William M. May was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, on June 13, 1830. His parents moved to western Pennsylvania in May 1835, and settled at the Allegheny River near Pittsburg. At the age of 10, he became an orphan. He lived with an uncle until May 11, 1846, when he moved to Pittsburg and contracted with a man to teach him the carpentry trade, agreeing to stay until he was 20.
After completing his agreement he worked as a foreman for a year. He then worked in Philadelphia and New York City before returning to Philadelphia. On Sept. 13, 1855, he moved to Stillwater. He married Elizabeth J. McKusick, eldest daughter of Captain J. E. McKusick, of Stillwater. They raised six children.
He was thirty years old, when he enlisted in Company B, along with his younger brother, John, and other men from Stillwater, at the war's onset. In July, soon after the battle of Bull Run, he was promoted to orderly sergeant. On Sept 21, 1862, he was discharged to accept a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the company.
On May 13, 1863, William returned to Stillwater on a furlough. George Arnold, a private in Company B, recorded this in his diary and stated that he gave Lt. May $20 to give to George's mother. William was back in the ranks by the beginning of July. He was wounded in the leg at Gettysburg, during the charge on July 2nd.
He was promoted to 1st lieutenant, on Oct 4, 1863, to fill the vacancy created, when Louis Muller was killed at Gettysburg. In February, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington DC, preparatory to being sent home to be mustered out of the service on account of the expiration of their term of service. While at Washington DC, he was transferred from Co B to the command of Co. G and commanded that company until discharged with the regiment on May 5, 1864.
In May 1864, he received an appointment as Master Builder from the government. He traveled with an expedition to build Fort Wadsworth in the James River valley. At the time it was considered to be 250 miles outside the bounds of civilization. He returned to Stillwater and his trade of carpentry. In 1869, he received a contract to build the Washington County buildings; courthouse, jail and jailors residence. He finished these in 1871. In 1880, he was employed by the Standard Oil Co, as superintendent to build up their farms at Rolett and Euclid stations in the Red River Valley.
Later he returned to Stillwater. He was a member of the "Last Man's Club". This was group formed by the aging members of Company B. They met annually and talked of old times. An unopened bottle of wine was always with them. It was to be opened by the last survivor of the group, who was to toast all his departed comrades. Charles Lockwood lived to be the "Last Man". William died in Stillwater on July 18, 1914. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in town.
William May's canteen is on display at the Historical Society Building in Cottage Grove, Mn.
After completing his agreement he worked as a foreman for a year. He then worked in Philadelphia and New York City before returning to Philadelphia. On Sept. 13, 1855, he moved to Stillwater. He married Elizabeth J. McKusick, eldest daughter of Captain J. E. McKusick, of Stillwater. They raised six children.
He was thirty years old, when he enlisted in Company B, along with his younger brother, John, and other men from Stillwater, at the war's onset. In July, soon after the battle of Bull Run, he was promoted to orderly sergeant. On Sept 21, 1862, he was discharged to accept a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the company.
On May 13, 1863, William returned to Stillwater on a furlough. George Arnold, a private in Company B, recorded this in his diary and stated that he gave Lt. May $20 to give to George's mother. William was back in the ranks by the beginning of July. He was wounded in the leg at Gettysburg, during the charge on July 2nd.
He was promoted to 1st lieutenant, on Oct 4, 1863, to fill the vacancy created, when Louis Muller was killed at Gettysburg. In February, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington DC, preparatory to being sent home to be mustered out of the service on account of the expiration of their term of service. While at Washington DC, he was transferred from Co B to the command of Co. G and commanded that company until discharged with the regiment on May 5, 1864.
In May 1864, he received an appointment as Master Builder from the government. He traveled with an expedition to build Fort Wadsworth in the James River valley. At the time it was considered to be 250 miles outside the bounds of civilization. He returned to Stillwater and his trade of carpentry. In 1869, he received a contract to build the Washington County buildings; courthouse, jail and jailors residence. He finished these in 1871. In 1880, he was employed by the Standard Oil Co, as superintendent to build up their farms at Rolett and Euclid stations in the Red River Valley.
Later he returned to Stillwater. He was a member of the "Last Man's Club". This was group formed by the aging members of Company B. They met annually and talked of old times. An unopened bottle of wine was always with them. It was to be opened by the last survivor of the group, who was to toast all his departed comrades. Charles Lockwood lived to be the "Last Man". William died in Stillwater on July 18, 1914. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in town.
William May's canteen is on display at the Historical Society Building in Cottage Grove, Mn.
William M. May was born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, on June 13, 1830. His parents moved to western Pennsylvania in May 1835, and settled at the Allegheny River near Pittsburg. At the age of 10, he became an orphan. He lived with an uncle until May 11, 1846, when he moved to Pittsburg and contracted with a man to teach him the carpentry trade, agreeing to stay until he was 20.
After completing his agreement he worked as a foreman for a year. He then worked in Philadelphia and New York City before returning to Philadelphia. On Sept. 13, 1855, he moved to Stillwater. He married Elizabeth J. McKusick, eldest daughter of Captain J. E. McKusick, of Stillwater. They raised six children.
He was thirty years old, when he enlisted in Company B, along with his younger brother, John, and other men from Stillwater, at the war's onset. In July, soon after the battle of Bull Run, he was promoted to orderly sergeant. On Sept 21, 1862, he was discharged to accept a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the company.
On May 13, 1863, William returned to Stillwater on a furlough. George Arnold, a private in Company B, recorded this in his diary and stated that he gave Lt. May $20 to give to George's mother. William was back in the ranks by the beginning of July. He was wounded in the leg at Gettysburg, during the charge on July 2nd.
He was promoted to 1st lieutenant, on Oct 4, 1863, to fill the vacancy created, when Louis Muller was killed at Gettysburg. In February, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington DC, preparatory to being sent home to be mustered out of the service on account of the expiration of their term of service. While at Washington DC, he was transferred from Co B to the command of Co. G and commanded that company until discharged with the regiment on May 5, 1864.
In May 1864, he received an appointment as Master Builder from the government. He traveled with an expedition to build Fort Wadsworth in the James River valley. At the time it was considered to be 250 miles outside the bounds of civilization. He returned to Stillwater and his trade of carpentry. In 1869, he received a contract to build the Washington County buildings; courthouse, jail and jailors residence. He finished these in 1871. In 1880, he was employed by the Standard Oil Co, as superintendent to build up their farms at Rolett and Euclid stations in the Red River Valley.
Later he returned to Stillwater. He was a member of the "Last Man's Club". This was group formed by the aging members of Company B. They met annually and talked of old times. An unopened bottle of wine was always with them. It was to be opened by the last survivor of the group, who was to toast all his departed comrades. Charles Lockwood lived to be the "Last Man". William died in Stillwater on July 18, 1914. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in town.
William May's canteen is on display at the Historical Society Building in Cottage Grove, Mn.
After completing his agreement he worked as a foreman for a year. He then worked in Philadelphia and New York City before returning to Philadelphia. On Sept. 13, 1855, he moved to Stillwater. He married Elizabeth J. McKusick, eldest daughter of Captain J. E. McKusick, of Stillwater. They raised six children.
He was thirty years old, when he enlisted in Company B, along with his younger brother, John, and other men from Stillwater, at the war's onset. In July, soon after the battle of Bull Run, he was promoted to orderly sergeant. On Sept 21, 1862, he was discharged to accept a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the company.
On May 13, 1863, William returned to Stillwater on a furlough. George Arnold, a private in Company B, recorded this in his diary and stated that he gave Lt. May $20 to give to George's mother. William was back in the ranks by the beginning of July. He was wounded in the leg at Gettysburg, during the charge on July 2nd.
He was promoted to 1st lieutenant, on Oct 4, 1863, to fill the vacancy created, when Louis Muller was killed at Gettysburg. In February, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington DC, preparatory to being sent home to be mustered out of the service on account of the expiration of their term of service. While at Washington DC, he was transferred from Co B to the command of Co. G and commanded that company until discharged with the regiment on May 5, 1864.
In May 1864, he received an appointment as Master Builder from the government. He traveled with an expedition to build Fort Wadsworth in the James River valley. At the time it was considered to be 250 miles outside the bounds of civilization. He returned to Stillwater and his trade of carpentry. In 1869, he received a contract to build the Washington County buildings; courthouse, jail and jailors residence. He finished these in 1871. In 1880, he was employed by the Standard Oil Co, as superintendent to build up their farms at Rolett and Euclid stations in the Red River Valley.
Later he returned to Stillwater. He was a member of the "Last Man's Club". This was group formed by the aging members of Company B. They met annually and talked of old times. An unopened bottle of wine was always with them. It was to be opened by the last survivor of the group, who was to toast all his departed comrades. Charles Lockwood lived to be the "Last Man". William died in Stillwater on July 18, 1914. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in town.
William May's canteen is on display at the Historical Society Building in Cottage Grove, Mn.
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