Dr. Alonzo J. Bean
Written by Justin D. Lamb
Dr. Bean with his wife Florence in 1902
The son of A.A. “Sandy” and Nancy J. Bean, Alonzo Johnson Bean was born on July 11, 1875 in the extreme southwestern section of Marshall County near the Calloway County line. Bean attended the common schools of Calloway County until he was 16 years old and later attended school at the Benton Seminary and Murray Institute. After graduating, Bean earned a teaching certificate and taught school for three years in Marshall and Calloway Counties. On April 10, 1902, he married Florence Mathis, daughter of R.E. and Sarah Mathis and together they had three children: Mary, Gladys, and Forrest.
Bean’s grandfather, Dr. Hiram Yandell, was a noted pioneer doctor of Marshall and Calloway Counties and motivated Bean to enter the practice of medicine. Bean enrolled in school at Vanderbilt and finished his medical course at the University of Louisville in 1901. After receiving his medical degree, Bean completed his post graduate work at the Chicago Polyclinic and at the University of Louisville. Dr. Bean returned home in 1901 and opened a medical practice in Brewers. In a few short years, Dr. Bean had one of the largest practices in Marshall County and he became President of the Marshall County Medical Association. He was also a member of the Kentucky Medical Association and American Medical Association.
Dr. Bean took an active role in local civic matters and was appointed commissioner of the road bond money in the Fifth Magisterial District of Marshall County which included the Brewers, Harvey, and Hardin voting precincts. During his time as road bond commissioner, several highways were constructed in the fifth district and every family in district lived near a new highway. Dr. Bean was active in the Marshall County Republican Party and was a delegate to the 1928 Republican National Convention in Kansas City which nominated Herbert Hoover for President of the United States. Dr. Bean served as a director for the Bank of Marshall County and was the medical examiner for the Kentucky Citizens Military Training Camp throughout the 1930s.
Dr. Bean was instrumental in the growth of the Brewers community and he led the effort for the construction of Brewers High School. Dr. Bean donated six and half acres of land for the construction of the high school and aided the construction of the high school financially until its completion. Dr. Bean was a very active member of the Methodist Church. He led the effort in the consolidation of the New Hope and Mount Hermon Methodist Churches to form the Brewers Methodist Church and donated the land for the new church to be built on. Dr. Bean served as a steward of the Brewers Methodist Church for many years. Dr. Bean passed away at his home near the Harvey community on March 25, 1946 at the age of 70. He was buried in the Brewers Cemetery.