Norfolk County MA Archives Biographies.....Means, John Oliver 1822 - 1883
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Author: E. O. Jameson (1886)

REV. JOHN OLIVER MEANS, D. D.

   JOHN OLIVER MEANS, son of John and Sara Means, was born Aug. 1, 1822, in
Augusta, Me. He graduated in 1843 from Bowdoin College. His collegiate course
was marked by close application. He was a fine student, and exceedingly thorough
in everything he undertook. His clear mind enabled him to grasp any subject, and
this excellent trait followed him throughout his life and was the foundation for
his success as a pastor. He ranked among the first in his class at the close of
the course. After his graduation he spent a year in the Theological Seminary in
Andover, Mass., and a part of the second year in the seminary at Bangor. He was
principal for a time of the high school in Augusta, and spent the three or four
succeeding years as purser in the United States Navy. He was stationed off the
coast of Africa. Leaving the navy he studied for the ministry, and graduated in
1849 from the Andover Seminary. Mr. Means married Jane Chamberlain Strong,
daughter of Dea. Elnathan and Jane (Chamberlain) Strong. He was ordained and
installed Dec. 3, 1851, pastor of the First Church of Christ in Medway, where he
remained about four years, when he resigned and traveled in Europe. After his
return he became the pastor of the Vine Street Church in Roxbury, now Immanuel
Church, Boston Highlands, Mass., where he labored for eighteen years, a
successful and beloved minister of Christ. In 1875 he resigned to accept the
position of Secretary of the Massachusetts Sunday School Publishing Society, but
was soon called into a wider sphere of usefulness. After the death of the Rev.
Dr. Treat, the American Board looked far and wide to find a man capable of
filling the position of secretary. They selected Dr. Means, and their choice
proved to be an excellent one. He was congenial to his brethren, and a wise and
efficient worker. Soon after his appointment, the Board received the large
legacy from Mr. Otis, and in accordance with the oft-expressed wish of the
testator, $250,000 were devoted to Africa. In this connection it may be
interesting to know that Mr. Otis had always manifested a great interest in the
missionary work in that country, and in the many wills drawn up by him the
legacy for this cause was always inserted. In his last will the amount to be
devoted to this use was specified, but was afterward canceled and the total
amount was given to the Board without any instructions. Dr. Means was given
charge of this field, and in order to better prepare himself for the important
work before him, he visited all the important countries in Europe and consulted
every one from whom he could glean any information concerning Africa. He spent
many hours with the King of Belgium, who was a very large contributor to the
support of Stanley's new exploration on the Congo. All the latest books and maps
giving any light upon Africa were obtained and carefully studied. He thus
mastered the whole subject of the geographical and political divisions of the
country, gaining an accurate knowledge of the people and their customs. So
intelligent was his understanding of the subject that his first paper read
before the American Board was noticed in the English papers and was prized so
highly that he was made an honorary member of the Royal Geographical Society.
Throughout the term of his service as Secretary of the Board he was devoted to
the work in Africa, and at the time of his death was engaged in an attempt to
establish a mission at Bihe on the western coast and in Umzillai's kingdom on
the eastern coast. His early knowledge of Africa and his earnest study of the
country made him preeminently fitted to undertake the work of Christianizing the
people. The Rev. Dr. Clarke, Foreign Secretary of the Board, once said: "There
is probably not a man in America so well qualified to conduct Christian missions
in Africa as Dr. Means."

   Throughout his life Mr. Means was an earnest student of matters in no way
connected with his profession. A marked instance of this fact was noticed in an
address on law delivered before the students of the college. On this occasion he
delivered an oration in which he showed a knowledge of books of law acquired but
by comparatively few of the legal fraternity. He was conservative in his
religion. For many years he served on the Boston School Board, and at the time
of his death he was President of the Roxbury Athenaeum and also President of the
Trustees of the Roxbury Latin School. In the spring, when his associates, Drs.
Clarke and Alden, were sent to Constantinople to look after the interests of the
missions in Western Turkey, Dr. Means took their work upon his shoulders, and in
so doing brought upon himself the disease of the heart that proved fatal. His
tireless energy and indomitable will overtaxed his physical system, but,
notwithstanding his weariness and prostration, he would not desert his post
until the steamer bearing his associates was announced in port. He then put his
papers in order, locked his desk, and left the office never to return. This was
in the summer. For three months he suffered the keenest anguish with heroic
fortitude. When told that his painful illness must soon terminate in death he
triumphantly exclaimed: "I didn't think of such good news so soon. Praise God!"
The Rev. Dr. Means died Dec. 8, 1883. The funeral service was attended in the
Immanuel Church on the following Wednesday, Dec. 12, 1883. The address on the
occasion was made by the Rev. A. C. Thompson, D. D., which was published, with a
portrait of this lamented servant of God. Mrs. Means survived her husband, and
resides in Auburndale, Mass.


Additional Comments:
From:

THE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND The Genealogical Records 
OF MANY EARLY AND OTHER FAMILIES 
IN MEDWAY, MASS. 1713-1886.

Illustrated
WITH NUMEROUS STEEL AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS.

BY
E. O. JAMESON,

THE AUTHOR OK "THE COGSWELLS IN AMERICA," "THE HISTORY OF MEDWAY, MASS.." ETC.

MILLIS, MASS. 1886.

 Copyright, 1886.

E. O. JAMESON, MILLIS, MASS.

All Rights Reserved.

J. A. & R. A. REID, PRINTERS, PROVIDENCE, R. I.


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