Goodspeed's Biography of J. B. Gean, Grant Co, AR

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Submitted by: Jackie Dill <JJDILL1@aol.com>
        Date: 27 Jul 2003

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J. B. Gean, a familiar figure in public life, and a prosperous
planter of Grant County, was born in North Carolina, September 22,
1850, and is a son of Bird and Sarah (Brantley) Gean.  The father
was first married in 1834, to Miss Martha Seymour, but this lady
died in 1837, without leaving any issue, and his second marriage was
in 1842, to a daughter of Kirk and Flora C. Brantley, by whom he had
six children, of whom there are four still living, and all reside in
Grant County.  The father was a prominent farmer of North Carolina,
who left his native State and came to Arkansas in 1856, locating in
Jefferson, and now resides with his son, the principal of this
sketch.  His estimable wife died on May 11, 1883, a devout Christian
woman, and a member of the Baptist Church, to which persuasion her
husband also belonged.  His father was William Gean, a native of
North Carolina, and a hero of many battles during the Revolution.
His death occurred in that State in the year 1848.  J. B. Gean was
educated in the schools near Sheridan, in Grant County.  April 8,
1871, he was married to Miss Eliza Rhoden, a daughter of Simpson and
Eliza Rhoden, well-known residents of Grant County.  This union was
a happy one in every respect, and was blessed with one child, Emma
E., but a sadness, almost impenetrable in its deepness, was cast
over the kind husband and father, when his excellent wife died on
September 3 of the following year.  He remained a widower until
October 8, 1876, when his heart was captured by Miss Mary R. Gordon,
a daughter of James and Mary Gordon, by whom he had five children,
three of them still living, and all residing at home;  Mary A., John
H., Clara B., Lillie I. And Oris B.  Mr. Gean is a man of great
popularity in his community, and enjoys the confidence of his
fellow-citizens to an exalted degree.  His integrity, industry and
honor have placed him among the leading men of Grant County, and his
activity in all public and private enterprises that have a tendency
to develop and improve the county makes him a valuable and
influential resident.  He now owns about 540 acres of very
productive land, with about ninety-five acres under cultivation, all
of it being the result of his steady industry, business tact and
good management.  In secret societies he is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and has held the offices of Senior and Junior Warden,
and has belonged to the Masons for over eighteen years.  He filled
the office of justice of the peace for four years, in a highly
satisfactory manner, and left it then under the vigorous protests of
his constituents.  Mrs. Gean is a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, and both are liberal contributors to all
religious and educational matters.