[21-83] HANNAH HEEBNER, b Dec. 19, 1837; d Sept. 24, 1917; daz John and Susanna (Barndollar) Heebner [21-20]; m THEODORE WEBER BEAN, 6} May 14, 1833; d Jan. 20, 1891; 5 William and Mary (Weber) Bean.
Children (8):
Col. Theodore Weber Bean was born in Jeffersonville, Montg. Co., Pa., May 14, 1833. He attended the public schools, learned the trade of blacksmith, and followed that occupation until the time of his entrance into the Civil War.
Colonel Bean enlisted August 23, 1862, in Co. L, 17th Pa. Cavalry; appointed Ist Sergeant; promoted to Second Lieutenant Oct. 17, 1862, to First Lieutenant Nov. 21, 1862, and to Capt. of Co. L, Nov. 1, 1863. He was brevetted Major and Lieut.-Colonel March 13, 1865, and discharged by General Orders, June 20, 1865.
Upon his return to civil life, Col. Bean resumed his business and at the same time entered upon the study of Law. He was admitted to the bar of Montg. Co., 1869, and continued in active practice until the close of his life. In 1875 he took up his residence in Norristown, Pa. Colonel Bean was the author of ‘The Roll of Honor of the 17th Pa. Cav.,’’ a course of Lectures on the ‘‘Property Rights of Women,” “Footprints of the Revolution, or Washington at Valley Forge,” and “Annals of the Civil War.” In 1884 he published the ‘‘History of Montgomery County, Pa.”
As an orator, Colonel Bean was sought for on many patriotic occasions. He was one of the organizers of the Historical Society of Montgomery County and served as the first President, ten years. He delivered the Historical Address at the Centennial Celebration of Valley Forge, and it was mainly through his efforts that Valley Forge was preserved to the Nation as sacred ground.
In 1887, he was appointed a member of the State Commission on Industrial Education. He was elected to the State Legislature, 1889, made Chairman of Education, and was a leading member of that body. He died January 20, 1891.