JOHN R. BEAN. Among the representative men of Jonathan Creek Township, Moultrie County, who are prominent in business, farming, social and church circles, we are pleased to mention the name which appears at the head of this paragraph. Although still a young man Mr. Bean has proved himself in every sense of the popular word a "hustler". He is aggressive in his methods of conducting business and has in him enough "go-ahead- ativeness" to stock two or three ordinary farms. His beautiful farm, finely equipped with fences and all buildings necessary for the successful prosecution of work, gives abundant testimony to his thoroughness and success.

James Bean, the father of our subject, was born in Monroe County, Ind., and the mother Elizabeth (Collins) Bean, who was a native of Tennessee, died in Moultrie County, in September, 1880. They first settled in Monroe County, Ind. and resided there until 1860, when they came to Moultrie County, and made a permanent settlement in Sullivan Township. They had seven children of whom our subject was next to the youngest in age and he was born in Monroe County, Ind., Sept. 24, 1854. He was consequently about six years old when his parents left Indiana and moved to Illinois and it was in Moultrie County that he grew to the vigorous and active manhood which we here recognize. James Bean removed to Kansas in 1887, and for two years resided in Clay County.

Men who have had in their youth every educational advantage, whose parents have been able to give to them a college and university training can hardly appreciate the feelings of a man who has had to struggle single-handed to attain his intelligent knowledge of letters and of the world which every ambitious man craves. To those who have thus educated themselves great credit is due and the accomplishment of their laudable desire should receive its just meed of praise. The educational advantages offered to John R. Bean were extremely limited and he may well be called a self-made man.

This young man resided under the parental roof up to the age of fifteen years, when he began life for himself by working for two years in a sawmill and afterward being employed at farm labor. Farming has been his chief business in life and to do it he has devoted unceasing effort. He was married in Moultrie County March 6, 1877, his wife being Miss Nancy Drew, who was born in this county January 5, 1851. This respected couple have been called upon to lay one child in the grave--Frankie C. who died in infancy. The three bright and promising children who are still with their parents are Ida A., Walter C. and Edna M.

Every enterprise which concerns the industrial and social progress of Moultrie County finds an efficient and active promoter in Mr. Bean, and he is one of the five incorporators of the Moultrie County Board of Agriculture. He is a stockholder in this institution and for seven years he has belonged on it Board of Directors. He has also held the office of School Treasurer, and with his noble wife is an active member of the Christian Church. He possesses a beautiful farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres, upon which he has erected excellent farm buildings and where he has made other substantial improvements. Every movement which has for its object the welfare of the farming community is of importance in his eyes and he is prominently identified with the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. In politics he is a Republican and he has been Chairman of the Jonathan Creek Township Republican Committee for six years.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 308/309

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