has proven himself in professional and official life
an efficient and forceful worker, possessing a strength of
perseverance which enable him to overcome difficulty and conquer
obstacles. His analytical mind has proven valuable in his
practice as well as in his public service and, whatever line
claims his attention, his judgment is always sound and his
methods practical.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
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