Pages 112-113
H.A. McMEANS ably fills the responsible position of County Collector of Hays County, Texas, and is a, wide awake pushing and enterprising man of affairs. He was born in Alabama in 1848, the eldest of four children born to DeWitt Clinton and Sarah Jane (Ivey) McMeans, who were Alabamians also. The father followed the calling ofa merchant in his native State, and after locating at Palestine, in Anderson County, Texas, in 1854, he engaged in business there also and did well financially. He was called fromlife in Palestine, Texas, in 1860, after which his widow and children removed to Louisiana, in which State they resided until 1869, when they returned to Texas, and in 1880 the mother breathed her last in San Marcos. The paternal grandfather, Isaac McMeans, was one of the early settlers of Alabama, and was a member of the first legislature of that State. He was of Irish descent, and in the State of his adoption eventually passed from life. The maternal grandfather, Jesse Ivey, was a South Carolinian, who located in Louisiana, and there passed from life. At the time his parents located in Texasthe subject of this sketch was six years of age. He wasplaced in school at Palestine, and there remained until 1860, at which time he accompanied his mother to Mansfield, La., where he attended school for a short time. In 1865, although scarcely sixteen years of age, he joined theState troops of Louisiana, but saw no active service. From that time up to 1869 he farmed in Louisiana,then returned to San Marcos, where he secured employment as a clerk. In 1874 he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, was re-elected to this position twice, and served in all three terms- six years. In 1875 he embarked on the mercantile sea for himself in San Marcos, and continued to follow this occupation until 1880, when he sold out, and for four years thereafter was a traveling salesman. In 1886 he was appointed Postmaster of San Marcos by President Cleveland, which office he acceptably filled for four years. In 1890, when the census disclosed the fact that the county was entitled to a Tax Collector, Mr. McMeans was elected to that office, and has successfully filled the same ever since. He has always been quite an active worker in the Democratic party, and was a delegate to the State Convention of 1892, and again in 1894. He was married in 1872 to Miss Alice Cocreham, a native of Hays County, Texas, and daughter of D. R. Cocreham, who came to this section in 1854 from Arkansas. He was born in Kentucky, became quite an extensive stockman,and now makes his home with his son-in-law, Mr. McMeans. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. McMeans the following children have been born: Lena Belle, Florence Ivey, Irene K, Alice Estelle, Julia Louise, Jesse Van Zandt, Roland, and Lilla Cocrebam, who died at the age of two years. Mr. McMeans and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and socially he is a member of the A.. F. & A.M.,the K of H.,San Marcos Lodge No. 119 of the K of P., the Woodmen of the World, and the I.O.O.F. He is a genial and intelligent gentleman of social tastes, is an efficient county official, is a shrewd and practical man of business and a public- spirited and useful citizen.