Jefferson County PA Biographies
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George W. Means

George W. Means (son of Robert Reed Means), a prominent attorney of Brookville, was born in that thriving city, April 23, 1853, and has always had his home there. His elementary education was obtained in the public schools of his native place, and he subsequently attended Reid Institute in Clarion County, where he prepared for college. In the fall of 1871 he entered the freshman class of Bucknell College, at Lewisburg, Penn., where he was graduated in June, 1875, with the degree A.B.; two years later he received the degree of A.M. for the same institution.

In September, 1876, he was admitted to the Bar, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of law in Brookville. In 1890 he entered into partnership with Judge Clark, and shortly afterward B.M. Clark, son of the Judge, was associated with the firm, which then became knowna s Clark, Means & Clark. Since the election of Judge Clark to the Bench, in 1891, the firm has been Means & Clark, and they continued to hold a high place among the legal practitioners of Jefferson county.

George W. Means was married June 19, 1878, to Miss Emma E. Newton, daughter of Robert D. Newton, of St. Louis, Mo., and they have had two children - Robert Newton, who died March 26, 1882, at the age of ten months; and George William, Jr., born June 22, 1891. Socially Mr. Means is a member of the F. & A.M., and is a K.T.; in politics he is a Democrat. Ever mindful that the law is a jealous mistress, he has never turned aside to test his skill in the political arena, but has studiously devoted his energies to his professional work.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, etc.. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1898. Page 1065-1066, Biography of Robert Means- transcribed by Nancy Piper

Harry G. Means

Harry G. Means, the youngest child of Judge (Robert Reed) Means, was born July 7, 1864, and received his education in Brookville, and in the Lewisburg academy. In 1889 he entered into partnership with his brother, John B., and for eight years has been successfully engaged in mercantile business in Brookville. Mr. Means was married September 7, 1887, to Emma Smith, of Brookville and they have had three children - Robert Reed, who died May 30, 1890; Sara, born June 12, 1893, and William Means, born February 4, 1895, are still living.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, etc.. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1898. Page 1066, Biography of Robert Means- transcribed by Nancy Piper

John Barton Means

John Barton Means, the third son of Judge (Robert Reed) Means, was born March 30, 1857, and received his education in Brookville. After several years spent in hustling, and in various enterprises in different parts of the country, he formed a partnership, in 1889, with his brother, Harry G., in mercantile business in Brookville. On November 13, 1890, he married Ada M. Dickey, daughter of William Dickey, of Brookville; they have no children.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, etc.. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1898. Page 1066, Biography of Robert Means- transcribed by Nancy Piper

Robert Reed Means

1819-1877

Hon. Robert Reed Means (deceased) was a native of Greenwood, Mifflin Co., Penn., born April 25, 1819, and was taken by his parents, in 1821, to Curllsville, Clarion county, where he grew to manhood.

In 1847 Mr. Means went to Brookville, and in the following year engaged in the mercantile business. About the same time he was appointed deputy sheriff under Thomas Wilkins, the then sheriff of Jefferson county. In 1850 he was elected a justice of the peace, and served the full term of five years with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. Shortly after retiring from that office, in 1856, he purchased the "Railroad House," which he owned until 1864.

On July 25, 1861, he entered the 62nd regiment, P.V.I., under Col. Samuel Black, as captain of Company I, having entered the service for three years. He participated in the campaign of the peninsula, and at Malvern Hill, during the memorable Seven Days fight; he was wounded in the thigh and left upon the field. Having fallen into a little ravine, which shortly after, owning to heavy rain, filled with water, he managed to prevent inflammation of his wound until picked up by a Rebel scouting party. He was carried to Richmond a prisoner of war, and incarcerated in Libby prison; but after a short time he was exchanged and taken to David's Island Hospital, N.Y., where he remained several months. He then returned, on furlough, to Brookville, and after a residence of several months at his old home, finding recovery of his health impossible, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and he retired from the army.

In 1870 he was elected associate judge of Jefferson county, and during his term of office filled the position with marked ability, attaining, by his impartiality and eminent good sense, a still higher place in the estimation of the people than he had before enjoyed, if such a thing were possible. Upon retirement from the Bench at the close of his term, in 1875, Judge Means gave his entire attention to his large lumbering interests, but in the spring of 1877 he was prostrated by a violent attack of fever, which terminated in general debility, and finally ended in his death, on October 4, 1877

On March 26, 1849 Judge Means was married to Mrs. Sarah W. Clark, widow of Jesse G. Clark, and a daughter of Thomas Hastings, of Brookville, Penn., whose death occurred in Brookville June 3, 1889. Seven children were born of this union, two of whom died in infancy - George W., Thomas H., John Barton, Sallie A., wife of George T. Rogers and Harry G. Means.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, etc.. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1898. Page 1065, Biography of Robert Means- transcribed by Nancy Piper

Mrs. Sallie A. (Means) Rodgers

Sallie A., fourth child of Judge (Robert Reed) Means, was married to George T. Rodgers, of Brookville. In 1889 Mr. Rodgers and others from Brookville established a bank at Lamar, Mo., of which he was cashier. On September 18, 1890, he died in Brookville. Mrs. Rodgers now resides in that city with her three children - Mary McClure, Ruth and George T.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, etc.. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1898. Page 1066, Biography of Robert Means- transcribed by Nancy Piper

Thomas H. Means

Thomas H. means, second son of Judge (Robert Reed) Means, was born March 1, 1855, in Brookville, Penn., and was educated at the schools of that city and in the academy at Lewisburg. About the year 1879 he formed a partnership with Judge Mills in a mercantile business that continued for about two years when Mr. Means purchased Mr. Mills' interest, and continued the business alone until 1889. In that year he sold out to his brothers, John and Harry Means. On April 1, 1895, he re-opened a mercantile house in Brookville, where he has since successfully engaged in business.

On October 16, 1878 he was married to Mollie E. Mills, of Brookville, a daughter of John Mills; they have no children.

Source: Commemorative biographical record of central Pennsylvania: including the counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, etc.. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1898. Page 1066, Biography of Robert Means- transcribed by Nancy Piper