Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885,
Hopkins Co.

JOHN W. BEAN was born in Todd County, Ky., February 9, 1850, and 
is the second in a family of seven children born to Brainard M. 
and Nancy A. (Oatts) Bean, natives of Todd County, Ky., and of 
Irish descent respectively.  Brainard M. Bean was educated and 
married in his native county.  In early life he learned the 
carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with farming in 
Todd County for many years.  His father, John W. Bean, Sr., was a 
native of North Carolina; immigrated to Todd County about 1808, 
and was among the earliest settlers.  The father of Mrs. Nancy A 
Bean settled in the same county in 1794.  In 1869 Brainard M. Bean 
came to Hopkins County Ky., and bought a farm three miles west of 
Madisonville, where he engaged in farming and teaching until his 
death, November 9, 1876, in his fifty-fourth year.  In the early 
part of his life he had taught school for several years.  During 
the war with Mexico he enlisted in one of the Illinois regiments, 
but saw no active service; his wife was a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church.  Mr. Bean, during the latter years of his life, 
was an earnest advocate of the temperance cause.  John W. Bean's 
uncle, William R. Bean, was postmaster at Elkton, Ky., for twenty 
seven years in succession, under all administrations, and served 
longer than any other man, except one, in the United States.  John 
W. Bean, Jr., remained on his father's farm until attaining his 
majority.  He then farmed on shares for a time, after which he 
bought a farm one and a half miles west of Madisonville, where he 
has since successfully followed farming.  In August 1884, be was 
elected constable for Kitchen Precinct.  He was married, November 
5, 1871, to Miss Viola J. Murrah, a native of Logan County, Ky.; 
to them were born three sons, all of whom are living.  Mrs. Viola 
Bean died January 12, 1880; she was a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church.  Mr. Bean's second marriage was December 10, 1880, 
to Mrs. Lucy J. (Grubbs) Emberton, a native of Logan County, Ky.  
Mr. and Mrs. Bean are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.  
He is a Democrat.

Bean Grubbs Emberton Murrah Oatts
=
Elkton-Todd-KY Logan-KY NC

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/hopkins/bean.jw.txt