businessman, railroad promoter, b. Williston, Vt. In 1840 he moved to Milwaukee with his family, which included his sons, Irving M. and Sidney A. Bean. Here he established a general merchandise store. In 1846 he settled permanently in Waukesha. A promoter of early railroad ventures, he was first president of the Milwaukee & La Crosse R.R. In the 1850's he became interested in Wisconsin iron properties. After the Northwestern Iron Co. was organized in 1854, Bean acquired principal interest and began mining and smelting operations at Iron Ridge, Dodge County. His son, IRVING McCOLLOUGH BEAN was born in Willsboro, Essex County, N.Y. He graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha (1857) and attended law school in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He was admitted to the New York bar and practiced in Milwaukee until 1861 when he enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin Volunteers. He served as captain with this regiment until 1863 when he returned to Wisconsin to act as provost marshal. In 1867 he took over management of the Northwestern Iron Co. and held this position until the company was sold in 1908. A Republican, he was collector of internal revenue for the Milwaukee district (1875-1884). SIDNEY ALFRED BEAN was born in Chesterfield, Essex County, N.Y. He graduated from the Univ. of Michigan, and for a time taught mathematics and physics at Carroll College. In 1861 he was commissioned lieutenant colonel in the 4th Wisconsin Infantry (Cavalry after 1863), was promoted to colonel (1863), and was killed in the assault on Port Hudson, La. J. G. Gregory, I-list. of Milwaukee (4 vols., Chicago, 1931); Hist. of 'Waukesha Co. (Chicago, 1880); A. J. Aikens and L. A. Proctor, eds., Men of Progress. Wis. (Milwaukee, 1897); WPA field notes.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]