James Valentine Bean was born in 1854 in Elk Prairie Township, the son of Asbury and Susan Spearman Bean. James was 10 years old when his father died in the Civil War and his mother married William Baker, also of Elk Prairie.

In 1876, James V. married Harriet Samantha Martin, daughter of Robert Bartis and Maranda Samantha Greenwood Martin, and they farmed and raised their family of 11 children just west of Nason mine. Their six children who grew to matunty are:

1. Susan Ann (1877-1901) m. Franklin Pierce Hester. They had Olin 0., Hazel, and Glen, who died young.
2. Robert Irvin (1880-1956) married Rado Smith and had Smith Cullen who married Lucille Hirons, and Thelma Louise (James Norval) True. Robert and Rado are buried at Oakwood Cemetery.
3. General Logan (1885-1950) married Berthal Maneese, lived in Elk Prairie and had: Helen (Anton) Bichanich who had Joyce Sue, Becky Ann, Jackie Anton, and Benny Joe; Nelda Maxine (Knox) Rowe had Richard Dale and Barbara Ellen; Dorothy (Clyde Newman) Beckham had John Davie and Judith Ann; Rosemary (Oliver Perry) Hirons had Patricia Kay and Harriet Lynn; Ruth Adeline (Leonard Gene) Woelful had Rodney Gene and Marsha Lynn. General and Berthal are buried at Abner Cemetery.
4. James Allen (1893-1958) married Rose Mary Castle and raised their family in Winona, Minnesota. Their children are: James Castle, John Robert, William Paul, and Joan Rose.
5. Lowell Casner (1896-1977) married Georgia Mae Peterson. Their daughter Betty (Fred) Hays has one son, Steven Carl. They lived in the Dareville area.
6. Alice Mae (b. 1899) is the only surviving member of this family. She married Everett Hugh Collms and they live in McClellan Twp. Their son Everett Hugh Jr., married Evelyn Loraine Wolton and had Linda Lynette and Don Corey; their daughter, June Darlene (William Ross) Carroll had Alicia Marie and William Everett.
7. Daisy (1902-1935) married Orlia Kelley and had: James Burton, who married Norma Lee Lykes and had James Bruce; Kenneth Lowell who married Marjorie Ann Piper and had Jerry Lowell, Dennis Lynn, and Brenda Joyce.; Orlia Dwight, who married Edna Ruth Green and had DanIel James, Ruth Loreen, Dena Louise, and Jack Dwight. Daisy, the mother, is buried at Abner Cemetery.

Harriet's brothers were Bartis K. and John Irvin Martin. Her father married second, Isabell Drennan and had Lee and Minerva Martin. Lee married Nevada Beckham and Minerva married Joseph Baker, James V.'s half brother.

*NOTE* Some ommisions may have occured to protect living individuals.

"Facts and Folks A History of Jefferson County, Illinois"
Jefferson County Historical Society
Printed by Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX Page 88
Submitted by Sandy Whalen Bauer