"Col. Bean is Dead. He Was Rich in His Day, but Died in the Poor House. Col. John N. Bean, one of the best known gamblers in Helena, "passed in his checks" yesterday at the county poor farm. He was taken there last Saturday. He had been ill but a short time before. Col. Bean was born in Georgia, 66 years ago. He passed the early part of his life in the south. For a time he was in business in St. Joseph, Mo., but left there in 1858 for Denver, in company with a train belonging to Major Russell & Co. He was connected with that company's business some time. He next engaged in merchandising for himself at Nevada City, Mo., and was fairly successful. In 1863 he caught the mining fever and joined in the rush to the newly discovered gold fields of Montana territory. With hundreds of others he located at the then booming camp of Bannock, and mined for a time. The fame of Last Chance gulch attracted him to Helena in 1865, and Helena was his home from that time on. For several years he worked at a placer claim in the lower part of the gulch near the foot of Main street. It was a rich ground and he made money, but could not keep it. He abandoned mining and later was employed to manage the Chessman ditch. For 15 years he followed gambling as a profession. Col. Bean had the confidence of a large number of friends. He was generous to a fault – too liberal for his own good. When he had money he spent it freely and no friend needed to ask twice of him for a "stake." He was honest to a fault. Often he was entrusted with large bags of gold and currency while in the employ of the big gambling houses of the city. There is many a man in Helena who will hear with genuine regret of Col. Bean's death. The funeral will take place this afternoon from Undertaker Flaherty's establishment at two o'clock. Friends are invited to attend." Daily Independent, 12/13/1895.