Sgt. Jesse Weber Bean (CSA)

(see "Time Line" & "Media") on this profile for more Jesse Bean files)

Born in Pennsylvania to a large family (first born son) / His brothers fought for the Union.

"Jesse went into __ shops in Phila. then on the old John Weber Farm; then (back?) to Phila." written on a note by his brother (TW Bean). Had two or three brothers and one son, Pvt. David Matheys Bean, (USA) , by his first wife, who fought for the Union. He was the only one of his line of Beans who served for the CSA.

Jesse knew about how to build mills. He did so in WV in later life. Perhaps he learned such things from the Webers, for that family had been in such businesses: Capt. John Weber was his grandfather. John's father had deeded him the Evans Mumbower mill, as shown in various ways.

Married (1st) Elizabeth Matheys, daughter of a prominent man of the Northern Liberties/Philadelphia who was Captain of the Montgomery Troop and later a state Senator in PA.

Learned his trade at Lumberville, PA through apprenticeship with Samuel Bard.

In the 1830's: One of Jesse Bean's jobs was as a fireman In Philadelphia, PA.

He also was a carpenter in Phoenixville, PA and, later, a saw mill operator in NJ just south of Philadelphia. Jesse wrote: "Run a big saw mill down at Pennsgrove about thirty miles below Phi’a in forty eight and nine"

Started in the South in 1852.

"Fitch Tenguard(?) employed Jesse and got him a job in the South (where) Jesse married Miss. Reed was much younger than Jesse. The couple raised their large family in McDowell Co. Jesse abandoned his children from his first wife. They were raised in Philadelphia.

Late in life, Jesse frequently wrote to brother Edwin about Iaeger WV and Ring's Branch.

Here is one extract of a letter written to his brother, Edwin, in 1895: speaking of his early days in Philadelphia:

"The Western Engines house stood at the North Corner of Schuylkill (,) Eighth and Gollonhill(?) (callowhill?)st (.) (I)t was then the first street west of Broad st (.) (A)n old Carpenter and builder (by) the name of Crow was the first President and I was the first secretary(.) (I)t was the first Engine Company west of Broad st (.) (T)here were two hose companys only at the time west of Broad st (.) (T)he Western was located down in the neighbour (sic) of schuykill (,)fourth and pine st (,) and the Fairmount hose out at the old wooden bridge at Fairmount(.) (B)oth of them hose companies were composed or maned (sic) by Brick makers and I have seen them come in from the fires fresh from the the Brick yards covered with mud from the Brick yard. The Old man Crow was a verry sociable old gentleman tolerable well off owned the house he lived had a good run of work and had two very nice Daughters the old man being President and big me being secretary of the company we allways got tickets to the Firemans Ball and then Being a member of the Old First Troop and John Matheys Captain of Continental Guards of Philadelphia gave me an entre to the Military Balls as well as the Firemans Balls(.) (A)s well as the Firemans balls we saw gay old times(.) (T)hat was along in the thirties whilst I worked in J Matheys shop on Broad and Willow "

accounts of the various battles that included the 36th VA infantry are referenced here: http://community.ancestry.com/ViewUserContent.aspx?uid=00d59916-000...

Headstone reads: "Sgt Jesse Bean, CO B 6 REGT VA INF CSA DEC 1 1817 March 22 1905" {this marker was not made until many years later and is in error.

Actually, Jesse's main regiment was not the "6th"... it was the 36th, according to his direct ancestors and his mustering out papers This makes sense as his company, Company B, the “Logan Wildcats” was recruited in his "neighborhood"... Logan Co. WV neighbors McDowell where Jesse lived….The 6th VA regiment was largely from Norfolk County (on the coast)

There are numerous letters held by descendants that place Jesse on various battle fields

http://echoesthroughtime.com/category/research/virginia-research/

In another letter Jesse seems to state that he was with Breckenridge at North Anna and Cold Harbor, two engagements in which the 6th participated and the 36th did not. Maybe he was with the 6th for part of the was and the 36th at other times...(?) As Jesse was an able carpenter, a mill wright, and skilled in such things as the building of bridges, perhaps he was detailed to various positions that required these skills according needs later in the Confederate War effort. It is widely if not a well known fact that, due to attrition, soldiers held more than one assignment during the long conflict. At the time of the Battle of North Anna, Breckenridge had moved east to reinforce General Lee whose forces were in need. It would make sense that members of the 36th deemed useful would have gone to North Anna and then Cold Harbor.

Jesse and the 36th VA moved North in the summer of '64 to fight the Valley Campaign.
He was discharged at age 50 on August 30, 1864 before the major Confederate defeats of that Campaign.

note that they timetable here is examined in the <timeline> tab here.

• After the War: Lived at a place he called Ring's Branch in the Sandy Rivr District of McDowell County. It was quite large and was eventually/moslty parceled out among his many children who sold out to coal companies and railroad interests.

again: see the <timeline>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_Virginia_Infantry

http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jesse_Bean_%287%29

As stated previously: Long after the War, Jesse wrote multiple times, on various topics. His brother Edwin was also in the lumber trade. (see his profile) This author (Mike van Beuren) has transcribed and posted these as part of this profile. Contact me through GENi if you need more information.

Example: Extract from a letter from Jesse Bean. Rings Branch, August 26, 1902 McDowell County, WV
~• the topic of this letter is the American Revolution in which many of his ancestors served, some with distinction.

"..... Whilst the British occupied Philadelphia they foraged the country for miles around for beef. Grandfather's Father had a lot of cattle and several others there had cattle, and were fattening them for the Army at Valley Forge. There was an Uncle of Grandfather's lying at his Father's house with a broken leg which he got at the Battle of Germantown. He proposed to let the British know of the cattle and then let the Americans set a trap for them and gobble up the British and the cattle. Grandfather being a boy about fifteen years old and knowing the country well, was sent to the Valley Forge Encampment with the plan and it was carried out successfully. After the British had gotten the cattle and paid for them in British gold, they and the cattle were escorted to Headquarters at Valley Forge. Grandfather then lived in Worcester Township near Skippack Road.

(signed) Jesse Bean

FINAL HOME

Place name: Ring's Branch, McDowell County
If Jesse and Nancy kept int he same place after the 1880 census, this would be in the Sandy River District.
Property records from the early 19th century indicate that Jesse's father-in-law was granted vast acreage in aand around Avondale and

passenger train service

The N. & W. rail line had passenger service at the turn of the 20th century. Maybe it was this line which transported Jesse and Nancy Jane to his nephew's wedding in Norristown (T.L.Bean to S,A, Hunter)
proof of service (https://www.newspapers.com/image/343223321/?terms=iaeger&match=1 )

"In 1890 the N&W bought out the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. This gave the railroad a reach north of the Potomac River and the Virginia-Maryland border, and a line with territory reaching as far north as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This would become referred to as the Shenandoah Valley Division."
Young Pastor's Scheme at Iaeger 1902: https://www.newspapers.com/image/667452945/?terms=iaeger&match=1

http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/49/4252/HNWR004.jpg Welch Va near RIng's Branch Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use. circa 1900

https://nwhistory.info/divisions/Radford/NWRad.php
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3701p.rr005600/?r=0.681,0.176,0.142,0...

Doing the subtraction, it was only about 61 miles from Bluefield to Radford: https://nwhistory.info/divisions/Radford/NWRad.php

contemporary (1910) steam engine in Bluefield https://wvhistoryonview.org/image/025616.jpg ; https://wvhistoryonview.org/catalog/025616

As late as 1959, trains were running from Bluefield to Jesse's per to the country: Iaeger https://wvhistoryonview.org/catalog/025891

list of N&W locomotives (there are many) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Norfolk_and_Western_Railway_l...

There was a short lived passenger service up the Dry Branch from Iaeger to Jacob's branch for the 1890's to c. 1908.. Was the Iaeger & Southern or the Iaeger and Western Railway? At any rate, the Ieager railway went defunct and was absorbed by the Norfolk and Western.. I do not know when passenger service stopped. There is a "Pocahontas" railway passenger car in a railway museum in Knoxville, TN.