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100th Birthday Celebration of Mrs. Jane REED MAY
From an
Unknown McDonald newspaper, Jan. _?, 1931, page unknown:
Mrs. Jane REED MAY of Venice was 100 years old on Sunday, December 28.
Only members of the immediate family of Mrs. MAY were present. A few
close friends called during the day. Present included her brothers, C.
L. REED of Houston, 77, and his family, and Joseph REED, with whom she
makes her home. Except for deafness Mrs. MAY enjoys unusually good
health. Her deafness is peculiar in that it seems more pronounced on
certain days. On Sunday it was extremely difficult for her to hear
The Rev. C. T. LITTELL, pastor of the Venice U. P. church on that day
called attention to the epoch in the life of the widely known and highly
respected woman. She is a charter member of that church. A floral
tribute was sent her by the congregation.
Clear and active of mind in spite of her great age, Mrs. MAY astonishes
her friends by recollections of even from 50 to 90 years ago. She can
relate first-hand stories of adventure, death, romance and success of
the days when there were few settlers and when the devout Scotch
Presbyterians attended meeting with their guns and powder horns and shot
pouches. She was born on December 28, 1830, the daughter of Joseph REED
and Anne MCLEAN REED, on the homestead established by her grandparents
David and Margaret MAY REED. Her husband, John B. MAY to whom she was
married December 20, 1854, died within a week after their golden wedding
anniversary.
Long dispute over the title to the land originally settled by the REEDS
in 1778, at one time brought George WASHINGTON himself to investigate,
with the result that the family was compelled to move about five miles
away.
David and Margaret REED, Mrs. MAY’s grandparents, came from Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, two years after the American Revolution and
established their home on what was later known as Washington Lands. It
was then a part of Augusta county, Virginia, but was later included in
the boundaries of Washington county, Pennsylvania, when it was created
in 1781.
When dispute over the title to these lands arose in 1784, George
Washington found a personal visit necessary to straighten out the
difficulties. In his diary, under the date of September 20, 1794, he
wrote: “David REED, 2 acres of meadow, 17 acres of arable; a good
logged dwelling house with a bad roof; several other small houses and an
indifferent barn or stable; bad fences, but very good land.”
Also he wrote: “Dined at David REED’s ***and consulted with the
settlers on these lands.” The settlers, who believed they were the
rightful owners, refused to buy or lease from General WASHINGTON and
were finally compelled to give up their possessions.
Webmaster Note: Born 1831
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