Person Page

Josiah Hildebran married Sarah Jane Bean, daughter of Andrew Bean and Margaret E. White, circa 1860.

Ella S. Gregg was born on 31 March 1851 in Ft. Madison, Iowa. She was the daughter of Silas Gregg and Abby Amanda Hornby. Ella S. Gregg married David White Bean, son of Andrew Bean and Margaret E. White, on 27 November 1873 in Ft. Madison, Iowa. Ella S. Gregg died on 18 February 1935 in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa, at age 83 years, 10 months and 15 days.

From family stories, it appears Ella's grandchildren, Alfred, Barbara, Margaret & Dorothy Bean, called both their grandmothers, Ella Gregg Bean and Maggie Lewis O'Bryan, "Dandeen."Click Icon to see photos of Ella and her children.

Ella S. was also known as Ellen S. and Sarah Ellen Gregg. In a "Family Record" of births which probably belonged to Ella/Ellen, her name is written as Ellen S. Gregg. Then she is listed as Ella in another Bible which I have copies of (I believe this was David White Bean's personal Bible which my Uncle Alfred Bean has in his possession). Also, their marriage certificate states her name as Ella S. Gregg.¹

Alfred Oscar Bean was born on 16 December 1874 in Greenville, Pennsylvania. He was the son of David White Bean and Ella S. Gregg. Alfred Oscar Bean died on 18 March 1898 in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa, at age 23 years, 3 months and 2 days.

DENMARK
Denmark, Ia., March 22. -- (Correspondence.) -- The death angel has again visited this place and taken one of our young men from us. The funeral service of Alfred Bean took place at his home Sunday at 3 o'clock, Rev. Ewell officiating, assisted by Rev. C. J. Eddy. Rev. Ewell took his text from the words "He calleth thee" and made his remarks very appropriate for the occasion. The music was furnished by Mrs. Hattie Whitmarsh, Miss Lillian Day, Mr. Harry Dow and Mr. Asa Houston, with Miss Addie Whitmarsh at the organ. The services were very impressive throughout. A very beautiful anchor of flowers was furnished by his young gentlement friends, also a bouquet of three white lilies and a wreath of flowers was given by the young lady friends. The pall-bearers were Asa T. Hoaston, Dr. C.E. Cook, C.A. Schowalter, Eugene and Wilbert Sloat and Fred Colton. The funeral was very largely attended and the family have the sympathy of the entire community. Alfred Oscar Bean was born December 16, 1874, near Greenville, Pa., and came to Iowa January, 1877. His home has been in Denmark for the last fifteen years.

Click Icon to see photos of Fred and his family in the Family Photo Gallery.¹

Bessie May Bean was born on 6 August 1876 in Meadville, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of David White Bean and Ella S. Gregg. Bessie May Bean married Dr. Carroll Eugene Cook, son of Edwin Cook and Mary Kemble, on 21 February 1899 in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa. Bessie May Bean died in 1965 in Burlington, Iowa, at age 88 years.

Click Icon to see photos of Bessie and her family in the Family Photo Gallery.

Newspaper clipping regarding the marriage of Bessie May:

NEW LONDON. New London, Ia., Feb. 22 -- (Correspondence.) -- Dr. C.E. Cook, of this place, was married yesterday evening in Denmark, Iowa, to Miss Bessie Bean, a most estimable and cultured young lady of that village. They will be at home to their friends after March 1. Dr. Cook located in New London about two years ago, having just graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago. During his residence here he has made many friends, and is recognized as a promising young physician. His bride will be a valuable addition to the church and social circles of the town.¹

Milo Walter Bean was born on 11 March 1878 in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa. He was the son of David White Bean and Ella S. Gregg. Milo Walter Bean married Mabel Margaret O'Bryan, daughter of Harry Rhodes O'Bryan and Maggie E. Lewis, on 20 October 1914 in Oakland, Alameda County, California. Milo Walter Bean died on 21 April 1965 in Oakland, Alameda County, California, at age 87 years, 1 month and 10 days.

From Milo's handwriting in an 1892 English Grammar book, it appears that he used this book while attending the Fall and Winter Terms 1895-96 at Denmark Academy in Burlington, Lee County, Iowa.¹

Circa 1920, Milo Walter Bean and Mabel Margaret O'Bryan and family lived at 5598 Lawton Avenue, Berkeley, Alameda County, California, as determined by birth certificate of Margaret Ellen Bean (b. 14 July 1920). The family later moved to 5815 Presley Way, Oakland also in Alameda County, where Mabel and Milo lived until they died.^2,3
Click here to see a cute photo of the Bean kids circa 1928 in the Bean family backyard at 5815 Presley Way in Oakland, California, the house where they all grew up. Barbara is about 13, Al about 11, Margaret about 8, and Dorothy looks to be about 4.

The family took a trip to Washington, DC in 1929 which was quite exciting for the kids, as well as Milo and Mabel. We grandchildren remember it as "the famous trip to Washington," and were told about it often. This is a photo taken of the family while there: Milo was 51, Mabel was 40, Alfred 12, Dororthy 5, Margaret 9. and Barbara was 14.

In the 1930s Milo's mother, Ellen (or Ella) S. Bean, received an M.S. sent by her relative David Manly of Hilton, Damariscotta, Maine, in which he told her that ":Milo is the 22nd generation from Sir Robert Hilton, Lord of Hilton in Durham Co., Lord Harsard, Newton, Moore and Schillanbottle in Co. of Northumberland, and Lord of Swyne in Co. of York, all these being different estates he owned in England" I can just imagine how much this must have pleased Milo, he always had a very regal bearing about him!⁴

Personal Notes about Milo Bean from Kerry Suzanne Davis, his granddaughter:

Milo, "Pingpaw," "Beanbach," or "Pinkie," as we grandchildren called him, was a CPA with first the Southern Pacific Railway and then later until retirement with the IRS. I remember him as a very precise man in both action and speech, but very kind and loving, and always pleasant and low key. He was a bit of a dandy, liked to dress well, and probably had a bit of the actor or performer in him like his daughter, my mother, Margaret. He was a life-long diabetic (Type I), which he managed as precisely as he did everything else in his life.

He loved to quote Shakespeare and Walt Whitman to us, as well as rules of grammar and speech, but in a very kindly fashion, always with a twinkle in his eye. He played pinochle, jackstraws and other games with us; knew some great card tricks too; was a good artist, and also drew and cut out wooden horses for me down in his workshop. I remember he often commented that my baby sister Gail (Davis Greene) was like "a fine racehorse" and he would dance her around the kitchen of his and Pompie's house on Presley Way in Oakland. I often shared corned beef or tongue with him, an offer turned down by most other family members. He loved to read and garden. Each afternoon he would put on his tan sweater with leather buttons, and go outside to smoke a cigar while strolling around his garden, and each evening he would have one glass of red wine or port before dinner. He was a lovely man.³Click Icon to visit Milo's Family Photo Gallery.


Milo and Mabel's ashes were interred together at Chapel of the Chimes, Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, Alameda County, California. Here follow a few pictures of the rather gorgeous place built in 1910, with architecture and beautiful design work done early on by illustrious architects like Julia Morgan.⁵

Dr. Carroll Eugene Cook was born on 21 February 1874 in Post Hills, Vermont. He was the son of Edwin Cook and Mary Kemble. Dr. Carroll Eugene Cook married Bessie May Bean, daughter of David White Bean and Ella S. Gregg, on 21 February 1899 in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa.

CE Cook was an Army doctor around Ft. Madison, Iowa. He and his family lived in New London, Iowa.

I do not know when he died but he is buried in Naperville, Illinois.¹

Dr. Carroll Kenneth Cook was born on 22 January 1901 in New London, Iowa.² He was the son of Dr. Carroll Eugene Cook and Bessie May Bean. Dr. Carroll Kenneth Cook married Leona Jorgensen before 1927. Dr. Carroll Kenneth Cook married Elsie M. before 1937. Dr. Carroll Kenneth Cook died on 1 July 1969 at age 68 and is interred in Union Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.³

Carroll Cook, also known as Kenneth, was a Medical Doctor with the Army around Ft. Madison.⁴

Eugenia Maurine Cook was born on 27 August 1904 in New London, Iowa.¹ She is the daughter of Dr. Carroll Eugene Cook and Bessie May Bean.

Mabel Margaret O'Bryan was born on 16 April 1889 in Ontario, California. Mabel is listed in the Bible of Isabella Lewis, Mabel's grandmother, as Mabel Marguerite rather than Mabel Margaret. Mabel shares this April 16th birthdate with her great granddaughter Robyn Eliza Greene, as well as her daughter Margaret's mother-in-law, Alice Marie Kingman Davis. She was the daughter of Harry Rhodes O'Bryan and Maggie E. Lewis. Mabel Margaret O'Bryan married Milo Walter Bean, son of David White Bean and Ella S. Gregg, on 20 October 1914 in Oakland, Alameda County, California. Mabel died of a stroke at home on 22 August 1963 at Oakland, Alameda County, California, at age 74.^1,2

Circa 1920, Mabel Margaret O'Bryan and Milo Walter Bean and family lived at 5598 Lawton Avenue, Berkeley, Alameda County, California, as determined by birth certificate of Margaret Ellen Bean (b. 14 July 1920). The family later moved to 5815 Presley Way, Oakland also in Alameda County, where Mabel and Milo lived until they died.^3,1
Click here to see a cute photo of the Bean kids circa 1928 in the Bean family backyard at 5815 Presley Way in Oakland, California, the house where they all grew up. Barbara is about 13, Al about 11, Margaret about 8, and Dorothy looks to be about 4.

The family took a trip to Washington, DC in 1929 which was quite exciting for the kids, as well as Milo and Mabel. We grandchildren remember it as "the famous trip to Washington," and were told about it often. This is a photo taken of the family while there: Milo was 51, Mabel was 40, Alfred 12, Dororthy 5, Margaret 9. and Barbara was 14.

The year 1932 was terrifically sad and tragic for Maggie and her daughter Mabel as they lost not only Harry, but Edith and Garvin as well.

Kerry Suzanne Davis' personal remembrances of her grandmother, Mabel:

"Pomp" or "Pompie," as we grandchildren called her, was a warm and loving little lady -- always a bit nervous and she worried a lot about us catching cold and going outside without our sweaters, but I thought she was absolutely great and loved visiting her and Pinkie in their warm and cozy, child-friendly house. She always had a red tin filled with pretzels, another tin filled with wonderful cookies she'd just made, and a supply of cokes in the refrigerator. She also played card games with us, played the piano, sewed, mended and darned while she sat in the room with us when we were visiting. When I was 4 or 5, sick in bed with rheumatic fever and often visiting them, she and Pinkie read the Oz books and other books and stories to me. I also remember them pulling down from the attic all the wonderful old paperdolls which I believe had belonged to my Aunt Barbara. Pomp made absolutely wonderful clothes for my dolls: wedding dresses, a "Gone with the Wind" era gown, a Brownie's outfit, with all the appropriate accessories. And every Christmas my cousin Judy and I would receive a wonderful, handmade nightgown. I've never been able to find any nightgowns as nice since. She was a wonderful and loving grandmother.

The "Train Wreck": In family notes, I (KDS) found a notation in Aunt Dorothy's handwriting mentioning that "Maggie and Mabel were in a wreck on January 9, 1908." Could this have been the infamous train wreck we heard about as children when the aunts were all talking and laughing. I don't think anyone was really hurt in the train wreck and wish I could remember the story (KSD).

Mabel and Milo's ashes were interred together at Chapel of the Chimes, Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, Alameda County, California. Here follow a few pictures of the rather gorgeous place built in 1910, with architecture and beautiful design work done early on by illustrious architects like Julia Morgan.⁴

Harry Rhodes O'Bryan was born in March 1860 in Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.² He was the son of William W. O'Bryan and Margaret Ballard.¹ Harry Rhodes O'Bryan and Maggie E. Lewis, daughter of John Porter Lewis and Isabella Sherard, were united in marriage by Rev. R. D. Miller on 6 December 1883 at Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois.³ Harry Rhodes O'Bryan died on 10 July 1932 in Seaside, Monterey County, California, at age 72 He was buried at El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove (see Gravestone photo).⁴

Harry Rhodes O'Bryan appeared on the census of 1880 in the household of Margaret Ballard and William W. O'Bryan at Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois. Most of the O'Bryan family is shown on this census with Margaret listed as keeping house and William as a brick mason. The seven children listed are Harry (20) and Albert (17), both boys working with their father as brick masons. The rest of the children are shown as "at home": William (15), Greene (12), Mamie or Mary (10), Robert (8) and Bertha (5). John Frank (Francis) at age 24 was of course not shown as he was already married and had just had a child of his own.⁵

Harry appeared on the Menard County birth index census of 1885 at Menard County, Illinois, where he is shown to have been a plasterer and bricklayer.⁶

Here we see an old photo dating to about 1890/1900 of Harry and Maggie Lewis O'Bryan out for a ride in their horse and buggy in greater downtown Pacific Grove!⁷

As we can see, Harry had a varied career from brick mason to farmer to real estate agent. By 1900 he was a contractor in Los Angeles, and on the 1910 Census he is listed as a real estate agent in Pacific Grove. He was a real estate developer in Monterey, the General Agent for Del Rey Development Company at this time (see attached photo of one of Harry's business envelopes).

In the 1920 Census he lists himself as a farmer in Berkeley, and by the 1930 Census he had retired to Seaside in East Monterey County where he lived until his death.^8,9

The following Obituary written about Harry gives a little more detail about his life.

Monterey Peninsula Herald, Monterey, California
Monday, July 11, 1932

H. R. O'Bryan Dies at Seaside Home

H.R. O'Bryan who for the past 30 years had been engaged on the Monterey Peninsula passed away yesterday at his home in Seaside. He had been ailing for several months and although his death was a shock to friends and relatives it was not entirely unexpected.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove. Friends are invited to attend. Rev. T. J. Barkle will be in charge of the services.

Mr. O'Bryan is survived by his widow, Mrs. Margaret E. O'Bryan, also of Seaside, and by a daughter, Mrs. Milo Bean of Oakland.

He was born in Illinois 72 years ago and was a member of the Knights of Phythias.

During his last years Mr. O'Bryan took a deep interest in the Monterey breakwater project. He was secretary of the chamber of commerce when Harry A. Greene, father of Monterey, went to Washington many years ago in one of the early campaigns for harbor protection here.

The year 1932 was terrifically sad and tragic for Maggie and her daughter Mabel as they lost not only Harry, but Edith and Garvin as well.