Kentucky Historical Society
KHS to Dedicate Historical Marker to Honor John May

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 5, 2011) — The Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a historical marker to honor John May and his family on Saturday, May 14 on Highway 22 in Pikeville, Ky.

Born in 1760 in Lancaster, Penn., John May served in the Virginia Infantry and saw George Washington’s retreat across the Hudson River in November 1776.  After marrying Sarah Phillips in 1780, he and his family settled in the Shelby Valley.  Three of his sons went on to become prominent members of the Eastern Kentucky community.  Samuel May, of Prestonsburg, served in the Kentucky House and Senate in the 1830s.  Thomas May built a state road from Pikeville into the Shelby Valley and was sheriff of Pike County. Reuben May’s farm on Beaver Creek became Maytown.

This marker is sponsored by the Shelby Valley Historical Society and Friends of the Samuel May House, Inc.

The Kentucky Historical Marker Program, administered by the Kentucky Historical Society in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, commemorates historical sites, events and personalities throughout the state. Through the program, the wealth of Kentucky history is made accessible to the public on markers along the state’s roadways. The markers are on-the-spot history lessons that add drama and interest to the countryside for native Kentuckians as well as tourists.

For more information about the program, contact Becky Riddle, Kentucky Historical Marker program coordinator, at 502-564-1792, ext. 4474 or Becky.Riddle@ky.gov.