Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1024 - 1025 

LEVI F. MEANS. Among the sturdy, energetic and successful farmers in this county, who thoroughly understand the vocation which they follow, and consequently are enabled to carry on that calling with profit to themselves, is the subject of this notice. He is actively and extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits on his magnificent farm of 800 acres of land in Illinois Township, his residence being upon section 17. He came to Kansas in 1883, and purchased 480 acres of land, to which he has since added the other 320, and has 600 acres of it under plow and brought to a high state of cultivation. Upon his farm he has three tenant houses, a handsome and commodious residence, neat and comfortable barns and substantial out-buildings, with beautiful surroundings.

            Mr. Means is a native of Marion County, Ind., born May 30, 1846, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Draper) Means. His father was born in North Carolina, Jan. 2, 1849[?], and died Feb. 12, 1882. The grandfather of our subject, Robert Means, was a native of the Old North State, and was prominently identified with the official life of that commonwealth in his day. Mrs. Elizabeth Means was a native of Kentucky, born March 31, 1812, and died April 20, 1883. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: Aaron, who was born Nov. 9, 1833, married Miss Mary Deakin, and has a family of three children, residing on a farm in Jasper County, Iowa; Martha, born March 28, 1833, married Charles Black for her first husband, and J. C. Sims for her second, and died March 2, 1883; John, born Feb. 22, 1836, married Matilda Asher, and died in Jasper County, Mo., June 21, 1873, having been the parent of nine children; Jordan, born March 26, 1838, married for his first wife Sarah Carrick, for his second, Margaret Miller, and for his third, Mary (Bray) Purcell, and is a resident of Jasper County, Mo.; Thomas L., born in 1840, married for his first wife Hattie Gill, and for his second, Delia Crayton, and is the father of four children, and is a farmer in Polk County, Iowa; Adam, born June 12, 1842, a member of Company H, 14th United States Cavalry, during the late war, married Mary Clerk, and is a resident of Guthrie County, Iowa, where he is a farmer and stock-dealer; Elias, born June 12, 1842, was a member of Company G, 23d Iowa Infantry, and died while in the service; Rebecca, born Nov. 6, 1844, married Levi Sprunce, who was killed at Milliken's Bend during the late war, after which she married Emanuel Davis, a merchant of Des Moines, Iowa; and Levi F., the subject of this sketch.

            Mr. Means removed with his parents to Jasper County, Iowa, in a very early day, and while he was yet quite a child. He was reared in the Hawkeye State, and is a splendid example of the graduates of the district schools of that commonwealth. He remained a resident of that locality until 1870, when he removed to Jasper County, Mo., and having been thoroughly trained to the avocation of a farmer, followed that occupation in that locality for some thirteen years, after which he came to Sedgwick County, as mentioned above, where he has ever since made his residence. He is in politics a Republican, and is at present holding office of School Treasurer.

            Our subject was united in marriage, Oct. 13, 1872, with Miss Mary Prunty, a native of Jasper County, Iowa, born Oct. 12, 1855, and the daughter of Ash and Mary (Shearer) Prunty. Her father was a native of Kentucky, who removed to Illinois at an early day, among the pioneers of that State. Mrs. Means was the third in a family of ten children born to her parents, as follows: John, a mechanic, living in Kansas City, married for his first wife Sarah Trabis, and for his second Lizzie Brooks; Ellen, the wife of Pleasant Auguston; Piercy, who is a farmer; Mary, the wife of our subject; Henry, who is farming in Idaho; Smith, following the same occupation in the same Territory; Charles and Anna, who died in infancy; Fanny, who makes her home with Mrs. Means; and Minnie, who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Means there have been born a family of four children: Arthur C., born May 14, 1874; Ash, whose birth took place March 4, 1876; Bessie I., whose natal day was Aug. 7, 1880; and Jay, whose advent was upon the 3d of February, 1883.

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