Asbury BEAN was born in Jefferson Co. 1826, the 10th child of
Walter and Elizabeth MCGAILLARD BEAN, early settlers in Casner Tsp. They
descend from William BEAN and Naomi BATES who were born in Scotland, married
and had 3 children in Ireland. They sailed to America on the ship "Admiral
Hawk" in 1767 and settled on a land grant in So. Carolina in Laurens Co.
Later they moved to Old Burke Co. N. Car. (then Dist. 96). One son who
came to America with them was William Jr. who first married Celia WYATT
then Ann SCOTT (dau. of William [l728] and Mary [1733] both born in Scotland).
William Jr. served in the Revolution as a private in the militia, in
action at Charlestown, So. Car. in 1779, the year of his son Walter's birth.
Wm. Jr. had a sister who married a STORMENT that came to Jefferson Co.
too, probably at the same time that her nephew Walter came.
About 1800, Walter and Elizabeth, his parents, and four brothers left
N. Car, The father went to Elkton Ky, and the boys to Franklin Co. Tenn.
Walter and Elizabeth had 9 of their 11 children there. In 1825, they left
Tenn. with a wagon train, heading to Jefferson Co. Ill. According to family
stories, they lost their way in a blinding snow storm in the Mts. of Tenn.
Walter, driver of the lead wagon, dropped the reins and let his horses
pick their own way. This faithful team led them all through to safety,
and out of gratitude were given such special care that they both lived
to be 29 years old.
They crossed into Ill. at Shawnee town, Walter came on to Jefferson
Co. and settled in Canner Twp. Walter's children were: John who came with
them but went back to Arkansas where others of the family had gone from
Tenn.: Jennie: Thomas Henry. b. 1811, stayed in Jefferson Co.; King William.
b. 1812. stayed here; Peter Michael raised his family here then went to
Ark. because of his wife's health: Gency: Russell Loving married Orlena
DARE and stayed here; Conner: Asbury (subject of this sketch) married Susan
SPEARMAN from Tenn. G. Francis Marion, the youngest, went to Gallatin Co.
Ill. Walter, the father married a second time in Jefferson Co. (1838) to
Katherine KIMBRO. They
went to Gallatin Co., and died there. Asbury and Susan settled in the
"Buzzard Roost" area south of what is now Nason, where they were neighbors
to the HESTER, HODGE, ROBERSON, and HENDERSON families. Five of their ten
children grew to maturity; Sarah Catherine b. 1846, married Raleigh HODGE
and in later life Wm. Thomas PETERSON: Nancy Emaline b. 1851 married
John REYNOLDS; Martha E. married Charles Q. HUTSON; James
Valentine b. 1854 married Harriet Samantha MARTIN; Susan C. B. 1858
married John Stonewall HESTER, but died young.
Asbury was a sgt. in Co. B. 60th Inf. during the Civil War. He died
in 1863 while in the service, and is buried in a national cemetery in Tenn.
His brother G. F. M. BEAN was a 2nd Lieut. Co. H. 120th 111. Vol. lnf.
Following Asbury's death, Susan remarried William BAKER of
Elk Prairie,
and they had Joseph and Alonzo BAKER. William had 10 children by his first
wife, making a total of 23 children between them. Susan is buried at Abner
Cemetery.
Source: Facts and Folks History Of Jefferson County 1978
Submitted by: Misty Flannigan Dec 15, 1997
***NOTE****
For those of you who are researching the above family, Conner is my
great great grandfather. He fought for the Union and was discharged in
Minnesota (of all places! Does anyone know what part Minnesota played in
the civil War?) and died in Gerard Kansas. His wife and children were in
Arkansas by the 1870 census, and his son William F. moved to Oklahoma via
wagon train in 1903, where my grandfather William Jasper married and left
ultimately for Idaho. There are many of us now living in Idaho. I will
share what info I have on this line with anyone interested. Does anyone
have more information on the William BEAN in Scotland and Ireland?
sharon
