Joseph F. Bean

Minnesota / Civil War
  • Military specialty: Unknown
  • Awards: Unknown

b. 1836; d. 1911. Joseph F. Bean was born in Massachusetts and came with his parents to Eureka, Dakota Co., MN in 1855.  He attended the Harvard U of Law & Civil Engineering.

Captain Joseph F. Bean organized a squad of militia out of Dakota Co. (Eureka Company) during the Indian Uprising of 1862.  They served from 26 Aug to 8 Sep 1862.  This group was attached to Col. Sibley’s first expedition to the Dakotas.

On 1 Jan 1864, he enlisted in Company F 2nd MN Volunteer Calvary and served against the Sioux Indians until honorably discharged on 21 Dec 1865. This company was active in scouting in southwestern and northwestern Minnesota,  including the area of Cottonwood County, where he found land that he would later homestead.   In 1864, a squad of soldiers from this company scouted towards Lake Shetek and camped one night north of a lake which later was named Bean Lake for him.

Bean was the first homesteader in Cottonwood County after the Indian outbreak of 1862. On 11 Jun 1866, he made entry at a land office for 171.5 acres in Westbrook Twp. The family moved to Westbrook Twp. in 1869. Prior to 1885, the Bean family moved to Montana and settled near Helena. He was married and had children.  His wife died in 1911. Joseph died in Great Falls, Montana.

Buried in Montana.

 

  • Obituary: No, but other info is available. See notes.