William F. Bean (1872-1944) and his wife Birdie Bean (1881-1917) were among the first settlers of the New Hope community, and both their families arrived in 1883. William’s great-uncle, Amos Bean, died between 1883 and 1890 and was buried under a tree on Bean farmland. The newborn son of W.L. and Georgia Whitaker was buried nearby in 1890, and three more infants and children were buried on Bean farmland in 1891, 1898, and 1899. In 1899 William Bean deeded land three-quarters of a mile northwest of his great-uncle’s grave for a new New Hope community burial ground. Since then the cemetery has grown to three acres, including the first five graves. Those buried here also include J.E. Skiles, a longtime minister of the Baptist church; James Williams, who taught school at New Hope; his wife Mary Artealy Williams; and their descendants.