Female Enterprise: Women Business and Property Owners in New Orleans, 1819-1927. Louisiana Division. New Orleans Public Library

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NETTIE GONZALES MAY Nettie Gonzales May operated a dairy on Dublin and 12th (now Apricot) Streets in Carrollton. In 1893 she filed suit against her creditors, noting that “for the past two years she has been conducting a dairy business in the 7th District of this city, but that, owing to loss by death of animals, failure at times to sell all of the milk,” etc., she was unable to pay her debts.
	The suit record in Mrs. Nettie Gonzales, Widow of James R. May vs Her Creditors includes an inventory of her assets, mostly cows and horses (note that the latter are listed by name—Bob, Mary, Joe, Baby, and Tom). May also claimed as assets the amounts due for milk sold to several customers. (Mrs. Nettie Gonzales, Widow of James R. May vs. her creditors. Orleans Parish Civil District Court, #40509)
	Another document from the creditors suit includes descriptions of the physical condition of at least some of the May cows, including a “very fat” light brown specimen. (Mrs. Nettie Gonzales, Widow of James R. May vs. her creditors. Orleans Parish Civil District Court, #40509)