Gilbert, Frank T. "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. 363. F. W. D. MAYS "The pioneer journal of Garfield county was first issued in Pomeroy August 12, 1880, by F. W. D. Mays, its present editor. The Independent has met with success, and pursues an independent course in politics, though the editor is a staunch Democrat. It is a six-column, 23 x 32 sheet, and is issued every Thursday. F. W. D. Mays -- This gentleman, of Irish and German descent, is thirty-three years of age and a native of Pittsylvania county, Va. He attended the common schools and the school at Stony Point, Va., receiving a military education. During the war he was First Lieutenant of a boy company for home protection, and during the last two years of the struggle was in the Confederate army, serving under Breckenridge and Early and being captured by Sheridan at Fisher's Hill, or Bell Grove. In December, 1870, he was licensed to preach in Giles county, Va., and joined the Holston Conference of the M. E. church, South, in 1871, at Morristown, Tenn. He preached a year in Wythe county, Va., and then in Tennessee. In August, 1873, he accompanied Bishop Doggett to Oregon and joined the Columbia Conference. He was appointed to Lafayette and Tillamook circuit, and then to Eugene City. In 1875 he was sent to Walla Walla, which place he made his headquarters for two years, preaching in the country. He was sent to Boise City in 1877, and again to Walla Walla the next year. The church on the corner of Fourth and Sumac streets in that city, was built under his charge. In 1879 he was sent to Dayton, and August 12, 1880, established the Washington Independent at Pomeroy. Mr. Mays has been a correspondent for leading papers of his denomination for years, and has also written for the press of other countries. He married Miss M. J. Whetstone in March, 1877, in Columbia county, and has a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Mays has been a member of the Masonic order since he became of the proper age." Transcriber's additional notes: "An Illustrated History of Walla Walla County, State of Washington" by Professor W. D. Lyman W. H. Lever, Publisher; 1901; Page 206 Methodist Episcopal Church, South This church was organized by F. W. D. Mays in October or November, 1875, with a small class, chief among whom were the old pioneers, D. M. Jesse and J. M. Gose and their wives. F. W. D. Mays used for some time the United Brethren church building for his religious services, as their class was then without a pastor. Their property was offered for sale and Mr. Mays made arrangements to purchase the same. Money was appropriated by his general Board of Missions in Nashville to make the purchase. The authorities of the United Brethren church concluded, however, not to sell their property, and the money donated by the Nashville Board was used to buy two lots at the present location of Fourth and Sumach streets. On one of these lots was a dwelling house, still standing, the lower front of which was turned into a hall for church services by removal of partitions. Here services were held for two years. In 1876 Mr. Mays was returned, by appointment of conference, to the charge for the second year. In September, 1877, the Annual conference met in Walla Walla in said hall, Bishop H. N. McTyiere presiding. J. W. Compton was appointed as pastor for the ensuing year. In 1878 F. W. D. Mays was again appointed pastor of the charge, and in the summer of 1879 he sold the lot on which the dwelling house stood and erected the present church edifice. This was not entirely completed until several years later. CENSUS 1880, June 29; Columbia Co, WA; Dayton, p 120 F.W.D. Mays, 30, VA, VA, VA, minister M.J., wife, 22, OR, OH, OH Ida May, dau, 2, ID, VA, OR Baby, female, 8/12, Sept, Wa. Terr., VA, OR 1883, Garfield Co, WA TWD Mays, 33, VA, married, editor MJ, 25, OR Ida M, 4, ID Clara, 3, WT Dick, 2, WT Ned, 1, WT 1900, June 5; Garfield Co, WA; E. Pomeroy, p 68 Ferdenand D. W. Mays, 50, Sept 1849, VA, VA, VA, mar 2 yrs, editor & publisher Nellie, wife, 38, May 1862, PA, PA, PA, mar 2 yrs, 3 children-1 living Viola, dau, 1/12, April 1900, WA, VA, PA G. Hancock, son, 19, Dec 1880, WA, VA, OR, telephone operator 1910, April 15; Garfield Co, WA; Pomeroy City, p 263, Garfield County Jail Ferdinand W. D. Mays, prisoner, 60, VA, VA, VA, Wd, no occ. 1920, January 2; Garfield Co, WA; Pomeroy, p 278 John H. Becker, 45, WA, GER, MD, house painter Clara, wife, 40, WA, VA, WA Loyd L, son, 20, MT, WA, WA, house painter Thomas, son, 18, WA, WA, WA Winnifred, dau, 11, WA, WA, WA Ferdinand Mays, father in law, 73, VA, VA, VA, Wd Washington State Archives http://www.digitalarchives.wa. gov/default.aspx 1904, Prison record in Garfield Co, Wa.; Walla Walla Penitentiary 1883, Census of Garfield Co, WA. * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in April 2006 by Diana Smith. Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.