Obituary of HENRY CONRAD BEAN

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SAW ARMY SERVICE BEFORE CIVIL WAR
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Columbus Man Who Died Saturday at Age of 92 Had Career Repleted With Interest
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    The oldest man in Columbus, a veteran soldier of pre-civil war days and a character of more than ordinary interest was the venerable Henry C. Bean who passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 92 years at his home, 754 Twenty-first avenue.

    His death was due to pneumonia, with which he had been stricken the previous Tuesday evening. Before that time, it is said, he had not been ill a day in more than half a century.

    Born in Bavaria, Germany, January 7, 1830, Mr. Bean came to this country in 1848 and very soon thereafter enlisted in the regular army. In 1850, he was one of a detachment of soldiers sent to California to protect the "Forty-Niners" from Indian attacks. After several years of service there, he was sent to New York city and mustered out in 1859, only to reenlist again in 1860. He was in the regulars throughout the civil war and saw active service from beginning to end.

    Returning to New York city after the war, he married Miss Mary Leavy there April 1, 1866.

    The following year his company--for he was still in the service of his country--was sent to Wyoming to guard construction gangs along the new Union Pacific from the depredations of the Indians. On one occasion while they were trailing a party of redskins who had stampeded the construction camp mules, an Indian secreted in the underbrush took a potshot at Soldier Bean whth an old shotgun while he was fording a creek. A portion of the charge struck him in the forehead. Several of the shot penetrated the skin of his forehead. He never had them removed, always carrying them, he said, "as souvenirs."

Homesteaded in Platte County
    His term of enlistment ended in 1869 and he was mustered out in Omaha. During the same year, he brought his family to Platte county and homesteaded a place five miles southwest of Columbus. While resident on the farm, he was active in the organization of school district No. 5, and served as a member of the board, until his removal to the city in 1906. He also served several terms as a member of the Columbus township board.
Reading, His Hobby
    After retiring from active farm life he had opportunity to indulge in his favorite hobby--reading--and he took full advantage of that opportunity. Retaining his faculties to unusual extent for one of such advanced age, he was a daily visitor to the public library long after he had passed his ninetieth birthday anniversary. Historical works were his favorite reading, but he enjoyed good fiction, especially detective stories, and never failed to absorb the contents of the leading magazines on current events.

    He enjoyed rugged health to within a few days of his death, despite the fact that only on the coldest days, when the thermometer dropped below zero, would he wear an overcoat.

    In the early days Mr. Bean was a member of the G.A.R., but in later years permitted his membership to lapse.

    Mrs. Bean passed away November 4, 1916.

    Mr. Bean leaves three sons and five daughters--Supervisor Fred Bean, Charles Bean, Mrs. H.A. Phillips and Mrs. Martha Arnold, of Columbus; Miss Louise Bean, of Chicago; Mrs. Charles L. Olcott, of Burwell, Neb.; Mrs. Howard E. Smith, of Colorado Springs and George Bean of Willow Ranch, Calif.

    Miss Bean and Mrs. Olcott arrived in Columbus last week in response to messages advising them of the serious illness. Mrs. Smith came today. Mrs. Arnold is expected to arrive tomorrow.

    Arrangements for the funeral have not been made pending Mrs. Arnold's arrival but the services will probably be held Wednesday. Definite announcement will be made in the Telegram tomorrow.