ORIGINALLY PART OF A MEXICAN
LAND GRANT GIVEN TO EMPRESARIO
JOHN CAMERON IN 1827, MAY
DEVELOPED IN THE 1870s WHEN
SEVERAL PIONEER FAMILIES SETTLED
HERE.  BAPTISTS AND METHODISTS
QUICKLY ORGANIZED CHURCHES. A 
ONE-ROOM SCHOOL KNOWN AS OLD
SWAYBACK PROVIDED THE FIRST
FORMAL EDUCATION FOR THE
CHILDREN. NATHAN L. MAY BUILT A
TRADING POST IN 1879 AND BECAME
THE TOWN'S FIRST POSTMASTER IN
1881. BY 1907 THE VILLAGE HAD A
BLACKSMITH SHOP, GENERAL STORE,
NEWSPAPER AND BANK. THE EARLY
HISTORY OF MAY CLIMAXED IN 1911
WITH THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD.

(1981)