David R. Bean

David R. Bean (January 26, 1827 – ?) was an American miller from Waukau, Wisconsin who spent one term as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and another as a Greenback Party member of the same body.

Background

Bean was born January 26, 1827, in Milton in Chittenden County, Vermont. His family came to Wisconsin in 1836, and settled at Waukau. He had a public school education, and became a miller. In 1867, he and his wife Julia sold land for the building of Waukau Methodist Episcopal Church next door to their home. He is reported to have given generously toward the purchase of a church bell, "so my name will always be remembered in connection with the church"; and was a member of the congregation, with his own pew (the only one with a cushion).^[1]

Public office

Bean's 1880 official biography reports that he "held various local offices". He was elected to the Assembly in 1862 as a Republican to represent the third Winnebago County district (the Towns of Black Wolf, Nekemi, Utica, Nepeuskun, Rushford, and Omro), succeeding fellow Republican Armine Pickett. He was assigned to the standing committees on agriculture and manufactures, and on banks and banking.^[2] He was not re-elected in 1863, and was succeeded by Republican Emery Davis. He was elected to the Assembly again in 1880, this time as a Greenback, receiving 510 votes against 451 for Republican former Assemblyman Alson Wood and 249 for Democrat John De Foe (Greenback incumbent Milan Ford was not a candidate for re-election). He was the only Greenback to be elected to the Assembly that year, although there was one "Greenback Democrat" (John C. Petersen). Bean was assigned to the committee on public improvements.^[3] He was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1881 by Republican Thomas J. Bowles, with 699 votes for Bowles, 424 for Bean, and 395 for Democrat Joseph Deyce.

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