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.

They crossed into Ill. at Shawnee town, Walter came on to Jefferson Co. and settled in Casner Twp.

Walter's children were:

1. John who came with them but went back to Arkansas where others of the family had gone from Tenn.
2. Jennie:
3. Thomas Henry. b. 1811, stayed in Jefferson Co.
4. King William b. 1812. stayed here;
5. Peter Michael raised his family here then went to Ark. because of his wife's health
6. Gency:
7. Russell Loving married Orlena DARE and stayed here
8. Conner: Asbury (subject of this sketch) married Susan SPEARMAN from Tenn.
9. 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;

1. Sarah Catherine b. 1846, married Raleigh HODGE and in later life Wm. Thomas; PETERSON:
2. Nancy Emaline b. 1851 married John REYNOLDS;
3. Martha E. married Charles Q. HUTSON;
4. James Valentine b. 1854 married Harriet Samantha MARTIN;
5. 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

Sharon