From A Biographical History of Central
Kansas, Vol. I, p. 383
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
W. L. MAY, M.D.
Among the medical practitioners of Rice county is numbered Dr May, a capable physician and surgeon, located in Lyons, where he has made his home since 1893. He claims Pennsylvania as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred near Philadelphia in Schuylkill county, on the 19th of March, 1859. He is of English lineage and is a son of Thomas George and Lucy (Struman) May, both of whom are natives of England, the former born in Cornwall and the latter in County Kent. The father acquired his education in the schools of his native country and remained in Cornwall until sixteen years of age. After crossing the Atlantic to America he located in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, but spent his last days in the anthracite coal regions at Shamokin, Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of fifty-six years. His widow still survives him and has now attained the Psalmist’s span of three score years and ten. In their family were thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, of whom five grew to mature years, namely: Joseph, who makes his home in Pennsylvania; James, who died April 30, 1901; W L, of this review; Mrs Lucy Ward, who made her home in Chicago, Illinois, and died April 15, 1901; and Mrs Julia Francis, of Pittsbugh, Pennsylvania. The parents were both Christian people, identified with the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1895 Dr May, of this review, married Mrs C Cromer, of Defiance, Ohio, who prior to her marriage bore the maiden name of Cornelia Renolett. They now have one child, Nora. The Doctor is a Republican in his political views and is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and with the Rice County Medical Society. In an analyzation of the character and life work of Dr May we note many of the characteristics which have marked the nation for many centuries, the perseverance, reliability, energy and unconquerable determination to pursue a course which has been marked out. It is these sterling qualities which have gained Dr May success in life and made him one of the substantial and valued citizens of Lyons. He has been in the regular practice of his profession for sixteen years.