Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 480] of Wilmington township, Lawrence County, Pa., has, although still a middle-aged man, attained a place of prominence and standing among the agriculturists of his native section, that may well be envied by many older men. Since his birth, April 16, 1848, many changes for the better have come over this part of Pennsylvania, and from the days of his young manhood, Mr. Means has played well the part that has fallen to his lot in the progress and growth that are now in evidence on every side.
Hugh Means, senior, the grandfather of the subject of our writing, was of good, reliable Irish stock, being born on the sea-girt Emerald Isle. Full of life, energy and ambition he struck out for America, when a voting man, to seek his fortune. Wide-awake and willing to work, he soon after his arrival here had mastered the carpenter's trade, which he followed in various localities for some years. Laying by a little competence he bought a farm in Wilmington township, a tract of land that lay in an unimproved state. Mainly by his own efforts, he built first of all a house, then some outer buildings including a barn, and finally a grist-mill; with incessant toil, he put his land in good, productive shape, at the same time profitably conducting his milling business. He had become a true citizen of his adopted country, and in the War of 1812 served honorably in the army which gave England her second whipping, and taught her to respect American rights as equal to any nation's rights on the globe. Our subject's grandfather departed this life in 1838, having accomplished far more than the ordinary man, and leaving behind him a sturdy and well-reared family of boys who were named in order: Henry; Thomas; Daniel; Hugh; and William. Mr. Means, during his busy life, was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and bore a prominent part in many other walks of life. His political leanings were with the Democratic party, in whose councils he was always a valued adviser. He was twice elected to the office of sheriff of Mercer Co., Pa., an office calling for in those days the greatest amount of hardihood and dauntless energy.
Hugh Means, son of the preceding and the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., where his early training was received. He started out in life as a farmer, and followed that vocation as a means of securing a livelihood and acquiring a competence for his old age in various places, finally purchasing an improved farm of 120 acres from his father. This place he put in the best shape that hard work and the liberal expenditure of money could accomplish, building new houses, barns and sheds throughout. He was a man who was in advance in regard to his ideas on agriculture, and made a success of raising high-bred stock of all kinds, his reputation as a wise and reliable breeder going out far and wide. He had an admirable constitution, which carried him through to his ninety-second year. He married Mary Livingstone, the daughter of one of his most respected neighbors, Hugh Livingstone. Mr. Means was a United Presbyterian, and a stanch Democrat. Ten children, named below, were born to Mr. Means and his wife: Hannah J.; Milton; Rosanna; Elizabeth; Mary; Emma; Sarah; Perry; Hugh L., the subject of this history; and Benjamin Franklin.
Our subject was born in Wilmington township, and spent all his younger days there, either busy at home or in the district school. As soon as he was able he bought out the other heirs of the home estate, and has followed the peaceful pursuits of the gentleman farmer since. If the condition in which a country place is kept is any guide, Mr. Means is certainly a careful and painstaking tiller of the soil; every rod of his farm, from the orderly home acre to the farthest back lot, shows method, economy and skill. So it is no wonder that Mr. Means is everywhere rated a successful and well-posted follower of his chosen vocation. The many specimens of his well-bred stock that pasture in his fields show that he has his father's talents in that line.
Before her marriage with our subject, Mrs. Means was known among her associates as Sarah Moore; she was a daughter of D. B. Moore of Huntingdon Co., Pa. Two children have blessed their union: Mary E. and David M. True to his family teachings, Mr. Means is an active Democrat, and stands high in the local political circles. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Means has a keen appreciation of the fact that our farming population is the very bone and sinew of the nation. He knows, too, that those whose fortune it is to be the advisers and leaders of this vast class must attain, themselves, the most careful, cool and conservative judgment. He shapes his daily life with the aim always in view of being of the utmost value to himself, his friends, his townspeople, and his country.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 9 Jul 2001