Livingston Mays
1830–1914 (84 yrs) Section A1757
Rebecca Daniel Shinn Mays
1st wife 1831–1854 (23 yrs)
Hannah Brantingham Shinn Mays
2nd wife 1833-1912 (79 yrs) (12 children)
Livingston Mays, who moved here from Tennessee, was a notable figure, substantially contributing to the history of “Old Town” Round Rock, as a businessman who was recognized by naming a main street after him. (Mays Street). Here are some details as cited.
Employment
“Livingston …was partner [with others] … in numerous business ventures which included a store, quarry, lumberyard, and various land speculation throughout the state.”1 pg84 Served as a banker representing other companies and loaning money at 2% and commission.1 pg265 “Livingston Mays opened a store circa 1851. Products [were] bought as well as sold.”2 The store was in “Old Town” section of Round Rock. It was known as the “Mays and Black Store”.2 “[One] industry in Round Rock in 1870 was composed of L. M. May’s carding machine …”1 pg 318 . (A carding machine is used in the processing of wool and cotton to separate and clean.) “In 1878 the first telegraph line from Georgetown to Round Rock went to the Mays and Black Store.”1 pg 318 “[A] Postmaster at Old Round Rock [was] Livingston M. Mays (1879). The office was transferred to Round Rock’s newer office on December 16, 1891.”1 pg369
Community Service
In 1854, the newly reorganized Brushy Creek Baptist Church ordained him as one of the first deacons and elected him church clerk for 20yrs.1pg369 “Livingston was one of the [original] supporters of the [proposed] Round Rock academy [originally Greenwood Masonic Institute] … in 1863.1 pg318 Built in 1868 it was the first secondary school and had its first college term in 1881.2 Notorious outlaw, John Wesley Hardin, “The Fastest Gun in the West” passed the diploma exam and graduated after attending for one day.1 pg 460 “In 1888 the first directors of the Round Rock Graveyard were elected. [L. M. Mays was one of the four] It was their job to purchase and designate the land for future grave sites. Three parcels of land were purchased during 1888 and 1889, totaling about six acres at a cost of $114.”1 pg402
Recognition
Although not documented, many streets in Round Rock were named after prominent citizens.1 pg82 It is generally accepted that “Mays Street”, populated with numerous businesses, was named after Livingston. He is also acknowledged in a list of 1851-1876 pioneers, by the city’s Chamber of Commerce in the Round Rock Centennial Celebration program (125 years) for Saturday July 10, 1965.5
Progeny
Miss Alice Mays, his daughter held the postmaster position in 1891.4 Livingston was the uncle to Nathaniel Q Henderson who after serving in the Civil war was the editor and proprietor having started the first weekly newspaper in RR called the Round Rock Sentinel in 1879.1 pg288 His son, Edwin J., was the first person ordained to the ministry by First Baptist Church of Round Rock.1 pg369
Personal
After his first wife of 3 years, Rebecca, died at 23 years old (some sources say 17 years old) he remarried her sister Hannah. They had 12 children. It appears they named their first child after his first wife Rebecca. Sadness occurred when their 2nd and 3rd child, twins, Maud and Grace, having survived the alarmingly high birth fatality rate of that time, surprisingly died within three days of each other after one year and two months. The reason is unknown. An infant, Lulu, lived only nine months. Another daughter Zoe died at 16 and son Edwin at 21 years old.
Other
Mays in Round Rock Cemetery: Martha (1791-1869) 78yrs, mother; Hannah (1833-1912) 79yrs, wife; Maud & Grace (1858-1859) 1yr, twin daughters; Lulu (1871-1872) 9 months, daughter; Edwin (1862-1883) 21 yrs, son; Zoe (1868-1884) 16yrs, daughter.
Sources
- Digesualdo, J. and Thompson, K. (1985). Historical Round Rock Texas. Page (noted in text). Nortex Press, a Division of Eakin Publications, Inc.
- https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Old-Town_sept2022-slides.pdf slide 17 and 25
- https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/city-departments/planning-and-development-services/historic-preservation-2/the-historic-round-rock-%20collection/old-town/
- https://www.wilcotx.gov/886/Round-Rock
- https://www.roundrocktexas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/round_rock_texas_1840-1965.pdf
