Mrs. Julia A. Bean, an early Oregon pioneer, died at her home in Eugene this afternoon [February 19, 1908] at 1:00 after a long illness. She would have been 70 years old age on the 25th of this month had she lived until then.
Mrs. Bean, whose maiden name was Sharp, was born near Newmarket, Harrison County, Ohio, February 25, 1838. In company with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sharp, she started across the plains for Oregon in 1849, but on reaching Missouri they purchased a farm and resided there three years. In May 1852, they started for Oregon again, taking the Barlow Route. Although they were hampered by sickness on the journey and were snowbound for a time, they arrived safely in Oregon City on November 1, 1852. Spending the winter in the Chehalem Valley, they took up a ranch in Washington County in the spring but the land proved worthless and they came to Lane County in the fall of 1853.
The subject of this sketch was married to Obediah R. Bean in Yamhill County, Or., on October 21, 1853, and to them 11 children were born, as follows: Robert S. judge of the supreme court of Oregon; James R., an express messenger running out of Portland; John W., a prominent physician of Tacoma; Mrs. Emma A. Lucas, of Aberdeen, Wash.; Joseph H., died in 1897; Edward A., bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Eugene; Louis E., a prominent attorney of Eugene; Frederick, a hardware merchant of Eugene; Mary, died when a year old; Chester O., a contractor at Aberdeen, Wash.; and Miss Estelle A., living at home. Mr. Bean died in the Siuslaw Valley in 1890.
Mrs. Bean was a woman of noble character and was beloved by all who knew her. Her family has the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their sad bereavement.
The funeral will be held Friday, but the services will be private.
Eugene Daily Guard, February 19, 1908
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman