Son of James Bean and Elizabeth Lewis

Married Elizabeth Baum, 6 Jan 1853, Provo, Utah, Utah
Married Emily Haws, 10 Dec 1856, Provo, Utah, Utah
Married Mary Jane Wall, 15 Dec 1856, Provo, Utah, Utah

Family housed Mormon refugees from Missouri at Quincy, 1839. Baptized into Mormon Church, 1841. Worked at Nauvoo, 1842–44. Endowed in Nauvoo Temple, 1846. Member of the Nauvoo Legion. Moved to Council Bluffs, 1846.

Early in the year 1847, he started for Utah and arrived there October 4th. The spring of the following year he moved to Mill Creek.

Farmed in Salt Lake, 1848. Returned east for immigrant train, 1848.

In the year of 1849 he had an accident with a cannon which caused his left arm to be amputated three inches below the elbow.

Worked with Indians as interpreter, 1852–53. Pursued Chief Walker with Porter Rockwell, 1854. He moved to Provo and in 1854 became the Indian interpreter for the court. This experience gave him a desire to study law. Explored Rush Valley, 1855. Indian Mission to Las Vegas, 1855–56. Explored desert west of Fillmore, 1858. Built wagon road in Provo Canyon, 1858. Grand jury duty, 1859.

Prosecuting attorney for Utah County, 1861. Elected to legislature, 1862. Indian problems, 1865. Probate judge, Utah County, 1866. Lieutenant colonel of cavalry in Nauvoo Legion during Black Hawk War, 1867. Lived in Midway, 1868. Ran sheep on range out of Santaquin, 1869.

Militia called out when Indians gathered in Sanpete County, 1872. Continued working with Indians. United Order problems, 1875. Property and economic activities, 1870s.

In 1861 he was appointed to the office of Prosecuting Attorney. In 1865-66 he was elected Probate Judge of Utah County and later, in 1874, became the Probate Judge of Sevier County.

While living at Richfield he held court in his own home. In 1876 a courthouse was built. When court was not in session, school was held in the building.

In the 1890s lived in Provo area. Patriarch.

He was one of the leading men of Utah, and through the years became well vested in law.