Robert Henry May was of Irish ancestry, born in Augusta, Georgia on November 22, 1822; the son of James May. His family, shortly after his birth, moved to neighboring Lincoln and Columbia counties and farmed. But in his teens, Robert May moved back to Augusta and worked as a wheelwright apprentice, eventually becoming a partner in the business. Around 1852, he started his own carriage manufacturing business, R. H. May & Co.; which became the largest in the south with his carriages, wagons and buggies used in states throughout the union.
On February 27, 1845, Robert May married the former Miss Josephine A. Calhoun, daughter of Rev. David Wardlaw Calhoun and Adeline Augusta (née Dickinson) Calhoun of Augusta, Georgia. The wedding was at the home of the bride and officiated by Rev. Josiah Lewis, pastor of St. Johns Methodist church; which Rev. Calhoun was connected. This union produced three known children: Elizabeth Adeline (1847-1848), James Thomas (1848-1924) and Josephine (1851-1852).
As Robert May's business and family grew, he became active in community affairs. He was a member of the Augusta City Council for several terms before being elected to the mayor's office in 1861. The year 1861 was a year of much unrest in Augusta and throughout the south. It was the beginning of the Civil War and filled with uncertainties of the future. But Mayor Robert May was the calming guidance that was needed to see Augusta through the war. He served five 1-year terms during the period of 1861-66 and was well respected by government officials throughout the state and citizens of Augusta, a like.
Again in 1879, the citizens of Augusta called upon Robert May, known by all as "Uncle Robin" to run the city of Augusta and elected him to four 3-year terms as Mayor through 1891. During these years, Mayor May oversaw the expansion of the city and saw it become a leading winter resort that attracted giants of industry and sitting U.S. presidents.
On December 8th 1885, Robert May married Mrs. Alice Y. Crumpton, the widow of John B. Crumpton. Robert May's first wife had died in April 1884 after a long illness with tuberculous meningitis; leaving him a widower with one known child.
Few men in Augusta were more dearly loved or more highly esteemed than Robert H. May. Even in his later years, he was elected to three 2-year terms as Coroner of Richmond County starting in 1898 until his death on the 7th day of February 1903.
Robert H. May was a man of great intellect, having superb integrity and noble spirit; his years of service where marked as honest and productive. He gave his all to the city and community he loved and served. The park across from the cemetery he now rest, bears his name.
________
For further information about Robert H. May, checkout Google Books for a list & excerpts about his years as Mayor of the City of Augusta, Georgia.
On February 27, 1845, Robert May married the former Miss Josephine A. Calhoun, daughter of Rev. David Wardlaw Calhoun and Adeline Augusta (née Dickinson) Calhoun of Augusta, Georgia. The wedding was at the home of the bride and officiated by Rev. Josiah Lewis, pastor of St. Johns Methodist church; which Rev. Calhoun was connected. This union produced three known children: Elizabeth Adeline (1847-1848), James Thomas (1848-1924) and Josephine (1851-1852).
As Robert May's business and family grew, he became active in community affairs. He was a member of the Augusta City Council for several terms before being elected to the mayor's office in 1861. The year 1861 was a year of much unrest in Augusta and throughout the south. It was the beginning of the Civil War and filled with uncertainties of the future. But Mayor Robert May was the calming guidance that was needed to see Augusta through the war. He served five 1-year terms during the period of 1861-66 and was well respected by government officials throughout the state and citizens of Augusta, a like.
Again in 1879, the citizens of Augusta called upon Robert May, known by all as "Uncle Robin" to run the city of Augusta and elected him to four 3-year terms as Mayor through 1891. During these years, Mayor May oversaw the expansion of the city and saw it become a leading winter resort that attracted giants of industry and sitting U.S. presidents.
On December 8th 1885, Robert May married Mrs. Alice Y. Crumpton, the widow of John B. Crumpton. Robert May's first wife had died in April 1884 after a long illness with tuberculous meningitis; leaving him a widower with one known child.
Few men in Augusta were more dearly loved or more highly esteemed than Robert H. May. Even in his later years, he was elected to three 2-year terms as Coroner of Richmond County starting in 1898 until his death on the 7th day of February 1903.
Robert H. May was a man of great intellect, having superb integrity and noble spirit; his years of service where marked as honest and productive. He gave his all to the city and community he loved and served. The park across from the cemetery he now rest, bears his name.
________
For further information about Robert H. May, checkout Google Books for a list & excerpts about his years as Mayor of the City of Augusta, Georgia.
Robert Henry May was of Irish ancestry, born in Augusta, Georgia on November 22, 1822; the son of James May. His family, shortly after his birth, moved to neighboring Lincoln and Columbia counties and farmed. But in his teens, Robert May moved back to Augusta and worked as a wheelwright apprentice, eventually becoming a partner in the business. Around 1852, he started his own carriage manufacturing business, R. H. May & Co.; which became the largest in the south with his carriages, wagons and buggies used in states throughout the union.
On February 27, 1845, Robert May married the former Miss Josephine A. Calhoun, daughter of Rev. David Wardlaw Calhoun and Adeline Augusta (née Dickinson) Calhoun of Augusta, Georgia. The wedding was at the home of the bride and officiated by Rev. Josiah Lewis, pastor of St. Johns Methodist church; which Rev. Calhoun was connected. This union produced three known children: Elizabeth Adeline (1847-1848), James Thomas (1848-1924) and Josephine (1851-1852).
As Robert May's business and family grew, he became active in community affairs. He was a member of the Augusta City Council for several terms before being elected to the mayor's office in 1861. The year 1861 was a year of much unrest in Augusta and throughout the south. It was the beginning of the Civil War and filled with uncertainties of the future. But Mayor Robert May was the calming guidance that was needed to see Augusta through the war. He served five 1-year terms during the period of 1861-66 and was well respected by government officials throughout the state and citizens of Augusta, a like.
Again in 1879, the citizens of Augusta called upon Robert May, known by all as "Uncle Robin" to run the city of Augusta and elected him to four 3-year terms as Mayor through 1891. During these years, Mayor May oversaw the expansion of the city and saw it become a leading winter resort that attracted giants of industry and sitting U.S. presidents.
On December 8th 1885, Robert May married Mrs. Alice Y. Crumpton, the widow of John B. Crumpton. Robert May's first wife had died in April 1884 after a long illness with tuberculous meningitis; leaving him a widower with one known child.
Few men in Augusta were more dearly loved or more highly esteemed than Robert H. May. Even in his later years, he was elected to three 2-year terms as Coroner of Richmond County starting in 1898 until his death on the 7th day of February 1903.
Robert H. May was a man of great intellect, having superb integrity and noble spirit; his years of service where marked as honest and productive. He gave his all to the city and community he loved and served. The park across from the cemetery he now rest, bears his name.
________
For further information about Robert H. May, checkout Google Books for a list & excerpts about his years as Mayor of the City of Augusta, Georgia.
On February 27, 1845, Robert May married the former Miss Josephine A. Calhoun, daughter of Rev. David Wardlaw Calhoun and Adeline Augusta (née Dickinson) Calhoun of Augusta, Georgia. The wedding was at the home of the bride and officiated by Rev. Josiah Lewis, pastor of St. Johns Methodist church; which Rev. Calhoun was connected. This union produced three known children: Elizabeth Adeline (1847-1848), James Thomas (1848-1924) and Josephine (1851-1852).
As Robert May's business and family grew, he became active in community affairs. He was a member of the Augusta City Council for several terms before being elected to the mayor's office in 1861. The year 1861 was a year of much unrest in Augusta and throughout the south. It was the beginning of the Civil War and filled with uncertainties of the future. But Mayor Robert May was the calming guidance that was needed to see Augusta through the war. He served five 1-year terms during the period of 1861-66 and was well respected by government officials throughout the state and citizens of Augusta, a like.
Again in 1879, the citizens of Augusta called upon Robert May, known by all as "Uncle Robin" to run the city of Augusta and elected him to four 3-year terms as Mayor through 1891. During these years, Mayor May oversaw the expansion of the city and saw it become a leading winter resort that attracted giants of industry and sitting U.S. presidents.
On December 8th 1885, Robert May married Mrs. Alice Y. Crumpton, the widow of John B. Crumpton. Robert May's first wife had died in April 1884 after a long illness with tuberculous meningitis; leaving him a widower with one known child.
Few men in Augusta were more dearly loved or more highly esteemed than Robert H. May. Even in his later years, he was elected to three 2-year terms as Coroner of Richmond County starting in 1898 until his death on the 7th day of February 1903.
Robert H. May was a man of great intellect, having superb integrity and noble spirit; his years of service where marked as honest and productive. He gave his all to the city and community he loved and served. The park across from the cemetery he now rest, bears his name.
________
For further information about Robert H. May, checkout Google Books for a list & excerpts about his years as Mayor of the City of Augusta, Georgia.
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