1890 May Family Reunion Vernon County, WI more about the Colonels: Col. Andrew Jackson May [CSA] | Col. Reuben May [USA] Sharon L. Sternberg, a descendant of Col. Reuben May, located a brief notice in the October 15, 1890 edition of the Vernon County Censor that tells of an early May family reunion: Col. Andrew Jackson May [CSA] Col. Reuben May [USA] - Col. A. J. May and wife, of Tazewell Virginia, are making a few days visit with their relatives, the Laynes, Giles and Mays. On Saturday a family reunion was held at the country home of Col. [Reuben] May, in which a goodly number of relatives united. To my knowledge, this is the first documentation of the two May Colonels - first cousins from Eastern Kentucky - meeting since the end of the Civil War, in which they led men on opposite sides of the conflict. Reuben (1815-1902) was a son of Thomas May (1787-1867) and Andrew Jackson May (1829-1903) was a son of Samuel May (1781-1851). In 1890, Reuben was making his second unsuccessful attempt to become Governor of Wisconsin, running this time as a candidate from the Union Labor Party. Sisters of Col. A. J. May resided in Vernon and Richland Counties: Sarah Minerva May (1818-1879) m. James H. Layne (1812-1891) in Floyd County, KY in 1836 Both of them are buried in the Viroqua Cemetery in Vernon Co., WI. James was living at the time of the 1890 reunion but Sarah had died eleven years earlier Mahala Jane May (1819-1901) m. Dr. Perez Randall (1804-1867) in Floyd County, KY in 1837. She and her son, Dr. Perez May Randall, moved to Wisconsin after the death of her husband. Her son practiced medicine in Viroqua, near the farm of Col. Reuben May. Mahala resided in Sylvan in Richland County, about 20 miles southeast of Viroqua. She is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery in Sylvan, WI. Amanda Fitzellen May (1824-1901) m. John M. Burnett (1845-1858) in Floyd County, KY in 1845. m. James H. Layne, widower of her sister, Sarah Minerva, in 1881. Sarah and James were both living in Vernon Co. when the 1890 reunion was held. A few years after the death of James Layne in 1891, Amanda left their home in Vernon Co., WI and a record of her death in "Floyd County Vital Statistics 1852-1904" lists her as: single (widow), age 79, dau. of Samuel May. Charlotte Temple May (1825-1904) m. William D. Giles (1820-1893) in 1847 Charlotte and William were both living in Vernon Co. when the 1890 reunion was held. Both of them are buried in the Viroqua Cemetery in Vernon Co., WI.