- Jonah May (jomay@eastky.net)
"Runyon Genealogy" by Robert and Amos Runyon, 1955 on page 25
Adron Runyon was born in Tazewell County, Virgnia, June 14, 1801. When a lad he came with his parents, in 1811 or soon thereafter. Adron was living with his parents in Floyd County, Kentucky, in 1820.
Adron married Jane ("Jennie") Maynard, daughter of Moses Maynard, December 23, 1824, in Pike County. Moses Maynard signed the marriage bond. Jane was born February 25, 1810, on John's Creek, which is now in Pike County, and died May 30, 1883. After the death of her husband she lived the remainder of her life at the homestead on Pond Creek.
Adron was granted 1,192 acres of valuable coal and tember land, and he purchased other large tracks of land on Pond Creek. He was justice of the peace in Pike County from 1847 to 1857. He devoted most of his time to clearing and cultivating his land holdings. In his later days he was known as "Squire Runyon"; however, his neighbors, friends, and young people called him :Uncle Add". His last will was executed May 26, 1857, and probated August 15, 1859. He left his estate to his wife and children, excepting a tract to be used as a church and cemetery site. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church and served as the first secretary until July 2, 1859. He was appointed deacon January 13, 1844."
Adron went on a bear hunt July 1859 and upon returning he became critically ill with abdominal pains, (appendicitis ?) and died.
(Source: "Supplement To Runyon Genealogy" 1962, page 203)
Notes for Mary Ann May:
Mary Ann May was never married to Adron Runyon. She was a house keeper for Adron and his wife Jane Maynard.
On 10/30/1997 I received E-mail from Vicki Hurst (bbw@netprowler.com) and she stated that "I too am a descendant of Adron Runyon, but through an illegitimate child by a woman named Mary Ann May."
During the month of October, 1998 I received E-mails from Jonah May (jomay@eastky.net) from Kentucky who said:
"I am descended from Adron Runyon and one of his mistress', Mary Ann May. Mary Ann was a house keeper for Adron and his wife Jane (Maynard) Runyon, and she had 5 children by Adron. A set of twins that died and then William Jefferson, Washington and Harvey May. Washington May's death certificate states that his parents were Adron Runyon and Mary
Ann May. Washington May was my GG-grandfather. All three of these boys married RUTHERFORDS, two were sisters and the third was a double 1st. cousin.
Also I have a note from the special collection dept. at the Pikeville College Library that states that Adron had 4 children by Mary Honaker. [20180730 Could Mary Honaker be Mary Ann May? maiden/married name? -jcw auf dem Zug, Salzburg - BudaPest.] I have no further information on the Mary Honaker that was supposed to have 4 children by Adron Runyon, just the note.
Mary Ann was born 2-17-1817 in Va. and died 1900 in Pike County. One of my uncles could remember her, and said she told them that she always wanted to kill Adron's wife Jane, so she could have Adron to her self, but could never get enough nerve, because Jane was to good to her over the years.
Adron was a justice of the peace and performed the marriage ceremony for all 3 boys and then gave them each a large track of land. I do not have birth certificates for the 3 boys of Mary Ann May, but I do have copies of their marriage license.
The Pike County, Kentucky Death Records by Dorcas M. Hobbs and John W. Picklesimer on page 55 shows;
WAHINGTON MAY, 44 years, Married,
Died: 1878,
Birth place: Pike County, Kentucky,
Parents: Adron Runyon & MaryA. May , both born Pike County, Kentucky,
Cause: Fever.
These are well known facts through the descendents of Mary Ann May, that should have been RUNYON, but instead carried the MAY name because their parents were not married."
The above information has not been varified by me, and Runyon researchers may want to seek further documentation of this relationship.--14152
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The Story of Dixie and Blaine, Pike, KY
terrybarwinadded this on 18 Apr 2007
Basel's grandfather was Adron Runyon, wealthy land owner and Justice of the Peace in Pond Creek. His grandmother was a servant of the Runyons and bore Adron three children, all the while Adron being and remaining married to Jayne Maynard and Jayne bearing children of her own. The marriage and death certificates of the three boys bear this out. Even more interesting is that Adron, as Justice of the Peace, has signed the marriage certificates. Harvey Gene's married Linda Rutherford and his brothers also married Rutherfords, one a sister of Linda (Harvey Gene's wife) and one a cousin. Adron administered all three weddings and gave the three boys large tracks of land at their weddings. Harvey and his brothers took the May name since Adron never married Mary Ann May. In Basel's time, there were disputes about this land and speculation that the coal companies were mining property rightly owned by the May's but no action was ever taken.
They lived in Blackberry KY when they first married and that is where Dyer was born. The 1900 census shows Basel as a farmer, and they are living two houses from Dixie's father Ulysses.
Dixie may have come from similar circumstance. Based on census records, her father, Ulysses was married to and living with Sara Varney before Dixie was born and still married to Sara in the 1900 census when Dixie would have been 19. At this time, Dixie is married to Basel. Her mother, Elizabeth can be found living right next to Ulysses and his wife Sara and notes her occupation as housekeeper.
Basel and Dixie were actually related. Basel's mother was a Rutherford and Dixie's grandmother was a Rutherford. Both lines lead back to a Reuben Rutherford, born 1760 in Virginia and his wife Priscilla Staton. This couple were maternal great grandparents of Basel and Great Great Grandparents of Dixie.
Basel and Dixie must have been good people because despite all of this, Dixie and Basel seemed to have led quite a normal life and raised many healthy, happy children. They faced their share of tragedy. Roland died in the coal mines at a young age and Nancy was killed when she fell off a vegetable wagon. The May boys were well known in the area and all had a great sense of humor and were friendly and kind. They met and married some great spouses and had lots of wonderful children.
Dixie was known as a tough lady. Her son Buford married Marie Preston when Marie was only 15. When they first married, they stayed with Basel and Dixie. Dixie was said to have disciplined Marie as though she were he child. She had a reputation for being quite strict as was common in those days.
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1817 - 1900 (83 years)
