(fl. late 19th century, early 20th century), farmer. (A.S. McBean, Stewart McBean, A. Stewart McBean, Alexander S. McBean) Place of birth undetermined. Parents: A. G. McBean and his wife Catherine (Katherine) Stewart. In 1894, he was selling a patented device for electric streetcars. (Glengarry News 31 Oct. 1894) In Lovell’s Business and Professional Directory…for 1896-97 Alexander S. McBean of Lancaster is listed as a “market gardener.” By 1898 he had a Thornhill Farm sales wagon operating in the towns within 15 miles around Lancaster, selling vegetables and fruit. In 1900 the federal Dept. of Agriculture entered into an agreement with A. S. McBean by which he was to operate an illustrative station for fattening poultry for export to the United Kingdom. (MacGillivray & Ross 376, GN 24 Aug. 1900) He was married, at Knox Church, Lancaster, in 1895 to Catherine Macpherson, daughter of D. M. Macpherson the Cheese King. The Cornwall Freeholder of 12 Aug. 1904 stated that A. S. McBean, of Thornhill Farm, Lancaster, who left Lancaster “because the climatic conditions did not agree with him,” was now running a model dairy farm at Saranac Lake, N. Y. He died at Saranac Lake, a place noted for its TB sanatorium. It is said that his father originally put him in charge of the Thornhill estate in the belief that his delicate health would benefit from country life.

Dumbrille, B, 29-30 * Ross, Lancaster, 221, 134, 239-240 * MacGillivray & Ross 376 * newspaper report on his wedding (undated clipping), ASC ii, 174, report also in The Canada Farmers’ Sun 10 July 1895 * article on Thornhill Farm in souvenir issue of Cornwall Freeholder, 1900 or 1901, copy in Archives of Ontario * report on large new greenhouse of A. S. McBean, of Thornhill, CF 1 Dec. 1899 * Mrs D. M. Macpherson returns from visit to her daughter at Meadow Brook Farm, Saranac Lake, N.Y., CF 21 Feb. 1908 * farm produce sales wagon visits Alexandria, Glengarry News 6 May 1898