Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture Courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Rebecca Payne May was born near Sandborn, Indiana in Greene County on April 30, 1848, the daughter of William Payne and Elizabeth Brandon Payne.

Rebecca Payne married William A. May in Greene County, Indiana on November 22, 1866. They came to Wayne County, Missouri c.1878-83 where they raised a family of 10 children; Mahalia, Simpson, Laura, Mary Francis, Henry, Edwin, Johnny, Martha, Cassolina, and Eliza.

Rebecca Payne May became widely known in Wayne County as "Aunt Beck" because she was a midwife to many of her neighbors.

John Albert Wilfong built this log house c.1889-1890. Four years Later, on January 3, 1894, he married Laura May. However, their life together was not to be a long one as Laura died October 27, 1894 while giving birth to their daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Wilfong Morgan.

It is not known why, but this log house was moved c.1894 to 43 acres of land about seven miles north of Wappapello. The land had been given to William May as payment for his service in the Civil War. "Aunt Beck" not only raised her own children in this house but two grandchildren. Luther and Lucy Briscoe, when both their parents died.

"Aunt Beck" and William May were living in this log house at his death, January 12, 1906. She continued to live in the house until her death on September 23, 1923.

While there have been numerous families that have lived in this log house through the years, "Aunt Beck" was there in the beginning so we fondly call it her house today.

In 1994 Earl and Ruth Carver of Wappapello were about to tear down a structure on their farm to make room for a new barn. However, when they began removing overgrowth they discovered that they owned a log house. The Carvers shared their discovery with Evelyn and Bob Wilson of Poplar Bluff because they knew of Evelyn's relationship to the May family. As soon as Evelyn and Bob saw the old house, they took quite an interest in it. After the real work of dismantling it and finding a new home for "Aunt Beck's" log house began.

At this time, Wayne County Historical Society member, Roy Williams, learning of the Wilson's interest in preserving the old log house agreed to help find it a home. He approached the WCHS on the possibility of taking on the project. The Historical Society and the Wilsons began a very tedious effort to remove years of changes to the log house and restore it to its original condition. Bob Wilson prepared detailed graphs numbering each log in the structure so the home would fit together precisely as it did before being moved to its new home here at Piedmont Park.

As you might have guessed, this old log house holds a very special significance to Evelyn May Wilson as "Aunt Beck" was her Great Grandmother!

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