THE BEAN SENTINEL A Newsletter For the Descendants of William Bean Sr. William Bean Jr. William Bean III, James Madison Bean Sr. James Madison Bean Jr. Fall 1998 Second Edition A CALL FROM THE UNKNOWN The date was Monday September 21, 1998; I was sitting in my office when the telephone rang. When I answered the person on the other end asked if I was Ed Sweeny, I responded with "Yes I am". He replied that his name was Brant Beene from Birmingham Alabama. He said he had spoken with Virginia Jane (Burrow) Retan (Virginia's mother was Pleasie Beatrice (Sanders) Burrow). Anyway Brant went on to explain to me how we were related. His father Charley Howard Bean (1921- ) is the son of Charles Brantsford Bean (1883-1937) who was the son of James Madison Bean Jr. (1835-1912), he was also the brother of William Henry Bean, my grandfather. Now, Brant's grandmother (Emma Josephine Culpepper Bean, the wife of Charles Brantsford Bean) was a related to the Lord Culpepper family, and coming from such royalty she decided that the name Bean did not have the flare that she liked. So she changed the spelling of the name to "Beene". Hence the name Brant Beene. Later in the day Brant sent me a fax with more information about his family. What is so ironic here is that, at the same time he was faxing to me, I was writing a fax to him because I wanted to see if he might know the names of some people I had found in some old letters left by my mother. My mother Lucy Mae Fern (Bean) Sweeny (1916-1977) was just a teenager when the letters were written. The letters were to her from some cousins in Starkville, MS and were written in 1932. They were from three different teenagers Hazel Bean, Selma Bean and Ralph Bean, In the letters there was mention of an Inez and Charley. I had read these letters over and over searching for information about these people, trying to figure out who they were. I had actually planned a trip to Starkville, just to see what or who I might find. Well when I read his fax, I almost fell out of my chair. The fax said that his (Brant's) grandparents (Charles Brantsford "Charley" and Emma Josephine (Cullpepper) Beene had five children. Ralph Arnard Beene (Memphis, TN deceased), Gladys Selma (Beene) Phillips (Birmingham, AL deceased), Inez (Beene) Jackson (Fort Collins CO, and Charley Howard Beene (of Thomasville, GA). This was great, now I knew whom these people were that wrote the letters. I later found out from him that Hazel Bean was the daughter of Robert Lee "Orie" Bean (Uncle Ora as they called him was the younger brother of William Henry Bean, and Charles Brantsford Bean mine and Brant's grandfathers). Brant remembers Uncle "Ora" as a fine man. What a remarkable incident. This solved one of the many mysteries about this family, I didn't think I would ever figure out who Hazel, Selma and Ralph were especially with the Bean name being spelled "Beene". Brant's father Charley is in retirement down in Thomasville, GA. (More about this part of the family on page 5 "Reuniting The Family") THE SANDERS AND THE BEANS Virginia Jane (Burrow) Retan (1934- ) the daughter of Lewis Walker "Jack" and Pleasie Beatrice (Sanders) Burrow, lives in Adrian MI with her husband Jack Lamar Retan. Virginia's mother Pleasie, was the daughter of Minerva Adeline "Addie" (Bean) (1874-1911) and Pearly Redwine Sanders (1866-1939). Addie was the daughter of Allen Young (1839-1885) and Elizabeth "Betty" (Connors) Bean. Allen Young Bean was the brother of James Madison Bean Jr. (1834-1891) et al. Allen Bean was also Pearly Redwine Sanders Uncle. You see Pearly's mother was Mary Elizabeth Bean (1832-1893), Allen Bean's sister. Mary Bean married Jesse Elbert Sanders (1831-1906). Yes Pearly Redwine Sanders married his 1st cousin Minerva Adeline "Addie" Bean. Allen Young Bean was born in Jackson County TN then later the family moved to Jackson County AL. He was the 9th child born to James Madison and Hollie Jane (Swearingen) Bean Sr. Allen was first married to Elizabeth "Kizzie" Arnold. They had two children that are known of. 1. Sarah "Sallie" A. Bean born ca 1866 and date of death is unknown. 2. Mary "Mollie" E. Bean. Born 1869 and date of death is unknown. "Kizzie died in 1869/1870 and Allen then married Elizabeth "Betty" Connors in 1870. They had Eight Children. All of their children were born in Paint Rock Jackson County, AL 1. William Henry "Billy" Bean.(1870-1934). 2. Arlecia Jane "Jennie" Bean, born Nov. 13, 1872. 3. Minerva Adeline "Addie" Bean, born Dec. 6. 1874. 4. Nancy Ellen Bean. (1876-1941) 5. James Allen Bean. (1878.-1920). 6. Eliza Ann Bean. (1880-1950) 7. Lee Gentry Bean. (1885-1938) 8. Lona Emma Bean. (1885-1932) Both Jennie and Addie married their 1st cousins. Jennie married her 1st cousin Eli Brantley Sanders, the son of Jesse Elbert and Mary Elizabeth (Bean) Sanders. I guess this made them sisters as well as sister-in-laws. After Allen Young Bean died on April 5, 1885 his widow Betty Bean moved to Elgin TX, along with her children and other family members. Betty died January 12, 1924 and is buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Elgin, TX. I want to thank Virginia Jane (Burrow) Retan for letting me borrow the above information from her book "The Sanders and the Beans". She does have a limited supply of these books and is willing to sell them for approximately $30.00 per copy, which includes shipping. She can be reached by writing her at 2829 E. U.S. 223 Adrian, MI 49221. UNLOCKING ANOTHER DOOR I know some of you have already read about the following story in "The Family Connection". A Newsletter about the Johnson's (apart of my family lineage), but I feel the need to run it again in the "Bean Sentinel) for all of those who haven't had the chance to read it. To begin with, You have to realize that the West Coast Beans knew very little about the Bean Family. My mother's father William Henry Bean died when she was only 6-9 mos. old, so she never knew him. Her mother told her very little about him. I was desperate for information and now my mother along with her brothers (William Kelly and Arthur Brantley Bean)and their mother had passed on. But there were still two Aunts living, one was Elvie (Riddenour) Bean widow of Arthur Brantley Bean and Lorene (Ferguson Bean) widow of William Kelly Bean. I decided to fly to Portland OR and visit with my Aunt Elvie. She told me that she couldn't remember anything, but she would try to help me out. Before I left there I not only knew my grandfather's name but I had the names of several of his siblings. After leaving Portland, sometime later I went to Los Angeles, CA where I visited with my Aunt Lorene Bean. She to was very instrumental in giving me not only the names of my grandfather's family, but she gave me details of trips she and Kelly had taken to Alabama and MS to visit them. What a mind this lady had, 82 years old and in failing health, but she was able to take me through most of her entire life. Unfortunately she died a few weeks after my initial visit. But a special thanks go out to my Aunts Elvie and Lorene for without their help I would have not found any of this wonderful family. "Now for the rest of the story". On Friday May 29, 1998 I flew to Nashville, TN where I was met by my Aunt Marie Darlin of Poplar Bluff MO (Marie is my mother's 1/2 sister and she has gone on most of my adventures in search of our family. On Saturday May 30, 1998 we drove down to Scottsboro, Alabama. The library had closed by the time we got there so we continued on to Birmingham, AL a much larger town with a much larger library. This library was open on Sunday. Tracking the Bean's was no easy feat. In fact it would have been impossible except for the long and intense interviews with my Aunt's Elvie and Lorene Bean. It was through their interviews that I was able to trace the Bean Family back to 1802 in Virginia. Before my interview with them, all I knew was my grandpa's name was Henry Bean and he died when my mother was 9 mos. old. My mother never knew anything about her father and she always wished she could have known him. Loaded with the information I had received from aunt's Elvie and Lorene, I went in search of Henry Bean and his family. It was while we were working in this library on Sunday that I discovered Henry Bean in the 1910 census. It listed Henry as husband age 38, Viola as his wife age 20 and a younger brother Jefferson J. Bean age 18. Henry was listed as a farmer, Viola was a housewife and Jefferson a farmer. I was totally elated, as Henry was the one person we never had any information on save for what I had learned from Elvie and Lorene Bean. After closing the library in Birmingham on Sunday, we decided to return to Scottsboro, Alabama so we could work the courthouse on Monday. We didn't realize it at the time, but Monday June 1, 1998 was a local holiday for Alabama, Jefferson Davis day, this meant that all government offices were closed. The library was open so we spent the entire day there. While we were in the library we discovered more information on Henry Bean and his ancestors. We found that Henry's real name was William Henry Bean. Aunt Marie had ran across a family history someone had written on the Beans around Jackson County there was just too much information for her to understand, so she brought it over for me to look at. After reviewing it I thought it would be easier to make copies of part of it and I would look at it when I got back to Sacramento. (we didn't have a lot of time on this trip to spend reading what we found, so we would make copies so I could review it once I returned home in Sacramento, CA) This way I could use the information on my next planned trip back to this area. Once we left the library and got to our motel it was after 10:30 P.M. before aunt Marie went to sleep. My adrenaline was running to high for me to sleep. I was still excited about finding my grandpa Henry Bean. Since I couldn't sleep I decided to review some of the documents we found that day, just to see if I could find anything new. It was about midnight when I woke Aunt Marie; I could not believe what she had found at the library. I was in total shock and just had to tell someone right away. She was barely awake when I told her and it took a couple of seconds ( not quite awake yet) for her to figure out what I was telling her. Once she was wide-awake she had me read it over and over so we could make sure we didn't miss something. Now we were both really excited over what we had found and we stayed awake just talking about it. A little later I called my sister Phyllis Ann in Sacramento and told her what we found. She wished she had been with us and assured me that she was going to be on the next trip we make. She was overwhelmed herself. "No, I didn't sleep much that night ." WHAT HAD WE FOUND JAMES MADISON BEAN born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1802 had moved with his parents to Jackson County Tennessee. It was there that he met and married Hollie Virginia Jane Swearingen (formerly Von Swearingen). Hollie was born in North Carolina in 1806. They were married in 1828. They then moved to Jackson County (near Scottsboro) Alabama where they homesteaded 160 acres at the head of the Big Coon Creek. This is where they are both buried today. They had 15 children of which 13 lived to maturity. Their names were as follows: 1. Nancy born 1829 died 1866 2. Sarah M. born 1830 died 1926. She was known as "Aunt Sack". 3. Mary Elizabeth 1832 died 1893. 4. James Madison Jr. born 1833 died 1891 5. Crawford Carlton born 1836 died 1914 called "Uncle Dutch" 6. Eli Brantsford born 1835 died 1912 7. Anderson Kelly born 1836 died 1902 called "Uncle Poss" 8. Allen Young born 1839 or 1840 died in 1885 9. John Bender born 1841 died 1904/1906 10. Henry Harrison born 1843 died 1872 11. Eliza born 1844 died 1885 12. Pricilla born ? died ? 13 & 14. Both died during infancy 15. Margaret Angeline born 1850 died ? All of the above children were born in Tennessee except for Margaret Angeline who was the baby and was born in Jackson County, Alabama. WILLIAM HENRY BEAN (The name William was found on marriage record when Henry married Viola) and Viola Johnson were married April 27, 1908. Henry was the son of James Madison Bean Jr. Viola miscarried with their first child then had 3 children. William Kelly, Bean born at Jackson County, AL in 1910, Arthur Brantley, Bean born at Jackson County, AL in 1912, and Lucy Mae Fern, Bean born at Ozark, AR in 1916 on the 4th of July. Henry died when Lucy Mae Fern Bean was 9 mos. old. This is just an overview of some of the information found. Once I have had the time to sort through all of it I will send out a more accurate report. I found a distant cousin while in Scottsboro whose cousin had written a book on the Saunders and Beans related to James Madison Bean Sr. The book goes into better detail of all of the above information. I will forward this information to all of you once I have finished reviewing it. After Henry's death in 1917 Viola married another man by the name of Mr. Norman the marriage didn't last very long. It is said that she wouldn't let him reprimand her three children. In 1919 Viola married Clifford E. Renick a farm hand working for her father (James W. Johnson). They later had two children Otis Waymon (Dude) Renick and Ola Marie (Renick) Darlin. I hope I haven't bored you with all of this, if you only knew what an exhilarating experience this is for me. I started with nothing on Henry Bean and with a few interviews and a lot of legwork I have pretty much put this side of the family together. UNUSUAL TIDBITS James Madison and Virginia (Jeannie) Bean Sr. had seven sons. Unfortunately James died before the Civil War started and was buried on his property at the head of the Big Coon Creek in Jackson County Alabama. All seven sons served in the war. All seven served in the battle of the Chickamauga (one of the largest battles of the war) Six of the boys returned home right after the war, James Madison Bean Jr. lost his arm doing the war. The seventh son Anderson Kelly Bean did not return home, the family figured he had been killed during the war. It was a year or so after the war was over that Anderson Kelly came walking home, the excitement of seeing her son and knowing that he hadn't died after all was too much for his mother and she died a short time later. It seems he had just been released from a federal prison, where the Yankees had held him as a prisoner of war. Both James Madison and Virginia (Jeannie) Bean Sr. are buried on the property once homesteaded by them at the head of the Big Coon Creek. Their graves marked with limestone markers. Sara M. Bean (Aunt Sack) is the only Confederate woman known to engage single handedly in Battle, during the Civil War she was left behind along with her mother and sisters to take care of the family farm. One day while the Yankee's were raiding the countryside around Jackson County Alabama some Yankee soldiers rode up to the Bean farm and stole all the family's chickens, cows and hogs. Sarah chased them down and engaged in a rock fight with the soldiers. Having won the battle, she recovered all of the live stock and the Yankee soldiers turned tail and ran off empty handed. John Ashley Shoots and kills "K" Bean It has been told that "K" Bean (the son of James Madison and Lucy (Elliott) Bean) was quite handsome and was thought to be quite the lady's man.. It appears that the Bean's and the Ashley's did not care for each other, but "K" and April Ashley had an affection for each other and this made John Ashley mad enough that he shot and killed "K". Once they found out that their brother had been shot and killed, both Marlin and Henry Bean went to the dance in town to avenge their brother's killing. Henry shot John Ashley in the middle of the back right where his suspenders crossed. This is the way the story has been passed down from Viola Johnson Bean (Henry Bean's wife) to her son William Kelly Bean and on down to the current generations. (I wish to thank Charley Bean for his input about this story). On Tuesday June 2, 1998 Aunt Marie and I visited the Jackson County, AL courthouse and were able to find records to substantiate some of the above information. We spent several hours in the basement of the courthouse going through old court documents. This was a dirty dusty job, as they don't keep the books clean. We found court records where Henry Bean was tried for the murder of John Ashley a man accused of murdering Henry's brother Kay. Now, for their part in the killing of John Ashley, Henry and Marlin were tried in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Alabama. The following news story was printed in the Scottsboro Citizen on Thursday Sept. 28, 1899. The Bean Trial "The trial of Henry and Marvin Bean took up a larger portion of the time of Circuit Court last week. The case was ably represented on both sides. Judge Tally for the defense fought hard for the Beans and made a strong and able speech in defense of them. Hon. Virgil Bouldin who assisted Solicitor Proctor in the prosecution, made probably one of the finest speeches ever heard, in a criminal case in the courthouse, and Solicitor Proctor also prosecuted with his usual vigor and managed his part exceedingly well. Judge Bilbro gave his charge to the jury Friday and on Saturday the jury brought in their verdict. Henry Bean was sentenced to the penitentiary for five years and Marvin Bean for two and a half years. The Beans as it will be remembered, killed John Ashley on Big Coon last Christmas eve. Judge Tally, we learn, has made application for a new hearing in this case." Note! They called Marlin, Marvin. Also. Sara Rhoda Jane Sanders (daughter of Jesse Elbert and Mary Elizabeth (Bean) Sanders) married Finnis Davis Proctor on May 2, 1875. Was it one of Proctor's relatives that prosecuted this case? We don't know yet. This next story appeared in the Scottsboro Citizen on September 27, 1900. Prisoners Sentenced and Taken Away "J.H. Hanby one of the guards came up from the state penitentiary and took the following named prisoners to the coal miner. Henry Bean; manslaughter, Four years, Bean is the man that killed one of the Ashley boys last Christmas eve night on the Big Coon at a dance." The rest of the prisoners listed in this article were not related to us. THE CENSUS The 1880 Census taken in Jackson County Alabama lists the following Names: Name Relation Age Occupation James Bean Husband 46 Farmer Lucy Bean Wife 27 Keeping House *John Son 18 *Eliza Dau 17 *Sarah Dau 15 *Martha Dau 15 Henry Son 7 Huldah Dau 6 Anderson Son 3 Robert Son 2 James Bean is James Madison Bean Jr. Lucy Bean is Lucy (Elliott) Bean. *The children John, Eliza Sarah and Martha were James Madison Beans children from his 1st marriage to Rebecca Ann Arnold b. 1833 and d. sometime after 1870. Henry is William Henry Bean who eventually married Viola Johnson. Anderson is Anderson "K" Bean, the one who was later killed by John Ashley. James Madison Bean Jr. (born at Jackson County, TN in 1834 and died at Jackson County, AL in 1891) first married Rebecca Ann "Annie" Arnold (born at AL in 1833 and died at Jackson County, AL sometime after 1870) in Franklin County TN on June 7, 1857. Together they had six children including one set of twins. After the death of Rebecca James married Lucy Elliott (born at Jackson County, AL in 1853 and died at Madison County, AL on Sept. 10, 1923) together they had 11 children. The names of the children fathered by James Madison Bean Jr. were: Name Born 1. *Mary Jane Bean 1860 2. *John Mathis Bean 1862 3. *Eliza Bean 1863 4. *Sarah Sallie Bean 1866 5. *Martha Bean 1866 6. *James Clinton Bean 1868 7. William Henry Bean 1873 8. Huldah Jane Bean 1874 9. Anderson Kelly "K" Bean 1877 10. Robert Lee Bean 9-1-1880 11. Marlin Hansford Bean ? 12 Charles Eli Brantsford Bean ? 13. Samuel Weaver Bean ? 14. Nancy Ellen " Nannie" Bean ? 15. Pearl Brantley Bean ? 16. Nora Bean ? 17. Jefferson Gentry "Jay" Bean ? *Children of James and Rebecca Bean. Are you getting that feeling yet? About how big this family really is today? Wow! "How exciting." DID YA KNOW Arthur Brantley and Elvie Bean along with their children Barbara June, James Kelly and Mahala Fern, used to sing and play musical instruments on the radio around Forrest Grove OR. Elvie taught them all how to play. (Arthur was the 2nd oldest son born to William Henry and Viola Bean) Sharon Gale (Bean) Grimmer, daughter of Arthur Brantley and Elvie Bean having never driven a motorcycle before, got on one at a hill climb competition and was the only person to climb the hill. She was given a large trophy for her accomplishment. (I've got the news clipping) . William Kelly Bean and Arthur Brantley Bean went to school in Indianola, Oklahoma. I have video of the old school house. It is now being used as a barn. (William Kelly Bean was the oldest child of William Henry and Viola Bean). On October 24, 1998 Robert (Bob) and Teresa Gilbert exchanged wedding vows. Bob is the son of Kellene (Bean) Gilbert. The newlyweds honeymooned in Maui. I had the opportunity to attend the wedding, and enjoyed it very much. Congratulations to you both! P.S. Bob. "Don't forget to take out the trash". STAYING IN TOUCH I have been trading Email with some of you over the last few months, so I thought it would be neat if we could all stay in touch with each other. Here are some of the other Email addresses for the Bean/Beene families. Charley Howard Beene (Son of Charles Brantsford Bean) of Thomasville, Georgia. Email address is charmil@webtv.net Brant Beene (son of Charley) of Birmingham, AL Email address beene@bellsouth.com William Phillips (Bill) (the son of Selma Beene Phillips) of Portland, Oregon. Selma was Charley's sister. Email address wydbdy@aol.com. William Arthur Bean (Art) (son of William Kelly Bean) of San Diego, CA Email address wbean@cari.net Michael Bean (son of Art Bean) of San Diego, CA Email address mkbclean@aol.com Victoria (Bean) Belmont (daughter of Art Bean) of San Diego, CA Email address vbelmont@rohan.sdsu.edu Kathy (King) Recker (daughter of Vonda (Bean) (King) Seal) of Denver CO Email address Krecker@denverrent.com Steve Gilbert (Son of Kellene (Bean) (Gilbert) (Adler) Cohen) Of Downey, CA Email address sgilbford@aol.com William (Bill) Gilbert (Son of Kellene (Bean) (Adler) Cohen) of La Selva Beach, CA Email address William.Gilbert@Columbia.net Take the initiative and Email all of your newfound relatives Introduce yourself to some of the wonderful people I have been telling you about. If you know of more Bean/Beene family Emailer's out there, let me know so we can publish their addresses for everyone. REUNITING THE FAMILY "KINCHYLE" (KIN-HILE) This is the cry the clan warriors would yell as they began to engage in battle. It was meant to unite all the clan as one force. Although I do not wish to gather all of us together for battle, I do wish for us all to be reunited as one Clan. I would like to welcome some of the descendants of Charles Brantsford (Charley) Charley was the son of James Madison Bean Jr. Charley married Emma Josephine Culpepper (she didn't like the way Bean was spelled and changed it to Beene). Charley and Emma had 5 children. They were: 1. Ralph Arnard Beene (deceased) Ralph lived in Memphis Ralph married Cleo Davis and they had 2 children. Carolyn Ann and Jo. Both are living near or with Cleo in Memphis, TN. 2. Gladys Selma Beene Phillips (deceased). Lived in Birmingham AL. Selma married W.C. Phillips and they had 2 children. William Charles Phillips and Richard Cary Phillips. 3. Inez (Beene) Jackson. Inez (Beene) along with her husband Arthur J.W. Jackson live in Fort Collins, CO. They have one daughter Named Jan. (Nothing known of Jan yet). 4. Charles Howard (Charley) Beene. Living in Thomasville GA. Charley married Mildred Ruth Hawkins of Starkville MS. They had 2 children Charles Brantsford Beene and Cheri Beth (Beth) Beene. 5. James Grady (Jimmy) Beene married Martha Sissom and Lived in Pell City, AL. They had 2 children. Jim and Chuck (nothing is known at this time about these two). I have spoken with Charley Howard Beene, he is 77 years old and retired. He is living in Thomasville, GA. Charley's son Brant married to Celia Jo Colvin. They live in Birmingham, AL and have 3 children living at home. Charles Walker Beene, William Colvin Beene and Elizabeth Louisa Bean (Libby). I would also like to welcome William Charles Phillips and his brother Richard Cary Phillips. They are the son's of W.C and Gladys Selma (Beene) Philips deceased. Bill has retired in Portland, OR and Richard is an Engineer in Birmingham, AL. I haven't had the chance to speak with Richard, but hope to in the near future. Bill retired from NY Life. As a General Manager, he lived in Palos Verdes, CA for 25 years and work in Downey, CA then in Orange County, CA for 10 years and Then on to Reno, NV for several years. When it is not raining he enjoys playing golf. Bill has two children. William Cary Phillips and Daniel John Phillips. Richard has 3 children. Richard Charles Phillips, Teresa Phillips, and William Chris Phillips. Bill says his brother is a very bright Engineer and spends a lot of time on the Internet in the science and information area. I want to share the following letter with all of you, it is from Charley Bean to Ed Sweeny. I had asked Charley some questions about our family and he wrote this letter explaining some of the things I had asked about. Dated !0/11/98 Dear Ed; I will try to answer the questions you asked as best I can. My father (Charles Brantsford Bean, last name changed to Beene by his wife Emma Josephine Culpepper) (I called him Papa) was shown by the 1910 Census as a textile worker as was my mother and uncle Marlin who was living with them in 1910. My mother was Emma Josephine Culpepper Beene. Sometime after 1910 Papa went into farming. They lived in Madison County, AL Near Hazelglen. Papa died when I was only 15, so I really didn't get to know him as well as I would have had I been older. I don't know why they moved to lonoke, Ark. In 1922. Moving with them was uncle Orie (Robert Lee Bean) and his family, and Aunt Huldah and her two daughters Lula and Leona, and Lula's two sons Kenneth Bryan and H.N. Mullins. They farmed there side by side until the terrible flood of 1927. The water lapped at our porch for over two weeks. That is why the whole kit and caboodle. Papa, Orie, Huldah and families moved to Starkville, MS in 1927. Uncle Orie had a friend there who promised them jobs in a textile plant. No, we were never rich, but Papa's job at the plant was operating a huge steam engine. (The flywheel was 30' in diameter). It powered the entire mill of over 800 looms and 20,000 spindles. As a small boy he sometimes let me pull the chord that blew the noon steam whistle. From what I remember from Papa and Uncle Marlin, the Beans and the Ashley's never did get along with each other. John Ashley and Uncle "K" got into a fight about "K" seeing John's sister April, and he shot and killed "K." Papa remembered "K" as very social, a great dancer, and horseman. When I knew Uncle Marlin, he was living on top of a small mountain N.E. of Hartselle in Morgan County, AL. That's where he died and is buried. Living with him his 2nd wife Modenia Smith Bean, his young son Billy and a small invalid daughter. His married daughter, Jewel lived about a mile away. I remember Uncle Marlin as a kind, soft spoken, highly intelligent person. I remember visiting him several times in the thirties with Papa and my brother Ralph. We would sit up till 3 or 4 in the morning outside with rags smoldering in cans to keep the mosquitoes away. Papa and Marlin talked politics and of the old times. My wife and I also visited him in the early forties. Papa and Mama went through grade school, which was about all that was offered in the 1880's. They were both very intelligent, and avid readers. Papa was very Politically minded, and we children had to be very quiet while they listened to the news on radio every night. Papa was a kind and gentle father and one of the most respected men in the community. His opinions and support were eagerly sought by local politicians, when they were running for office. He umpired all of the home baseball games for the mill team and I never remember any of them giving him an argument over a decision. You asked if some of the Bean's were mean and ornery. I understood that nearly everybody was afraid of John Bender Bean. He threatened to burn down the Bishops (kinfolk's) barn in a dispute over great grandpa's (James Madison Bean Sr.) farm when he died. He was also suspected of burning two other barns. Uncle Orie was somewhat of a rounder also. Papa told me they went uninvited to a dance, and when they walked in the woman of the house said "I smell Whiskey!" Uncle Orie replied " I smell shit!" That started a big fistfight and they were thrown out. Papa and Uncle Orie lived close to each other for the last twenty years of Papa's life. Orie's children were about the same ages as Papa's children, and they seemed almost like sisters and brothers to us. Ralph and Lankford had several joint business ventures, Hazel, Uncle Orie's only daughter was the first of the bean family to graduate from college, Mississippi State University and then Mississippi A&M College. She attained a PHD and was a professor at Clemson University when she was killed in an auto accident in 1985. Aunt Huldah lived with us or very near us for the last 25 years of her life. She gave me my earliest history of Papa and his siblings. She was one of the sweetest, kindest, unpretentious Person I have ever known. I believe she was very beautiful in her youth. When my family and I lived in Hartselle, AL in the fifties, we visited Aunt "Nannie" and her sons Carlos and Boyd many times. Her married daughter Carmen brought her to see us on holidays. Aunt "Nannie" lost a hand in an accident. They lived near the Whitesberg Bridge over the Tennessee River near Huntsville, AL. My father and Mother are buried in Starkville, MS. In the same plot are buried Aunt Huldah and my oldest sister Gladys Selma Beene Phillips. This is about the best I can do with your questions. I turned 77 last September. Let us hear from you again. P.S. I just found out that Earl Stanley Bean Jr. grandson of Uncle Orie (Robert Lee Bean) is a millionaire living in New York City, and he owns a textile plant in North Carolina. Signed Charley Bean. A special thanks to you, Charley Beene. What a wonderful story, it really touches me, hearing about this wonderful family and it just goes to show all of us, "What a wonderful and colorful family we are." Charley, please write more as you remember things, as I want to include all of your writings in our newsletters, for all to read and learn about this great family of ours. I think the younger generations will really appreciate what you have to say. I would like to hear from the other family members of this part of the family as well. I am sure there are more stories out there, just like Charley's. Please send any information you might have to me, so we can publish it for all to know. I have enjoyed communicating with Charley, Brant, and Bill and want to meet the rest of you. "KINHYLE" Here is an Email I received from Charley Bean. Hello Ed. Thanks for all the info you sent in your letter, Brant told me Yall had talked. As to your questions I remember very well when Aunt Viola and family visited with us in Starkville. They stayed at our house for several weeks. Arthur preached some at the local Church of God. We enjoyed the visit very much.. Hazel Bean was the only daughter of Robert Lee (Orie) Bean, brother of Henry. Uncle Orie had three sons, Lankford, Earl, and Jack Ted. All are dead now except Jack-Ted. They all lived in the Atlanta, GA area. I don't know if Uncle Henry married more than once. Yes I knew that Uncle Henry and Uncle Marlin went to prison for killing John Ashley after the Ashley's killed Uncle "K". My father, Charley Eli Brantsford Beene took me and my brothers to visit Uncle Marlin several times and I remember them all sitting up all night talking. I certainly would like a copy of your Newsletter, and thank you very much for your Email. Please let us hear from you again. Best Wishes, Charley Bean. ONE DESCENDANTS STORY Entitled BEAN FAMILY (By Miss Martha Bean, Chattanooga, TN) STEVENSON DEPOT MUSEUM, STEVENSON< ALABAMA 35772 This story is from the "Stevenson Story", by Eliza B. Woodall. James Madison Bean was born in Virginia in 1802, died in 1866 in Jackson County, Alabama. He moved with his parents when he was 8 years old, to Jackson County, Tennessee, to the vicinity of Gainsboro. There he grew up and met and married Hollie Virginia Swearingen, who was born in 1806 in North Carolina and moved with her parents to Jackson County, Tennessee, also. They were married in 1828 in Gainsboro, Tennessee. She died in Jackson County, Alabama, in 1867. To them were born 8 girls and 7 boys, all of whom grew to adulthood and had families, except Priscilla, who died in a terrible fire, which destroyed the family home. The fire was in 1848 in Jackson county, Tennessee. Soon after this tragedy James and Hollie moved to Jackson County, Alabama, and remained there for the rest of their lives. All seven of the boys fought in the Confederate army and returned; the eldest (James Madison Bean) with one arm and fifth son with one leg. James Bean Sr. died after the youngest son was released from the Federal Prison; the family thought he was dead. He walked in one day in 1867 and the shock killed his mother. This affected the son, Johns Bender Bean, for the rest of his life. Holly Virginia Jane Swearingen was a descendant of Garritt Van Swearingen of the old Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam (Now New York). Gerritt Van Swearingen, at age 48, married the Spanish Princess, Barbara De Barrett. They had 3 sons and one daughter. Thomas the second son, angelicized the name, retaining the "a" in Van and putting it in the last name. One descendant, Samuel, moved to North Carolina and was Jane's grandfather. One son, "Md. Vann," he was called, formerly cared for General Braddock's horses and finally moved to Wautauga Settlement in Tennessee. He lived to be 108 years old and married the sister of Rev. Walker in Tennessee. James and Jane are buried in Jackson County, Alabama, on the Haddon Farm in the area of the Big Coon Creek. Their descendants now live in Texas, Alabama and Tennessee. After the death of James Madison Bean Sr. in 1866, and his wife in 1867, three of the boys married and moved their families to Texas where their descendants live today. The others remained in Jackson County, Alabama. Of James and Jane's family of 15 children, the first 12 were born in Jackson County Tennessee, and the last 3 were born on Big Coon Creek, Jackson County, Alabama. Their children were 1, Nancy Bean, born 1829 m. 1st James Pippen, 2nd James Grider. 2. Sarah "Sack" born April 2, 1830, died June 7, 1926 m. John Matthew's. 3. Mary Elizabeth , born June 12, 1832, died August 28, 1893, m Jesse Elbert Saunders. 4. Priscilla born 1833, died in house fire 1848. 5. James Madison Bean, Jr. born 1834, m. 1st Rebecca Arnold, m. 2nd Lucy Elliott. 6. Eli Brantsord born 1835, died 1912 m. Mary Jane Arnold. 7. Crawford Carlton, born April 10, 1836, died August 15, 1914, m. Martha Alice Saunders. 8. Anderson Kelly born 1839, died 1902, m. Eliza Collins. 9. Allen Young born 1839, m. 1st Elizabeth Arnold, m. 2nd Betty Connor. 10. Henry Harrison born 1841, died 1910 in Texas, m. Nancy Collins. 11. John Bender born 1843, died 1906, m. 1st Mary Roberts, m. 2nd Jane Jacks Sanders, and 3rd Jane Rouse Gifford. 12. Eliza born 1844, m. John Bishop. 13. Deborah Virginia born 1846, m. Absolom Dolberry. 14. Evalina, born 1848, m. William Allen. 15. Margaret Angeline born 1850 m. Latt Reid. Nancy (Bean) and James Pippen had five children: Sarah F. m. James Jordan "Jurd" Arnold, son of Jeremiah and Betty (Stubblefield) Arnold; Mary Jane m. John Mason Arnold, son of John and Rebecca Ann (McVay) Arnold; Ellen Lucinda (1852-1924) m. John W. "Dub" Arnold (1850-1922), a son of Jeremiah and Betty (Stubblefield) Arnold; Margaret died young; Eliza m. Robert M. "Diedelow" Rogers. Nancy (Bean) and her second husband, James Grider, had five children also: Malinda, Sarah Caroline, John "Cap," James, and Isaac. Nancy and James Grider moved to Texas when these children were small. Mary Elizabeth, the second child of James Madison and Jane (Swearingen) Bean married Jesse Elbert Sanders. They were the parents of ten children: Sara Rhoda Jane; Eli Brantley; William Allen Anderson; Ira Elizavan (1864-1936) m. Sallie McCrary; Purley Redwine; Charles Edward; James C. (1869-1869; Duanna Euphema; Pleasant John (1871-1872); Nathaniel Milton m. Sallie Knight. James Madison Bean Jr. married 1st Rebecca Ann Arnold, the daughter of James Jordan and Mary Ann (McVay) Arnold and Married 2nd Lucy Elliott, the daughter of William "Boss" Elliott. James Jr. and Rebecca Ann (Arnold) had six children: Mary Jane m. 1st Benton Reid, 2nd General A.B. Collins; John Mathis m. Sarah Roseanna Money to Ellis County Texas; Eliza m. John W. Allen, son of Robert and Rebecca (Finley) Allen; Sarah m. John W. Shirley; Martha m. Robert Collins; James Clinton m. 1st Amanda Haddon, 2nd ______ Wilkerson, 3rd Mrs. Grant. James M. Bean Jr. and Lucy (Elliot) had the following children: William Henry; Hulda Jane m. John Crabtree of Franklin County, Tennessee; Anderson Kelly "K"; Robert Lee; Marlin Hansford; Charles Eli Branstford; Samuel Weaver died young; Nancy Ellen "Nannie;" Pearl Brantley; Nora; Jefferson Gentry "Jay." The fifth child of James and Jane (Swearingen) Bean, Eli Brantsford Bean, married Mary Jane Arnold and had seven children: Amma (c1869-1959) m. Tommy Lovelady, son of Pleasant and Elizabeth (Allen) Lovelady, Arra did not marry; Mary E. m. 1st Charles Edward Sanders, 2nd Mr. Proctor; Alabama "Bam" m Neeley Knight; Martha m. Mr. Bynum; Ora did not marry; and Lola did not marry. The sixth child of James and Jane (Swearingen) Bean, Crawford Carlton "Dutch," and Martha Alice (Sanders) Bean lived near Stevenson where all of their children were born. The children were: James Isaac (1858-1916) married Nancy Elizabeth "Nannie," daughter of John and Francis (Matthews) Grider; Phoebe Jane (1860-1915); Sarah Elizabeth (1862-1862); George Henry (1863-1948) m. Virginia Aurelia Hunter; John Crawford (1866-1949); Joseph Eli (1868-1911) m. Ellen Caroline Crabtree, daughter of Ben F. and Sarah Hughes Crabtree moved to Texas; Allen Anderson (1871-1937) m. Jimmie Grider, daughter of William and Dossie (McCoy) Grider; and Martha Alice (1876-1906) did not marry.- This material was sent to me by Dot Bean whose husband is Billy Bryan Bean. Billy's father was George Bryan Bean, his grandfather was James Isaac Bean, and his great grandfather was Crawford Carlton Bean. Thank You so much Dot. I would like to hear more from both of you in the future. BEAN/BEANE/BEENE FAMILY According to Charles Elwynne Atnip, in his book "Genealogical Notes On The Wynnes of Marion County, Tennessee and Jackson County, Alabama", the intermingling of the Bean and Wynne families of the northern Alabama areas began in Virginia. In fact, other families of north Alabama are also represented in the Virginia "melting pot", but none have so extensively intermingled as Beans and Wynne's. As Atnip reported, in the 1730's William Bean and William Wynne were the first to settle what is now Pittsylvania County, Virginia. William Bean later became the first permanent white settler of Tennessee, and his son Russell was the first white child born in Tennessee. While in Virginia, Bean and Wynne (who were both surveyors) had as neighbors Peter Wilson, John Russell, Robert Payne, David Layne, Sweetings (Sweeden/Sweeten), Lambeth Dodson, John Railey, Terry's, Anderson's, Berry's, etc. These family names figure prominently in the settlement of south central Tennessee and northern Alabama one or two generations later. At the time Charles Atnip wrote his book, it was believed that Robert Bean of Sweeten's Cove in Marion County, TN, was the son of the William Bean of Pittsylvania County VA. However later evidence has shown that this Robert was actually the son of William's brother, John. William and John's descendants moved into this area, most notably being Robert Bean (b. 1764,VA), who settled in Sweeten's Cove along with Dutton Sweeten and John Wynne. This cove is just across the line from Alabama, and many of it's earliest settlers are buried in the national landmarked Bean-Raulston Cemetery near the junction of US 72 with 124 at south Pittsburgh, TN. (for further information on the prominence of the Wynne Family in northern Alabama history, see the related article on the Wynne Family.) The extensive Bean Family history of the region has been well documented in various publications, perhaps the most significant of which was written by the mother of the submitter of this article, Mrs. Estelee Bean Rankin. Her book, "The Bean Tree", was printed in 1986 (the year of her passing) and consists of more than 600 pages on the descendants of Robert Bean and Martha Womack from 1764 to 1985. The Sweeten's Cove marriage mill mixed together chiefly the family names of Patton, Owens, Bible, and Payne with Beans, Wynne's and Womack's. Robert and Martha Womack bean had 11 children to start the Bean Patch growing in the area. After Robert's death in 1824 Martha carried on, outliving him by at least 16 years, even though she was 6 years older than he. In spite of having a leg amputated and being 66 years and 8 months old, Martha rode horseback from Sweeten's Cove to the home of her youngest daughter, Martha Bean Womack, wife of Levi, in Benton County, Alabama. Her leg is buried in Sweeten's Cove, but Martha is buried near Gadsden, according to tradition. She died sometime between the censuses of 1840 and 1850. She was 82 when the 1840 census was taken, and by that time she had at least 98 grandchildren. The roving nature of her descendants is typified in the life of her daughter Martha, who married Levi B. Womack, Levi and Martha and their children lived in 1850 in Dekalb County, AL. In 1860-80 the family was in Jackson County, AL, even after the younger Martha's death in the 1850's. Many more of the children of Robert and Martha Womack Bean also stayed in Alabama, of course. That they earned the honor and admiration of their many descendants is seen in the many , many namesakes that they continue to have throughout the generations, Almost every branch of the "Beanstalk" has it's Robert and/or Martha, even to this day. Their descendants are found in nearly every part of this great state and country. Interested researchers are encouraged to check their local libraries for books on this line or to contact the submitter for source data on specific families. Submitted by: John P. Rankin, 103 Madison Avenue Madison, AL 35758.Sources: The Bean Tree, by Estelee Beane Rankin, 1986. The Bean "Beene" and Wynne "Wynn" History and Genealogy, by Vera Beene Looney, notes of 1965. The bean Stalk, Quarterly of the Southern Bean Association. Genealogical Notes on the Wynne's of Marion County, Tenn., and Jackson County Ala., by Charles Elwynne Atnip, 1964. This article furnished by Dot Bean wife of Billy Bean, Scottsboro, Jackson County, AL- Thanks again Dot, good work. Dot Bean works at the Historical Center in Scottsboro, AL. The next time any of you get down that way, look her up. I had a fine visit with her while I was in Scottsboro, AL.. ANNOUNCEMENT 1st ANNUAL WEST COAST BEAN/BEENE FAMILY REUNION WHEN: JULY 31, 1999 WHERE: CROWN POINT PARK PACIFIC BEACH SAN DIEGO, CA WHOSE INVITED: ALL THOSE DESCENDANTS OF JAMES MADISON BEAN SR; "BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO THIS GATHERING OF THE CLAN" "KINHYLE" "COME JOIN US IN BRINGING THIS GREAT FAMILY BACK TOGETHER. IN THE NAME OF OUR ANCESTORS, YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COME AND MEET ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY. COME JOIN IN ALL THE FUN AND SPEND THE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY. THERE WILL BE ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES, AND FOOD. IT IS GOING TO BE A GOOD OLD FASHION GET TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN TELL OUR STORIES, EAT THE FOOD AND JUST ENJOY EVERYONE'S COMPANY. REMEMBER. WE ARE STRANGERS NO MORE. WE ARE A FAMILY ONCE AGAIN. COME A FEW DAYS EARLY AND ENJOY BEAUTIFUL SAN DIEGO, CA. WE WILL BE SENDING MORE DETAILS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE WILL ALSO INCLUDE A LIST OF AVAILABLE ACCOMODATIONS. IF YOU NEED MORE HELP, JUST LET US KNOW. PLEASE SEND ME THE NAMES, ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, FAX NUMBERS, EMAIL ADDRESSES OF ANY FAMILY MEMBERS NOT LIVING WITH YOU. WE WANT TO TRY AND CONTACT EVERYONE THAT WE CAN. "KINHYLE" If you have anything you would like to share with all of us, send your articles to me. I will see that they are published in the next Family Newsletter. You may refer all questions or comments to: Ed Sweeny 8112 Walnut Fair Circle Fair Oaks, CA 95628 Phone (916) 863-5628 Fax (916) 944-1788 Email Address: familyresearcher98@yahoo.com 8 1