Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Bean, Garret F. July 15, 1858 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

GARRET F. BEAN, one of the successful farmers and dairymen 
of Montgomery county, was born in Skippack township, that 
county, on July 15, 1858. He is the son of Garret and 
Catharine (Fryer) Bean.

Garret Bean (father) was born on the Bean homestead in 
Skippack township, Montgomery county, October 14, 1811. 
Until he was twenty years of age he attended school during 
the winter months, and assisted his father on the farm in 
the summer. He afterwards devoted his whole attention to 
farming, and after his father's death inherited the home 
place. He was something of a literary man and wrote a little 
during his spare time. He attended market regularly, and 
during his active life did some building in Norristown. For 
many years he was a director in the old Montgomery Bank at 
Norristown, and assisted in organizing the First National 
Bank, in which he was a director for the remainder of his 
life. He was a Republican in politics, and filled mane 
township offices, among them that of school director, being 
deeply interested in educational advancement. During the 
last years of his life he retired from active labor and 
resided near Creamery. Like his ancestors he was a member of 
the Mennonite church. Mr. Bean died May 31, 1892. He was 
twice married. He married (first wife) Esther Hunsicker, 
daughter of Jacob Hunsicker, a descendant of Valentine 
Hunsicker, who came to America from Switzerland in 1717. The 
children of Garret and Hester (sic) B. Bean: Susanna, 
married John Drake; Sarah, married Henry Fryer; Magdalena, 
married Jonathan Wousetler, and one who died infancy, the 
mother died at the same time.

Garret Bean married (second wife) Catharine, daughter of 
Christian Fryer, a well known farmer of Skippack township. 
She was born in 1821, and is still living at Skippackville. 
Her brothers and sisters were: Barney, a mechanic; Daniel, 
of Mingo; Henry, a carpenter; Christian, of Philadelphia; 
Mrs. F. Maddis; Mrs. Ziegler Mrs. Sarah Hendricks; Mary, 
never married; Susanna, Mrs. Hawk. They were all Mennonites.

The children of Garret and Catharine F. Bean: Henry F., a 
very prominent farmer, a director in the Royersford Bank, 
the Ridge Avenue Market Company, the Creamery Association of 
Skippack, and a deacon in the Reformed church, died April 
27, 1903, at the age of fifty-nine Years; John F., born 
December 2, 1844, a merchant at Creamery for many years; 
married, January 23, 1869, Sarah H. Hallman, they having six 
children, and died November 2, 1897, leaving a good estate; 
and Garret, Jr., the subject of this sketch.

Henry Bean (grandfather) was born in Worcester township in 
1788, and lived all his life on a beautiful farm of 130 
acres. He was a minister (of the Mennonite church. In 
politics he was a Whig and a Republican. During the latter 
part of his life he was a contractor and builder in 
Norristown, always residing, however, at his Home in 
Skippack township. He was a very skillful mechanic, and made 
the old-fashioned log pumps. He married Susan Ziegler, and 
they had one child, Garret (father). The name Bean is 
frequently found on the old tombstones in the graveyard of 
the Mennonite meeting house.

John Bean (great-grandfather) was of German descent. He was 
born in Philadelphia county in 1761. He was a farmer and 
served in the war of 1812. He died in 1846.

Garret F. Bean was educated in the common schools of his 
day, and assisted in the work of the farm. At the age of 
thirteen years he was employed as a farm hand by his brother 
Henry, with whom he remained until he was twenty-six years 
old. He then married and rented a small place, still being 
employed on farms in the neighborhood of his home. Later he 
purchased a farm near Creamery, which he sold, and bought 
the farm where he lives. It was known as the Tyson place, 
and is near Gratersford. It contains commodious buildings, 
and is in every way a good home. In addition to his general 
farming, Mr. Bean keeps a dairy, and raises all kinds of 
stock for market. He is a stockholder in several banks and 
has been very successful in his operations. In politics he 
is a Republican.
 
Mr. Bean married, in 1885, Alice, daughter of Josiah and 
Susanna (Pennypacker) Fisher, who was born at Zieglerville, 
Montgomery county, October 19, 1863. Josiah Fisher was the 
son of Joseph and Ellen (Hoffman) Fisher of Berks county, 
they being farmers. Josiah Fisher, a well-known drover and 
farmer of Skippack township, has been twice married. His 
first wife was Susanna Pennypacker, who died January 1, 
1892. Their children: Alice, Mrs. Bean; Ellen, married John 
Tyson; Jonas, a farmer and drover; Annie, married H. C. 
Longacre; John, a drover. Mr. Fisher married (second wife) 
Mary Kratz, born in Skippack township, the daughter of Abram 
Kratz. Abram Kratz is a weaver by trade and a farmer, who 
still lives with his wife near Gratersford, both being more 
than eighty years of age. The children of Josiah and Mary K. 
Fisher: Garret B., died at the age of eight months; Paul, 
resides with his parents. The family are all Mennonites.

Mr. and Mrs. Garret F. Bean have no children of their own 
but adopted a boy in 1895. This child is David F. 
Copenhafer, born April 29, 1889; who is in school and is a 
very promising boy.

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