James Rufus Mays born-March 2, 1821 in Iredell or Nash Counties, NC., Died Nov. 6, 1864 in Jefferson Co., IL.. On May 3, 1857 in Jefferson Co., IL. he married Mary Louisa Hartley born-Oct. 22, 1826 in Ashe Co., NC.. She died on Mar. 2, 1919, Mt. Vernon, IL. Both buried at the Old Shiloh Cemetery northwest of Mt. Vernon. James has a headstone but Mary does not. Mary's parents were Benjamin Hartley & Elizabeth Church. It is believed that Mary had 3 children from an earlier marriage to a man named Spears. They lived on a 113 acre farm northwest of Mt. Vernon, IL.. On Oct. 12, 1864 James was drafted and mustered into the Union Army at Olney, IL. to serve 1 year as a private. While at Camp Butler he became ill with "camp diarrhea" and was released on leave to return home. James arrived home on Nov. 6, 1864 and died about 3 hours later under the care of Dr. Joseph Frost. Mary filed pension papers & was granted $25 dollars per month. Mary was a devoted Methodist and never remarried. She died at the home of her son William.

Children: Sarah B."Sally" (Spears) Mays born 15 May 1851.

Levi Green (Spears) Mays born 10 Nov 1854. Died 1920. Married Elmira M. Campbell 28 Jan 1875, Jefferson Co, IL. Both buried in the Old Shiloh Cemetery, Jefferson Co, IL.

Martha Caroline (Spears) Mays 10 Nov 1854. Died 26 May 1941. Married James Knox Phillips Oct 5 1871, Jefferson Co, IL. Both buried in the Old Shiloh Cemetery, Jefferson Co, IL.

John C. Mays born 17 Sep 1857. Married Sarah Hill.

Robert Burton Mays born 23 May 1860. Died Nov 1928. Married Emma Jane Humphrey, 14 Dec 1879. Both buried at Old Shiloh Cemetery.

James Milton Mays born 30 Jan 1861.

Emily Minerva Mays born 15 Oct 1862.

William James Rufus Mays born Oct. 23, 1864. Died 20 Nov 1915. Married Rosie Elzina Russell. Both buried at Old Shiloh Cemetery, Jefferson Co, IL.

Public Auction information on the sale of James Rufus Mays personal estate. Information Source: Steven Michael Mays, Jefferson Co, IL.