May, Samuel T., 1866-1929

MAY, CONN, ROACH

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Rock Valley Bee, April 26, 1929:

FORMER SIOUX COUNTY SCHOOL MAN DEAD

Samuel T. May, who several years ago was superintendent of the public schools at Hawarden, died last Saturday at Rochester, Minn., following an operation. Mr. May also taught at Victor and at Clarion, Iowa. Since 1918 he has been president of the State Normal school at Dickinson, N.D. Mr. May was the father of Prof. Don May, who was recently elected superintendent of the Rock Valley school.

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From the Hawarden Independent, April 25, 1929:

S. T. MAY DIED AT ROCHESTER
Was Former Superintendent of Hawarden Schools
For a Number of Years Had Been President of North Dakota State Normal at Dickinson

S. T. May of Dickinson, N.D., former superintendent of the Hawarden public schools, died in a hospital at Rochester, Minn., last Friday [April 19], following an operation which was performed on the Thursday preceding. Mr. May had been in ill health for several months. Last winter he submitted to an operation at Dickinson but this did not provide the desired relief and when his condition failed to improve he went to Rochester for an examination and treatment where his death occurred. The remains were shipped back to Dickinson where interment took place.

Samuel T. May was born at Defiance, Ohio, and was 65 years of age. The greater part of his adult life was spent in educational work. He was a graduate of Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Ind., and held degrees from other educational institutions. Prior to coming to Hawarden in 1901 he had served for a number of years as superintendent of schools at Clarion, Iowa. For eight years he served as head of the Hawarden schools and his stewardship here was very successful. After being re-elected for his ninth year here, Mr. May resigned in the spring of 1909 in order to accept the superintendency of the schools at Madison, S.D., where his work proved to be so outstanding that a number of years later he was chosen as president of a North Dakota State Normal School at Dickinson, which position he has since filled with distinction. His last visit to Hawarden was in 1925 when he delivered the high school commencement address.

News of Mr. May’s death came as a distinct shock to his many old Hawarden friends, few of whom had been apprised of his illness. He numbered among his Hawarden friends hundreds of former pupils who knew him as a true friend and advisor and an earnest Christian gentleman. During his residence here, in addition to his school duties, he was active in the affairs of the Methodist church. He was possessed of a genial nature and the happy faculty of making and holding friends. Besides his widow he is survived by three sons, Max of Creighton, Neb., Don of Willow City, N.D., and Al of Montana. All three sons are engaged in the teaching profession.

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The Minnesota Death Certificates Index has May, Samuel T., died April 19, 1929 in Olmsted County. Certificate no. 1929-MN-010159.

FindaGrave.com has Samuel Thomas May, born 6 July 1866 at Oakwood, Paulding County, Ohio; died 19 April 1929 in Rochester, Minn.; buried in Dickinson Cemetery, Dickinson, N.D.; parents John May (1826-1906) and Elizabeth Ann Conn May (1838-1918); spouse Martha Myrtle Roach May (1867-1953); children Maxwell Roach May (1893-1970), Don Conn May (1895-1980), and Hallam Samuel May (1900-1979).

His death certificate adds death data: died in the Colonial Hospital [apparently affiliated with the Mayo Clinic], Rochester, Minnesota, where he had resided 1 month 12 days, at 5:00 p.m., April 19, 1929; cause, hypertrophy [abnormal enlargement] of prostate, duration 3 years; contributory cause, excision with bronchopneumonia.