Dwight May
Encyclopedia
Dwight May was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan
.
to Rockwell and Celestia (Underwood) May and moved to Richland, Michigan
at the approximate age of twelve. There he worked on the farm and attended district schools.
In 1842, he attended the Kalamazoo
branch of the University of Michigan (now Kalamazoo College
), entered the sophomore class in 1846, and graduated in 1849 from the classical department. During that time he became a member of Alpha Delta Phi
. In 1849, he married Amelia S. Kellogg in Sherwood
and had three daughters together. After graduating he entered the law office of Lathrop & Duffield in Detroit
and in July 1850 was admitted to the bar at the Michigan Supreme Court
. The following month he opened an office in Battle Creek
, and two years later moved to Kalamazoo forming a co-partnership with Marsh Giddings. In 1854, he was elected prosecuting attorney and served from 1855-1862. He also served as school inspector for two years and superintendent of the village schools from 1853 to 1856.
In 1861, May enlisted as a private
in the Kalamazoo Light Guards and was elected captain of company I, 2nd Michigan infantry
. He resigned from the post that December to attend to personal and legal business. On October 8, 1862, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel
of the 25th Michigan infantry
at Bolivar, Tennessee
,and served through the rest of the American Civil War
.
May served in the battles of Blackburn's Ford
, Manassas (1st battle)
, Middleburg
, Vicksburg
, Little Rock
and Clarendon
. In June 1865, he succeeded Colonel W. H. Graves and was soon afterward brevet
ted brigadier general
and mustered out of the service on March 6, 1866.
as well as trustee of the village of Kalamazoo. He served as lieutenant governor from 1867-1869 under Governor
Henry Crapo’s
second term. His brother Charles S. May
had also served as lieutenant governor from 1863-1865.
In 1868, he was elected to the office of Michigan Attorney General
and served from 1869-1873 under Governor Henry P. Baldwin
. In 1874, he was elected president of the village of Kalamazoo and was re-elected the following year.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
May was born in Sandisfield, MassachusettsSandisfield, Massachusetts
Sandisfield is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 824 at the 2000 census.- History :...
to Rockwell and Celestia (Underwood) May and moved to Richland, Michigan
Richland, Michigan
Richland is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 791 at the 2010 census.The village is within Richland Township about nine miles northeast of Kalamazoo.-Geography:...
at the approximate age of twelve. There he worked on the farm and attended district schools.
In 1842, he attended the Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
branch of the University of Michigan (now Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
), entered the sophomore class in 1846, and graduated in 1849 from the classical department. During that time he became a member of Alpha Delta Phi
Alpha Delta Phi
Alpha Delta Phi is a Greek-letter social college fraternity and the fourth-oldest continuous Greek-letter fraternity in the United States and Canada. Alpha Delta Phi was founded on October 29, 1832 by Samuel Eells at Hamilton College and includes former U.S. Presidents, Chief Justices of the U.S....
. In 1849, he married Amelia S. Kellogg in Sherwood
Sherwood, Michigan
Sherwood is a village in Branch County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 324.The village is located within Sherwood Township near the St. Joseph River.-Geography:...
and had three daughters together. After graduating he entered the law office of Lathrop & Duffield in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and in July 1850 was admitted to the bar at the Michigan Supreme Court
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
. The following month he opened an office in Battle Creek
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, and two years later moved to Kalamazoo forming a co-partnership with Marsh Giddings. In 1854, he was elected prosecuting attorney and served from 1855-1862. He also served as school inspector for two years and superintendent of the village schools from 1853 to 1856.
In 1861, May enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Kalamazoo Light Guards and was elected captain of company I, 2nd Michigan infantry
2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Michigan Infantry was organized by Francis William Kellogg and others at Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan. It mustered into Federal service for a...
. He resigned from the post that December to attend to personal and legal business. On October 8, 1862, he was commissioned lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 25th Michigan infantry
25th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 25th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 25th Michigan Infantry was mustered into Federal service at Kalamazoo, Michigan on September 22, 1862...
at Bolivar, Tennessee
Bolivar, Tennessee
Bolivar is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,802. It is the county seat of Hardeman County. The town was named for South American revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar, but is pronounced to rhyme with the name Oliver. Bolivar...
,and served through the rest of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
May served in the battles of Blackburn's Ford
Blackburn's Ford
Blackburn's Ford was the crossing of Bull Run by Centreville Road between Manassas and Centreville, Virginia, in the United States. It was named after the original owner of the Yorkshire Plantation , Col. Richard Blackburn, formerly of Yorkshire, England...
, Manassas (1st battle)
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, Middleburg
Battle of Middleburg
The Battle of Middleburg took place from June 17 to June 19, 1863, in Loudoun County, Virginia, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War....
, Vicksburg
Battle of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
, Little Rock
Battle of Bayou Fourche
The Battle of Bayou Fourche, sometimes called the Battle of Little Rock, was a battle in the American Civil War fought on September 10, 1863 east of the town of Little Rock, Arkansas.- Battle :...
and Clarendon
Clarendon, Arkansas
Clarendon is a city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Monroe County.-Geography:Clarendon is located at ....
. In June 1865, he succeeded Colonel W. H. Graves and was soon afterward brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
ted brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and mustered out of the service on March 6, 1866.
Politics
In 1866, May was elected the 18th Lieutenant Governor of MichiganLieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
as well as trustee of the village of Kalamazoo. He served as lieutenant governor from 1867-1869 under Governor
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
Henry Crapo’s
Henry H. Crapo
Henry Howland Crapo was the 14th Governor of Michigan during the end of the American Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction.-Early life in Massachusetts:...
second term. His brother Charles S. May
Charles S. May
Charles Sedgwick May was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan.-Early life:May was born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts and at the age of four moved to Richland, Michigan. He worked there on a farm until the age of fifteen and became a student of the State University at Kalamazoo...
had also served as lieutenant governor from 1863-1865.
In 1868, he was elected to the office of Michigan Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
and served from 1869-1873 under Governor Henry P. Baldwin
Henry P. Baldwin
Henry Porter Baldwin , a descendant of pilgrim father Nathaniel Baldwin, was the 15th Governor of Michigan and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.-Early life in Rhode Island:...
. In 1874, he was elected president of the village of Kalamazoo and was re-elected the following year.