Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

John J. and Laura (Prater) May, Henry Clay May , Copper Kettle



In 1870 Magoffin County, Kentucky. Samuel May is 54, Cloley 46, Fanny 22, Sarah E. 17, William 15, Harry A. 13, Louisa 11, Henry C. 9, JOHN J. 7, James H. 5, and Samuel D. 2.

In 1880, Samuel is 64, Ceiley 56, William 25, Mary 23, Louisia 21, HENRY C. 19 JOHNY J. 17, James H. 16, Samuel D. 12, and grandchildren Sarah Holeby 28, Mary Holeby 26, and William Holeby 24.

Samuel Lewis May 1815-1885 is buried in Magoffin County # 51969377.
So is Celia (Powers) May 1824-1880 # 141206858.

HENRY

August 1941 "Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bowen and family returned home late Wednesday from Salyersville, Kentucky. They were accomipanied by Mrs. Bowen's uncle, Henry C. May who will visit in the May and Jas. Nauschwanger homes. He is Mrs. Neuschwanger's father"

February 1945 "Mr. and Mrs. W. R. May of Charlevoix, Michigan, the former a brother of Mrs. Jim Neuschwanger, arrived here Thursday bringing with them Mr. Henry May, the father, who will make his home with the Neuschwangers indefinitely.
On Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Neuschwanger entertained at dinner greeting the arrivals, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Peterson of Burlington, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Peterson of Bennett (the ladies are sisters of Mr. Jim Neuschwanger and Mrs. W. R. May), Mr. and Mrs. Dave Neuschwanger and family, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Neuschwanger and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Bowen and family, Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Godsey and Mrs. Sammy Bowen, besides the honored guests."

July 3, 1947 "Henry C. May observed his 87th birthday June 23 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. E. Neuschwanger. Guests for the day were Mr. May's brother J. J. May and Mrs. May of Wray; Mrs. Nina Beverlin and granddaughter Charlene Beverlin; Mrs. H. L. May and sons Norman and Darrell of Denver and Mr. and Mrs. B. F. May and sons Robert and Billy."

Henry Clay May 1860-1948 is buried in Magoffin County # 123782756.

JOHN

In 1900 Hayes County, Nebraska, John May is farming, born January 1863 in Kentucky, Laura April 1872 in Missouri. Byron F. June 1894, Nina E. Oct 1895, Ross P. March 1897,a nd Rhoda V. Oct 1899, were all four born in Nebraska.

In 1910 Whitman County, Washington, John is farming, 47, with Anna L. 39, Byron F. 16, Nina E. 14, Ross P. 12, Rhoda F. 10, all four born in Nebraska, Lela 3 and Henry L. 1 in Washington.


February 1918 "Mr. and Mrs. J. J. May of the Black Wolf, were surprised host and hostess to a large company of friends last Sundaywho assembled to remind them that it was their 25th wedding anniversary. The guests brought well-filled baskets of good things to eat and spent nearly the entire day with their honored friends. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Jess Beverlin and family, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Beverlin, Glenn Allan and family, Ed Nevila and family, Ed Harger and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Shire and son, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Eckberg and family, Robert Smith, Miss Stella May, and Eddie Heindel."

In 1920 Lansing precinct, John J. is farming, 56, born in Kentucky, Anna 48 in Missouri. Lela 13 was born in Michigan, Henry 11 and Clarence J. 9 in Washington, and Helen 5 in Colorado.

February 1931 "Mrs. J. J. May departed Wednesday morning for Sand Point, Idaho, where she will attend the funeral of her mother, Mrs. Roda Prater, who passed away, February 9th. The funeral service will be held Sunday and Mrs. Prater will be buried beside the body of her husband. Mrs. Prater was 83 years old. She had made her home with Mr. and Mrs. May until last summer. "

August 1933 "J. J. May, former well known Yuma rounty man who has been living in Denver of late, has moved with his wife to Jasper, Oregon. Mr. May wrote the following interesting letter of his trip.
Dear Editor: As we have left that part of the country I wish you would sent our copy of The Rattler to Jasper, Oregon, instead of Denver. We left Denver July 20 and arrived here July 28, in time to eat breakfast with my niece, Mrs. James Vaughn. We, that is Mrs. May, Helen and myself, came by Larimie, Wyo., and then west to Ogden, Utah, and Twin Falls, Idaho. At the latter place they have the best crops we saw on the trip. We went through Boise, Idaho, and Eugene, Ore., to Jasper, Ore.
Jasper is 12 miles southeast of Eugene. The roads were fine most of the way except about 25 miles in north Utah, where loose gravel made it hard pulling as we had a trailer which carried our tent. We camped on the way and slept under the stars. The country was most beautiful through the dense forest across the Blue mountains, and also the coast range where we came through the McKenzie Pass, where we could reach the snow from the car window. We then drove down along the McKenzie river, a most beautiful drive. We traveled 1398 miles on 92 gallons of gasoline, but it was so hot in those high altitudes that it would melt the patches off of the tubes and then it would almost melt us to change tires. But we got through alright with good appetites and are feeling fine.
If this does not find the waste basket I may write again when we get settled and fixed for the winter, but the winter does not amount to much here.
Yours truly, J. J. May."

November 1936 "J. J. May came down from Edgewater, Colo., Tuesday to spend a few days with his daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs: John Ekberg.
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. May, Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Ekberg and Mrs. Gracie Chase made a trip to St. Francis, Kan., Wednesday."

February 11, 1943 "Mr. and Mrs. J. J. May, former highly respected residents of the Beecher Island community, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at their home at 1159 Garrison street, Lakewood, on Tuesday. The couple were married in Missouri and/came to Yuma county in 1913. They moved to their present home near Denver in 1935. Three of their seven children were present for the celebration. They were H. L. May of 1355 Niagara street, Denver, Mrs. Nina Beverlin, who makes her home with her parents, and Mrs. Velma Ekberg."

John Jordan May 1874-1954 is buried in Armel # 76900434, with Anna Laura Prater May 1871-1949 # 76900384.
"Mrs. J. J. May, a resident of the Beecher Island and Wray communities since 1913, died at her residence in Wra Monday after a short illness, at the age of 78 years, 4 months and 24 days. Anna Laura Prater, daughter of Isaac Henry and Rhoda Priscilla Prater, was born Apr. 11, 1871, at Milan in northwest Missouri, one of a family of 12 children of whom a brother, James Prater of Spokane, Wash., and a sister, Mrs. Lois King, of Pineville. Mo., survive her.
When the lady was six years old, she moved with her parents in a covered wagon to southwest Missouri where she grew to womanhood. On February 9, 1893, she was united in marriage with John J. May in the Greenwood schoolhouse, McDonald County, Missouri. The couple established their first home on a homestead in Hayes County, Neb., and after nine years of frontier life there, moved to Pullman, Wash., where they lived for eleven years.
Eight children were born to them. In 1913 the family came to Colorado and lived on a farm near Beecher Island in Yuma County where the children were reared, and which has always been regarded as the family home.
One daughter, Lelia Busby, preceded her mother in death on May 1, 1935. Those who survive are the devoted husband; four sons and three daughters, Byron Fay of Eckley, Ross Prater and Clarence Jay of Pullman, Wash., Henry Lewis of Denver, Nina Elizabeth Beverlin of Lakewood, Rhoda Velma Ekberg of Beecher Island and Helen Opal Neet of Blue River, Ore. There are also 18 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren besides many less near relatives.
When Mrs. May was a girl of 12 years, she joined the Methodist church and lived a faithful Christian life always. She possessed fine character, was quiet, home loving and was held in the highest regard by her family, friends and neighbors. In her final illness she sought comfort in scriptures and sacred music and the Twenty-third Psalm was her favorite passage.
Her grandsons were her pallbearers when funeral services were held for Mrs. May Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Armel Methodist church with Rev. T. J. Tramel as minister. Burial was in the Armel cemetery. Among those from out of town who came to attend the rites were Mr. and Mrs. James Neuschwanger of Boulder and Mr. and Mrs. Merritt Holderby of Hamlet, Nebraska."

"John J. May was born on January 12, 1863, at Salyersville, Kentucky, to Samuel and Celia (Powers) May. He departed this life January 16, 1954, at the age of 91 years and 4 days. He was born into a family of eight children, two of whom are still living: Samuel D. of Salyersville, Ky., and Mary A. Prater of Joplin, Missouri. He spent his early life with his parents in Kentucky where he received his education and taught school for four terms.
On February 9, 1893, he was united in marriage to Anna Laura Prater in McDonald County, Mo. Eight children were born to this union. In 1893 they came to Nebraska where they homesteaded in Hayes County. After nine years of frontier life there, they moved to Pullman, Washington, where they resided for eleven years. In 1913 the family came to Colorado and lived in a farm near Beecher Island where the children were reared and which has always been regarded as the family home. In 1933 they rented their farm and spent two years in Oregon and eight years in Denver. In 1943 they returned to Wray where they made their home until the death of his wife in September of 1949. After this he made his home for three years with his daughter, Velma, at Beecher Island. He was cared for the last year at the Parson's Convalescent Home.
His wife; one daughter, Lelia Busby, and one son, Louis, preceded him in death. Those who survive him are Fay of Eckley, Ross and Clarence of Pullman, Wash., Mrs. Earnest Neet of Blue River, Ore., Mrs. Nina Beverlin of Denver, Mrs. John Ekberg of Beecher Island. There are also eighteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
He had been a long time member of the Methodist church and had always lived a faithful Christian life. He was a very kind, loving father and husband. Memory of him will linger in the minds of loved ones and friends always. The funeral service was held Tuesday at 1:30 p. m. at the Armel Methodist church with Rev. Shallenberger officiating. Burial followed in the Armel cemetery."


RHODA

Rhoda Velma May and John H. Ekberg married in Yuma County on Feb 12, 1919.

They're farming in 1920 Yuma County, and in 1930 have Harry E. 9 adn Rhoda P. 4.

Rhoda is buried in Armel 1899-1971 # 81852585, with John Henry Ekberg 1897-1985.

1993


HENRY

H. L. May and Imogene Wisdom married in Denver on February 8, 1936.

Louis H. May is an office manager in 1940 Denver, 32, with Imogene L. 92, and Norman W. 2.

Henry, born October 3, 1908, died in July 1950.

LELIA

May 1935 "Mrs. Willard Busby passed away Wednesday morning in a Saint Francis hospital. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p. m. at Armel. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. May and Louis, parents and brother of the deceased lady arrived Wednesday at Saint Francis from their home at Jasper, Oregon. Mrs. Nina Bevelin was a sister of Mrs. Busby."

"Lelia May Busby was born at Pullman, Wash., Sept. 15, 1906, and departed this life at Saint Francis, Kan., May 1, 1935.
Funeral services were held at Armel Friday, May 3, and the remains were laid to rest in the Armel cemetery. At the age of seven the deceased moved with her parents to Yuma county, Colo. After completing grammar school she attended Armel high school and graduated from Wray high school with the class of 1925. She taught school one year in the Yuma county grade school.
January 2, 1926 she was united in marriage to Willard E. Busby and to this happy union four children were born, Lelia Jean, Willard Bryce, Charles Richard, and Donald Lee. Mrs. Busby had been a member of the Methodist church from infancy. She was always a faithful and devoted member. It was through church activities that she gained such a wide circle of friends in Armel community, and when she moved to Saint Francis five years ago she continued to take her place in the church and aided with the work. She was also interested in the farm bureau. Her home and her family were her chief interest. She was a good wife and loving mother.
Those who mourn her untimely departure are her husband and four children; her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. May of Wray, Colo.; her sister, Mrs. Velma Ekberg of Beecher Island; Mrs. Helen Neet of Jasper, Ore.; Mrs Nina Beverlin of Wray; four brothers, B. Fay May of Wildomar, Calif., Ross May, Moscow, Idaho, Clarence May, Potlatch, Idaho, and Louis May, Denver. There are also many less near relatives and. a host of friends who sorrow with the relatives in this great loss."

March 1939 "The funeral of Mrs. Steve Beverlin has been indefinitely postponed. Mrs. Beverlin died Feb. 22 and the funeral was to have been held Feb. 25, at the Olinger mortuary in Denver. Because of the illness of Mr. Beverlin husband of the deceased lady, the funeral was postponed. It has developed that Mr. Beverlin has smallpox and he is quarantined at the J. J. May home in Denver. It appears now that the funeral of Mrs. Beverlin may not be held for a month or more. Notice of the time of the funeral will be given as soon as possible."

NINA

Nina Elizabeth May Beverlin 1896-1966 is buried in Armel # 76928559, with Charles F. Beverlin 1890-1940.

"Charles Franklin Beverlin died about three o'clock Wednesday morning, December 18, 1940, following a brief illness. Mr. Beverlin became ill Tuesday morning out at the Shier place. A physician waited upon him and when his condition continued to be serious he was brought to the Wray hospital, where he passed away as above stated.
Charles Franklin Beverlin was born June 24, 1889, at Skidmore, Mo. He had been a resident of Wray and community for many years. Mr. Beverlin is survived by three children: Jack, Myrtle Lucille, and Jerry Lee. He is also survived by four brothers and seven sisters. The brothers are Wes Beverlin of Nunn, Colo., George of Stockton, Calif., Ernest of San Pedro, Calif., and Jess of Wray. The sisters are Inez Neil and Lucy Murphy of Pueblo, Lila Flick, Enid, Okla., Mabel Curran, McCook, Neb., Hazel Weddle of Wilmington, Calif., Geraldine Doling of Pine, Colo., and Abbie Bodle of Wray. Funeral arrangements have been delayed pending word from some of the relatives. A more complete obituary will appear in a later issue. Sincere sympathy is extended the bereaved relatives."

Nina was in Wray in 1932, advertising for washing and ironing .

1946 "Miss Lucille Beverlin, former Wray girl, was united in marriage to Leonard Dumas of Malone, N. Y., May 4, in the Immaculate Conception cathedral in Denver. The bride who was given in marriage by her brother Mr. Jack Beverlin, wore a powder blue suit with navy accessories. She wore an orchid corsage. Her maid of honor, Miss Bettie Bisant of Lakewood, wore a beige suit with black accessories and a corsage of pink carnations and lavender sweet peas. Mr. Larry Raville, cousin of the groom, from Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., was best man. Following the wedding a wedding breakfast was served at the Park Lane hotel, which was attended by 21 invited guests. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Nina E. Beverlin, formerly of Wray, and graduated from Lakewood, Colo. High school with the class of ’44. She has been employed under Civil Service at Lowry Field for the past several months. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Dumas of Malone, N. Y. He served with the AAF in Europe and was a prisoner of war in Germany for 7 months. The newlyweds plan to make their home in Denver."

1955 " Rev. and Mrs. Jack Beverlin, who have made their home in Alaska for the past several years, arrived here Friday and are visiting their brothers, the Gary Beverlins, and other relatives and friends here.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Beverlin and Rev. and Mrs. Jack Beverlin were Sunday dinner guests of the John Ekbergs. "

ROSS

Ross P. May proved up 320 acres in section 28, 32 and 33, 2S 43W in 1922.

Ross May and Gladys Chase married in Yuma County on May 2, 1920.

Ross P. May and his wife Gladys E. May were sued in 1928 for for repayment of a Federal Land Bank loan.

March 1929 " Ross May and family have moved to Fort Morgan Colo."

September 1940 " Mr. and Mrs. Ross May and family, of Moscow, Idaho, are visiting a few weeks with Mrs. Ross May’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Chase and other relatives. "

November 1952 "Mr. and Mrs. Clarence May, Mr. and Mrs. Ross May of Washington, Mrs. Lois Loundagin and girls of Moscow, Idaho, and Helen Neet arrived Tuesday night at the John Ekberg home to visit Grandpa May and other relatives in this vicinity. "

September 1962 " Mr. and Mrs. Ross May of Clarkston, Wash., and Mrs. Nina Beverlin of Denver arrived Friday to visit their sister, Mrs. John Ekberg, and other friends and relatives. "

Ross Prater May 1897-1979 is buried in Asotin County, Washington # 28627137, with Orilla Irene (Walker) May 1896-1981.



"Howard Manley Chase, widely known Armel man, succumbed last Sunday to an illness from which he had suffered for several years. Mr. Chase was a splendid type of citizen and neighbor and his passing will be keenly felt by his family, his friends and neighbors. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Armel Methodist church with Rev. S. R. Graves in charge and interment was in the Armel cemetery.
Howard Manley Chase was born at Armel, Colo., September 8, 1894 and departed from this life March 24, 1935, having lived 40 years, 6 months and 16 days.
In 1916 he homesteaded the farm which was built into the home where he resided at the time of his death. On the 28th day of March, 1924, he was united in marriage to Grace Luella Ekberg and to this union three children were born - Bessie Rosa, Carolyn Luella and Howard Manley. April 20, 1930, he, with all his children were baptised and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church of Armel to which he was faithful until the end.
He was also a member of the Johnny Hines Post of the American Legion at Wray, Colo. His entire life was spent in Yuma County with the exception of six months spent in the Army during the first year of the World War and eight months which he, with his family, lived in Arizona and New Mexico in 1933. This trip was made hoping he might regain his health that had been steadily failing him since 1926. All through the nine years of his suffering he bore his cross with silence, patience and courage. Ever striving to be helpful to others, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and a good neighbor.
One brother, Claude, preceded him in death in 1927. Besides his wife and children he leaves to mourn his departure his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. M Chase, of Armel; two sisters, Edna Riddle of Alexandria, Nebraska, Gladys May of Moscow, Idaho; one brother, Asa of Armel and many other close relatives and a host of friends and neighbors."

BYRON

Byron married Edith Shaffer in San Diego, Calif., on February 14, 1918.
Edith May, FindaGrave # 53151138, and Byron Fay May 1894-1975 are buried in Eckley # 53005942.

HELEN

Ernest Grant Neet 1910-1991 is buried in Lane County, Oregon.

Helen Opal (May) Neet, died 10 September 2007 in Harrisburg, Linn, Oregon,
" A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Valley Christian Center in Harrisburg for Helen O. Neet of Harrisburg, formerly of Springfield, who died Sept. 10 of age-related causes. She was 92.
She was born Oct. 13, 1914, in Colorado to John and Laurie Prater May. She married Ernest Neet on Jan. 9, 1935, in Wray, Colo. He died Nov. 19, 1991.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a son, Ronald of Noti; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grand-children. A daughter, Ernestine "Tina" Simpson, died March 19, 1997.
Inurnment will be at Springfield Memorial Gardens. "

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