Sarah Ann Means was born on the 29th of May, 1836, in Shelby, Indiana, to Robert Means and Martha Patsey King. Sarah had two brothers, Private Lafayette Freeman Means and James Robert Means. She hated the Irish immensely. It has been said that if Sarah thought she had a drop of irish blood in her little finger, she'd cut it off. Evelyn Nancy Schmidt, her granddaughter, never saw Sarah in anything other than a black dress-sometimes with a little lace collar, and a long gold pin.

Sarah married James Elliott Watson on the 7th of December, 1856, at the United Brethren Church in Wykoff, Fillmore, Minnesota. James had even built a house for his future bride. James and Sarah had 12 children; Levi A., Mary Elizabeth, Thomas, Evelena Nancy, James Guy, John Addison, Charles M., Ernest, Ira Alexander, Martha Ellen, Walter James, and Robert wilton Watson.

Sarah had also written a poem for James Guy Watson and Johnnie Schmidt and Lesly (her grandchildren). They all died at a young age;

The mother heart could say no more:
There's not an hour of any day or day of any week,
Or week of any passing month,
But one dear name I speak;
Yet not with unavailing tears,
As on that night of woe,
When When first from out my heaven of Life
It's stars of hope did go.

Now day by day i tread the paths
Of duty and of care,
Smile with friends who round me smile,
And strive their joy to share:
Whilst ever deep within my heart
There lives a ceaseless pain,
A tender longing for the step
That ne'r come again.

As sunlight dances o'er the waves,
Through wrecks lie dark beneath,
And pale sweet flowers adorn the graves
Where dear ones sleep in death,
As pitying nature strides to hide
The hurts she cannot heal,
So loving hearts, with gentle craft,
Their mortal wounds conceal.

Oh, sad and dark were many homes
But for the tender grace,
With - pale resignation draws
A veil o'er Sorrow's face!
And whispers this plea that at the last,
The blessed dead need not your tears,
The living need your smiles.

The two lived in Minnesota until 1905, when the couple moved to Modesto, Stanislaus, California for Sarah's health. James had a successful walnut ranch, and grew a variety of fruits. He died in 1909, while Sarah lived 12 years longer. She died on the 7th of January, 1921, due to pulmonary edema. She was interred in the Citizen's Cemetery in Modesto, Stanislaus, California.