Thomas Williamson Means

Thomas Williamson Means (November 3, 1803 – June 8, 1890) was a settler of Hanging Rock, Ohio, and a native of South Carolina. Together with his brother Hugh he became notable in Ashland, Kentucky, after he built the Buena Vista Furnace and became a director of the Kentucky Coal, Iron & Manufacturing Company. He was also the father of Ashland Mayor John Means. Means owned furnaces in Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia. Early life and family background Thomas' grandfather, William Means, settled in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and later moved to South Carolina. Several of his sons participated in the American Revolution. His youngest son, Colonel John Means, a native of Union District, South Carolina, became an influential and prominent man in that State. Thinking it better to rear his sons in the free States, he moved to Ohio in 1819, gave his slaves their freedom, and settled in Adams County. Ann Williamson, his wife, was a Carolinian by birth, whose mother, Ann Newton, was a relative of Sir Isaac Newton. Thomas Means was born on November 3, 1803, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the son of John and Ann (Williamson) Means. Means started his business career at the Union Furnace, then building, and he had the honor of "firing" it. Business career In 1837, Means and David Sinton became the owners of the Union Furnace, and rebuilt it in 1844. The following year they built the Ohio Furnace, in Scioto County, adjoining. In 1847 he built Buena Vista Furnace, in Kentucky. The Ohio was the first charcoal furnace in the country, which produced as high as ten tons a day, and was the first that averaged over fifteen tons.