My Genealogy Hound

JAMES MEANS, farmer, P. O. Hope Church, was born March 3, 1823, on the old homestead, where his father, Nathan, located in 1809. The latter, who was a son of John and Martha (Ramsey) Means, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in 1784; came to Allegheny county with his mother, and died in 1881. John Means died at Paxton, Dauphin county, and his widow, a woman of much ability, and of Scotch-Irish descent, came west with her six children—Nancy, Jane, Nathan, John, James and Joseph M. Mrs. Means died in 1851, aged sixty-nine years. Her son Nathan learned the tanner’s trade east of the mountains, and followed it until 1833, since when he has farmed. He married Elizabeth Cochran, and to them were born seven children, viz.: John A., Samuel C., Andrew S., Elvira A., Martha M., James and Robert S. Of these James married Margaret G., daughter of Henry Fulton, and they have six children — Henry F., Nathan A., William C., Martha J. and Nannie E. and Maggie L. (twins). Henry F. graduated at Washington College and Allegheny Seminary in the class of 1887, and is now preaching in West Fairfield, Pa. Nathan A. graduated at Washington College in the class of 1885, and is now practicing law in Pittsburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Means are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member of session; politically he is a republican.