4 Pop
My grandfather, Louis F. Bein Sr., grew up as the grandson of a German Immigrant who was called Gustav Bein. In 1849, Gustav was a sailor in the German navy. His career in the Navy was a short one. When his ship came within sight of San Francisco Harbor, the captain decided not to dock there because he feared that his crew would abandon ship to join the “Gold Rush”. He was right, because my great-great grandfather decided to desert and jump overboard to swim the mile or so to land. He joined the gold rush and found enough gold to buy a farm in Iowa.
One of Gustav’s sons, Ferdinand Bein grew up and moved to Berthoud, Colorado where he bought a farm and raised a large family. Louis Ferdinand Bein, Pop, as my father called him, was the oldest son who married Nellie Bunyan, the daughter of the town banker, Thomas Chalmers Bunyan. Pop joined this somewhat wealthy family and began working in the bank.
Gramma and Pop Bein 1915
After brothers John and Billy Bunyan passed away, the bank became the property of Gramma Nellie and Pop. He was a raging alcoholic and was very abusive to his children. My dad was beaten regularly and found solace with his mother. I was 8 years old when Pop died. I remember him as mean prankster. Once I was watching him shave and put after-shave on his face. Then he decided to plaster my face with some of it. Some of it got in my eye and I remember crying from the stinging sensation. Pop thought it was hilarious.
Bein house in Berthoud build in 1916.
During the depression of the late 1930’s farmers could not pay their mortgages and the bank acquired a lot of farmland which Pop established as a separate business called Bein Farms Incorporated. After Pop died in 1951 from cirrhosis of the liver my dad assumed the responsibility of managing the farms including the one where we lived. Tenants were contracted to run each of the farms. I was fortunate to grow up farming with my dad.
Gramma was the peace keeper, always loving and considerate. She loved to have us over to her house. She read children’s books to us. She prepared a hot lunch for me when I walked the one block from school.
