Transcript:Indiana, United States. Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties/B/Bean, John

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John Bean (p 591)

John Bean, an honored pioneer of Green Township, Wayne County, was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1816. He was one of ten children whose parents were Samuel and Catherine (Myers) Bean. The former, born in the Keystone state, September 3, 1774, removed with his family to Ohio about 1823, and from that time until death he and his estimable wife dwelt at their home in Lebanon, Warren County. The Bean family is truly remarkable in longevity, and of the ten children referred to above Henry was ninety-one years of age at the time of his death, while all of the other brothers and sisters who have passed to their reward were over four-score years at death, and two of the four who survive are also over eighty years of age. Of those living, Mrs. Sarah Hathaway and Mrs. Mary Banta are residents of Ohio, while John and Mrs. Lydia Ludlum represent the family in this county, the latter dwelling in Clay Township. Those deceased are: Henry, Mrs. Elizabeth Stoner, Mrs. Maria Lilly, Mrs. Catherine Whitteman, Samuel and Mrs. Nancy Black.

John Bean married Elizabeth Evans, December 8, 1842, in Ohio. She was born on the farm where they now live, November 3, 1824. Her paternal grandfather, Joseph Evans, was born in New Jersey, where he grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Bishop, who died, leaving five children. Mr. Evans married again, and had five children by his second union. He located in Ohio subsequently to his second marriage and passed the remainder of his life there, in the meantime, however, coming to Wayne County and entering a large tract of land, which he later divided among his children. A part of this property fell to the share of Mrs. Bean's father, Joseph Evans, Jr., who was born in New Jersey, February 3, 1797, his mother, Elizabeth (Bishop) Evans, dying at his birth. He accompanied the family to Ohio, and there wedded Amy Hormel, who died April 29, 1835, at the age of thirty-one years and left six children. Of these, Mrs. Bean is the oldest one now living; her brothers, Japhet and Elias, are living in Ohio; and Emily is the wife of Amos Crain, of the same state. George died in January 1883, aged sixty-one years, and one brother died in infancy.

In 1843, Mr. and Mrs. Bean came to Wayne County, but remained here but a year, then returning to the Buckeye state. In 1850, they came back to Indiana, where they have since continued to make their home, their farm being a portion of the original tract entered from the government by Joseph Evans, Sr. They led active and useful lives until "old age crept on apace," and none of the inhabitants of this county are held in higher esteem. In view of their years, they enjoy excellent health for the most part, and are passing their declining days in content and happiness, having few regrets for the past. To their judiciously applied energy in past years they owe the fine and valuable homestead, which now yields abundant harvests, and their home is supplied with all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. They are attended by the loving, filial solicitude of their daughter, Mrs. Emily Quigg, who makes her home with them. They had six children, five of whom are still living, namely: Rosella, wife of Washington Stickelman: Mrs. Adella Estep, Mrs. Georgiana Moorman, Mrs. Quigg and Mrs. Nena Reynolds.