Celinda Means

This portrait was donated to the museum by Mrs. Edward Tozer in 1895.

There were two women named Celinda Means in Towanda in the first half of the nineteenth century. Both died at the age of 21:

• Celinda Means (1799-1820), daughter of William Means Sr.

• Celinda Eunice Means (1822-1843), daughter of William Means Jr.

The original card catalog entry for this portrait describes the subject of the portrait as Celinda, daughter of William (Sr.) and Elizabeth, and wife of Guerdon Hewitt, i.e., Celinda Means Hewitt (1799-1820)

Celinda Means (1799-1820)

Celinda Means was born in July, 1799, presumably in Towanda, the third of seven children of Williams Means Sr. (1765-1829) and Elizabeth Fox (1770-1851). Elizabeth Fox, a daughter of Rudolph Fox and Catherine Miller, was the first white child born in Bradford county. Elizabeth St. in Towanda is named after her.

Celinda's father William Means Sr. was the first permanent white settler in what is now Towanda borough. He built a log house there about 1784. He acquired substantial wealth through his various business ventures and, in 1816, built a "commodious residence" at the corner of present-day Bridge and Main Sts. in Towanda. Some time before 1913, the house was moved about 200 feet up the hill to its present (2025) location at 106 Bridge St. Means was influential in having the county seat located at Towanda; for a time, the town was called "Meansville" and "Williamston" in his honor.

Celinda Means married Guerdon Hewitt Jr. about 1819. Hewitt was born on May 5, 1790, in New London, CT, the eldest child of Guerdon Sr. (1767-1815) and Eunice (1795-1817) Hewitt. Guerdon Jr. came to Towanda with his father and three brothers as lumbermen in 1812. They built a saw-mill at Monroeton.

Shortly after their marriage, Guerdon opened a mercantile store at the corner of Main and Bridge Sts. in Towanda.

Celinda and Guerdon had no children together.

Celinda Means Hewitt died on Jul. 28, 1820, in Towanda. She was buried in the old Second Street cemetery in Towanda.

Guerdon Hewitt married Charlotte Platt (1800-1876) in 1821 and moved to Owego, where he established a mercantile business. He later became a banker. His estate was valued at over one million dollars when he died in 1871. His house is now the Elks Lodge at 223 Front St., Owego.

References:

• Familysearch.org

• Heverly, Clement C. Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County. Bradford Star Print, Towanda, PA. Vol. 1 (1913) & Vol. 2 (1915)

• Bradford Argus, Towanda, PA

• Yale Alumni Weekly, 1909

KSR 9/4/2025

Celinda Eunice Means is less likely to be the subject of this portrait.

Celinda Eunice Means (1822-1843)

Celinda Eunice Means was born on Dec. 26, 1822, probably in Towanda, the elder of two children of William Means Jr. (1794-1827) and his second wife Lydia Mathewson (1797-1840). Celinda's maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Satterlee Mathewson, whose portrait is also in the North room of this museum.

Celinda's father died when she was five years old. She lived with her mother in Towanda in 1830. Celinda was eighteen years old when her mother died in February, 1840. She may have lived with her half-brother John Fox Means, son of her father's first wife Eunice Hewitt, in Towanda in 1840.

There is no record of any marriage of Celinda E. Means.

Celinda Means died of consumption on Oct. 28, 1843, in Towanda. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Towanda.

References:

• Familysearch.org

• Heverly, Clement C. Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County. Bradford Star Print, Towanda, PA. Vol. 1 (1913) & Vol. 2 (1915)

• Bradford Argus, Towanda, PA

KSR 9/4/2025

Bradford Argus (Towanda PA) Nov. 4, 1843 p.

Obituary.

Departed this life, on Saturday morning, the 28th ult., in this borough, Miss Celinda Eunice Means, aged 20 years.

Death is an unwelcome visitor at all times, and under all circumstances, but especially so, when he comes into our household, and bears from among us one so universally beloved for her amiability, intelligence and general worth.

Her disease, consumption, although protracted and painful, she bore with the resignation of a faithful and pious christian. The history of her life is the record of her virtues, and is indelibly written on the memory of all who knew her, and their hearts is her best eulogy.

During her whole illness, she was never known in any way to utter a complaint, or murmur in any way at the dispensation of Providence in permitting an insidious disease to afflict her for so long a period. Two things seemed to occupy her whole attention — preparation for death, which was so manifestly approaching, and the furtherance of the best interests of her brother and friends. As a christian, sister and friend, she was a pattern of excellence. She was patient and cheerful under her affliction, and conversed pleasantly until her last hour, and sweetly fell asleep in unconsciousness.

———She was so bright, In her pure and innocent loveliness, We might have known she could not linger here! Soft as the gentle bending, green tipp'd bud Of the lone-lingering snow-drop; she but came, To taste the wintry coldness of this world, Then die away.—

But she shall bloom again; Beside those rivers of supreme delight, Which roll forever their transparent charms, Curling each golden wave, to the rich tones Which breathe from angel tongues, the flow'r shall live; Shall rear its peerless lustre, and outshine Time's fading beauties. Let her rest in peace, Cradled upon the bosom of her God, Nor storms, nor grief, nor death shall reach her more.

W.