Person:Jessie Means (1)

Biography

“Jesse F. Means, operating a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-one and a half acres on sections 32 and 33, Marcus township, was born in Pennsylvania, April 4, 1856. He is a son of Nathan and Barbara (Fletcher) Means, also natives of the Keystone state, where the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred January 24, 1907. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in May, 1870.


Jesse F. Means was reared and educated in his native state and remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age. In April, 1876, he came to Marshall county, Iowa, and after remaining there a short time moved to Cass county,where he worked as a farm hand until July, 1878. In that year he moved to California and in the fall of 1879 returned to Cass county, working at farming in the employ of others for a short time. He afterward became a bridge carpenter in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company and after resigning this position he went to Missouri and purchased a team of mules and with them came to Cherokee county and engaged in breaking soil. After a short trip to Pennsylvania for his marriage he returned to Cherokee county and rented land, upon which he remained for four years, going at the end of that time to O'Brien county and purchasing eighty acres. After operating this property for one year he sold it and returned to Cherokee county, buying one hundred and one acres on section 32, Marcus township. He has since owned this property and from time to time has added to his holdings until he has now two hundred and seventy-one and a half acres on sections 32 and 33. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Marcus township, and is accounted one of the extensive landowners of his locality.


On January 11, 1883, Mr. Means was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Lynn, a daughter of Hugh and Catherine (Von Stein) Lynn, natives of Pennsylvania, where the father worked in the tanneries and also engaged in farming. He enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment and served eighteen months in the Civil war, and he afterward made his home in his native state until his death, which occurred in 1891. His wife survived him some years, dying in 1907. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Means were born nine children: Deborah, who was born November 14, 1883, and who married Louis Hazen, a farmer of Plymouth county; Mary Gertrude, whose birth occurred February 19, 1885, and who is now the wife of George Trienen, a farmer of Cherokee county; Jesse C., who was born October 11, 1887, who married Catherine Kelly and who resides in Sheridan township; Louisa Pearl, born November 11, 1888, now the wife of Felix Trienen, a resident of Plymouth county, Iowa; Cora, born April 20, 1891, who is the wife of William Treptow and who resides in Plymouth county, Iowa; Silas, October 22, 1895; Francis V., April 26, 1897; Judy Marie, July 22, 1899; and Louis W., April 1, 1903. Mr. Means attends the Christian church and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is one of the representative and substantial farmers of Marcus township—a man of integrity, ability and enterprise— and he enjoys in an unusual degree the confidence and good-will of the entire community.”^S8

According to his death certificate, Jess had been living at 31 West Alemedia Street, Tucson, Arizona for the five months preceding his death, at that home. The duration of the hemorrhage was 20 minutes, and apparently the doctor knew Jess and treated him only for that brief time. Informant for the certificate was daughter Judy Marie Means. Jess was listed as single, although wife Jennie died 3 years later, and there has been no indication of divorce. Jess' diagnosis of "pulmonary tuberculosis" on the death record is the first indication of this. However, there was a time that this term referred to any lung problems, and did not refer to the disease of tuberculosis.^S6

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Cherokee, Iowa, United States. GenWeb.

   Marcus Amherst Cemetery List

2. ↑ Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   [1]

3. ↑ Cass, Iowa, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T9).

   [2]

4. ↑ Cherokee, Iowa, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   [3]

5. ↑ Cherokee, Iowa, United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

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6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Arizona, United States. Death Certificates. (Arizona, United States: Arizona. Department of Health Services).

   Means, Jess F., death certificate

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Layman, Loretta. Loretta Layman tree.

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8.   Jesse F. Means biography, in History of Cherokee County, Iowa, Vol. II
   p. 228 - 229.

   [6]