Walter was the son of Samuel (1797-1867) and Adeline (Jackman 1804-1869). Walter married Sarah E Collins on August 13, 1867. She died shortly after their marriage in 1870 when she was 20 years, 9 months. The couple is listed as married in the 1870 Census and he is listed as a widower in the 1880 Census.

Veteran of the Civil War (Co. D. 2nd Mass.): Walter F. BEAN served with the 2nd MA. REG., enlisting in Lowell, Massachusetts in October 1861, and mustered out June, 1865, in Manchester, NH.

He moved to Hartford, CT., where he went to work as an engineer for the railroad. On Wednesday, September 6, 1882, the New York Tribune, published the following on page 1:

"Hartford, Conn., Sept. 5 - A peach train on the New York and New England Railroad bound for Boston, came into collision tonight with a western bound freight train at Burnside Station, about four miles east of this city. The engines of both trains were badly damaged, and Walter F. BEAN of this city, engineer of the in-bound freight train, an old engineer, was very seriously injured. It is thought that his back is broken. Three peach cars were thrown from the track and wrecked."

And from the Jersey Journal of September 7, 1882, the following: "A Railroad Wreck - A peach train on the New York and New England Railroad, bound for Boston, at 6:30 o'clock last night came into collision with a western bound freight train about 4 miles east of Hartford at Burnside Station. The engines of both trains were badly damaged and Walter F. Bean of Hartford, the engineer of the in-bound freight train was seriously injured. It is thought his neck is broken. Three peach cars were thrown from the track and wrecked. Three merchandise cars of the other train were also derailed and badly damaged. It is stated that the conductors of both trains may have been running under orders, and the accident is, therefore, believed to have been caused by a train dispatcher's error."

Walter survived, but retired a bit later. Walter was close to his father Samuel Bean (1844-1867), and when Samuel was ill in his final days, he went from Lowell, Massachusetts to Hartford, Connecticut, where he died in Walter's home.

There is a possibility Walter married a 2nd time after his 1st wife died. If this is correct, between the 1880 Census (widower) and the 1900 Census (divorced) Walter must have married a 2nd time ("Sarah") whom he divorced between 1880 and 1900 though a marriage record for his 2nd marriage has not been located. It is assumed the marriage and divorced occurred in Hartford, Connecticut.