Adam Alexander BEAN grew up with the conviction that honest toil was the passport to success and honorahle adulthood. He was born December 18. 1896; the son of George W. and Amanda F. RIGHTNOWAR BEAN, in a log house on his grandfather, Ad RIGHTNOWAR'S farm in McClellan Township.

He attended the Rightnowar School where his parents had also received their elementary education. When his children entered this school, he was elected a member of its Board of Education; serving as President in 1938; Clerk in 1939. and as Director in 1940.

In 1922 he attended the Molar Barher College in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon completion. he and his father, George W., opened a shop in Mt. Vernon. In later years he purchased a shop in Waltonville and combined barbering and farming for a livelihood. Alex was industrious and steady, enabling him to surge for-ward in spite of difficulties and discouragements. He knew the task of gathering corn with the shucking peg in snow and freezing weather with a team of unruly horses hitched to a buckboard wagon.

In 1937 Alex purchased a 90 acre tract, later adding to make a 230 acre farm in McClellan Township; located in Sec. 16 and 17.

He first married Clara H. BLACK in 1923. She and infant son, Allen Eugene, died in 1925.

On September 22,1926. Alex married Mary Ann OSBORN, born April 24,1908 in Bald Hill Township, the daughter of John L. W. and Margaret KELLER OSBORN of Elk Prairie Township.

They have four children who live in Jefferson County today:
Betty Elaine, Sylvia Faye, Nada Rosemary, and George Alexander.

Mary worked at the Shoe Factory over 25 years and retired in 1973.

Betty Elaine, born June 20,1927, married in 1945 Louis M. KNOX, son of George and Elizabeth BOWERS KNOX of Casner Township. Thev live in Elk Prairie Township and have three children all married; Judy Ann to Bernard JACKSON, have Angela; Louis, Jr. to Melba ROEDER, have Matthew and Marcus; and Vicky Lvnn to James Michael CAMPBELL. have Michael Alan.

Sylvia Faye, born June 21, 1936, married in 1953 William SHELTON, foster son of Gale and Mary CLASPELL SHELTON of Elk Prairie Township. Thev live at Route 1, Bonnie, and have three children all at home; Michael William, Steven Blake, and Kristina Diane.

Nada Rosemary, born August 12, 1938; married in 1960 James Leslie FAULKNER. sort of Leslie and Glennes PARRISH FAULKNER of Mt. Vernon. They have three daughters all at home; Tammy Raeline, Rhonda Ann, and Misty Lynn; and live at the home place next to her mother in McClellan Township on Route 2. Waltonville.

Alex and Mary's desire for a son was fulfilled when their last child on March 1,1941, George Alexander, was born. He married in 1961 Karen Sue IMIG, daughter of Nelson Peter and Wilma PLACE IMIG of Peoria. Illinois. They have two sons; Gregory Alan and Anthony Scott. George is employed at General Radiator Division of Chromalloy in Mt. Vernon. They recently built their home on part of Alex's farm, located a quarter mile east of the home place. Alex's wife, Mary, and children still own the farm.

Mary is living on the farm at present. Alex had a wide range of interest. He liked to fish and hunt, being partial to coon hunting. He played the guitar and violin with his brother, Gerald, at many social occasions. Playing music has been a tradition through the years. Alex's father george and grandfather, Peter A., both played the violin. Alex expressed his faith as a Christian early in life. He was an active believer in the full Gospel and attended the Marcoe Church southwest of Mt. Vernon. He spent most of his life in McClellen Township where he was born. In the early morning hours of March 18, 1958, at age 61, he suddenly departed this life and was buried at Rightnowar Cemetery, located at the North side of his farm. He was one of the trustees of this cemetery.

Source: Facts and Folks History Of Jefferson County 1978
Submitted by: Misty FlanniganDec 15, 1997