Christian Fast ^{2 4 5 6 7 8 9}

  General Notes:

Christian Fast is a native of Fayette County, Pa., born Feb. 12, 1814, a son of Martin and Catherine (Blosser) Fast. In 1816 his parents moved to Wayne, now Ashland County, Ohio, and settled in Jackson Township. At that time there were but nine families in the township, and for three months his mother did not see the face of a white woman. They settled in the heavy timber, and there Christian was reared and educated, attending the old-fashioned log-cabin schools. He was married April 14, 1839, to Henrietta Sowle, a native of New York State, born Nov. 10, 1820. They had a family of eight children -- Joseph J.; Rosanna, wife of Alonzo Burlingame; Francis A., Sheriff of Steuben County; Eli, a famer; Mary E., wife of Orville Goodale, Clerk of Steuben County; Rachel, wife of Melville McGrew; John A., deceased; Henrietta. Mrs. Fast died Dec. 8, 1859, and Mr. Fast subsequently married Rhoda M. Wells, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, born Dec.12,1835. They have two children -- Ira and Orla. Mr. Fast came to Steuben County in 1852 and settled on section 15, Pleasant Township, on a tract of wild land. He owns 160 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Fast are members of the Christian church.

(Source: 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana, p. 676)
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Farmer and Justice of the Peace.

• He has alternate birth date of 1808 and a birth location of Ohio.

This birth year was referenced by his age of 42 on the 1850 US Census. His birth location is also believed to have been in Pennsylvania instead of Ohio.
.

• He appeared on the 1850 US Census in Sullivan Township, Ashland County, OH on 8 October 1850. ⁷

1850 US Census
Page 468A, Family 119, Roll 658
Sullivan Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Christian Fast..42..Ohio..Farmer

(Living with wife and 5 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 12 Feb 1814, then his age should have been 36 instead of 42.
.

• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 4 July 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 105, Family 778, Roll 298
Pleasant Township, Steuben, Indiana, United States
Christian Frost..46..Penn..Farmer

(Living with 2nd wife and 8 children from 1st wife.)
.

• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 28 June 1870. ⁸

1870 US Census
Page 156A, Family 351, Roll 359
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Christian Fast..56...PA..Farmer

(Living with 2nd wife and 6 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 11 June 1880. ⁶

1880 US Census
Page 319A, District 5, Family 140, Roll 312
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Christian Fast..Head..66..NY..Farmer

(Living with 2nd wife and 2 sons.)
.

• He has alternate death information of 13 February 1888 and , Steuben County, IN. ⁹ This date is referenced only on the FindAGrave memorial page and does not match the date on the actual gravestone.

• He was buried after 13 December 1898 in the Sowles Cemetery in Angola, IN.

There is one large monument that serves as the gravestone for Christian, his first wife Henrietta, his second wife, Rhoda, his daughter, Laura, and his son John A. The center portion of the pedestal monument is made of rose colored marble and capped with a carved vaulted granite top piece with a large letter F cut in relief. The inscription on the top of the front face reads "Christian Fast, Feb. 12, 1814 - Dec. 13, 1898". Below that and on the left half it reads "Henrietta, his wife, Nov. 10, 1820 - Dec. 8, 1859" while on the right half it reads "Rhoda M., his wife, Dec. 12, 1835 - May 27, 1911". On the face of the left side it reads "Laura E. Fast, July 9, 1870 - Sept. 7, 1879" while the face on the right side reads "John A. Fast, Aug. 19, 1857 - July 20, 1875". Note that the names of the son and daughter are apparently inscribed on the side of the wrong mother.

Find A Grave Memorial# 14303044
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. ⁹

Christian married Henrietta Sowle, daughter of Joseph Sowle and Rachel Allen, on 14 April 1839 in , Wayne County, OH.^{1 2} (Henrietta Sowle was born on 10 November 1820 in Vienna, NY,¹⁰ died on 8 December 1859 in , Steuben County, IN ¹⁰ and was buried after 8 December 1859 in Angola, IN ¹⁰.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 14 April 1839, in , Wayne County, OH.

• They appeared on the 1850 US Census in Sullivan Township, Ashland County, OH on 8 October 1850. ⁷

1850 US Census
Page 468A, Family 119, Roll 658
Sullivan Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Christian Fast..42..Ohio..Farmer
Henrietta Fast..35..New York
Joseph Fast..12..Ohio
Bosand Fast..9..Ohio
Allen Fast..5..Ohio
Eli Fast..4..Ohio
Mary C. Fast..2..Ohio
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Christian Fast
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 16 Apr 1839
Event Place: Wayne, Ohio, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Henrietta Powle
Spouse's Gender: Female
Record Number: 748
Reference ID: 266

Citing this Record
"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZDJ-FL9 : 26 August 2019), Christian Fast and Henrietta Powle, 16 Apr 1839; citing Marriage, Wayne, Ohio, United States, 266, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
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While visiting the Sowles Cemetery in September 2002, I noted the following small individual markers around the gravestone of Christian Fast. These small stones are sometimes called "footstones" for they designate the exact burial location of multiple people in a family burial plot.
...Father
...Mother
...Mother
...Infant
...Infant
...Infants
...John
...L??isa (Badly weathered; looks like Louisa but is probably Laura)
...Infant
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Christian next married Rhoda M. Wells, daughter of Loton Wells and Ann Sowles, on 29 April 1860 in , Steuben County, IN.^{3 4 5 6} (Rhoda M. Wells was born on 12 December 1835 in , Wayne County, OH,¹¹ died on 27 May 1911 in , Steuben County, IN ¹¹ and was buried on 29 May 1911 in Angola, IN ¹¹.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 29 April 1860, in , Steuben County, IN. ⁴

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 4 July 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 105, Family 778, Roll 298
Pleasant Township, Steuben, Indiana, United States
Christian Frost..46..Penn..Farmer
Rhoda Frost..25..Ohio..Housekeeper
J. J. Frost..20..Ohio..Farm Laborer
Francis A. Frost..14..Ohio
Eli Frost..12..Ohio
Mary Frost..11..Ohio
Rachel Frost..9..Ohio
John A. Frost..3..Indiana
Henrietta Frost..?m..Indiana
.

• They appeared on the 1870 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 28 June 1870. ⁸

1870 US Census
Page 156A, Family 351, Roll 359
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Christian Fast..56...PA..Farmer
Rhoda Fast..36..OH..Keeping House
Eli Fast..23..OH
Rachel Fast..19..OH
John Fast..12..IN
Henrietta Fast..10..IN
Ira Fast..6..IN
Orla Fast..3..IN
.

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, IN on 11 June 1880. ⁶

1880 US Census
Page 319A, District 5, Family 140, Roll 312
Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Christian Fast..Head..66..NY..Farmer
Roda Fast..Wife..43..OH..Housework
Ira Fast..Son..16..IN..At School
Orla Fast..Son..13..IN..At School
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Christian Fast
Event Type: Marriage Registration
Event Date: 29 Apr 1860
Event Place: Steuben, Indiana, United States
Gender: Male
Marriage License Date: 27 Apr 1860
Marriage Place: Steuben, Indiana
Spouse's Name: Rhoda Wells
Spouse's Gender: Female
Officiator's Name: D C Hanselman
Page: 260

Citing this Record
"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3LP-SB2 : 10 December 2017), Christian Fast and Rhoda Wells, 29 Apr 1860; citing Steuben, Indiana, United States, Marriage Registration, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 005206329.
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