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. In 1825, they left Tenn. with a wagon train, heading to Jefferson Co. Ill. According to family stories, they lost their way in a blinding snow storm in the Mts. of Tenn. Walter, driver of the lead wagon, dropped the reins and let his horses pick their own way. This faithful team led them all through to safety, and out of gratitude were given such special care that they both lived to be 29 years old.

They crossed into Ill. at Shawnee town, Walter came on to Jefferson Co. and settled in Canner Twp. Walter's children were: John who came with them but went back to Arkansas where others of the family had gone from Tenn.: Jennie: Thomas Henry. b. 1811, stayed in Jefferson Co.; King William. b. 1812. stayed here; Peter Michael raised his family here then went to Ark. because of his wife's health: Gency: Russell Loving married Orlena DARE and stayed here; Conner: Asbury (subject of this sketch) married Susan SPEARMAN from Tenn. 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; Sarah Catherine b. 1846, married Raleigh HODGE and in later life Wm. Thomas  PETERSON: Nancy Emaline b. 1851 married John  REYNOLDS; Martha E. married Charles Q. HUTSON; James
Valentine b. 1854 married Harriet Samantha MARTIN; 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

***NOTE**** 

For those of you who are researching the above family, Conner is my great great grandfather. He fought for the Union and was discharged in Minnesota (of all places! Does anyone know what part Minnesota played in the civil War?) and died in Gerard Kansas. His wife and children were in Arkansas by the 1870 census, and his son William F. moved to Oklahoma via wagon train in 1903, where my grandfather William Jasper married and left ultimately for Idaho. There are many of us now living in Idaho. I will share what info I have on this line with anyone interested. Does anyone have more information on the William BEAN in Scotland and Ireland?
sharon