Richard H. Fast ^{1 2 3 4 5}

  General Notes:

Two miles below (Rezin) Malott's (distilleries) stands the residence of the late Hon. Richard Fast. Mr. Fast was for many years a local politician of considerable celebrity. He was a man of good native sense and some culture, but was a strong partisan. Until the Democratic party espoused the cause of secession, he was a staunch Democrat, but he declined to follow his party into rebellion. He loved his country better than his party. He took an active part at the outbreak of the rebellion in counteracting the pernicious influences of Neeson, Thompson Kidwell, the Haymonds and that whole memorable nest of secessionists in and about Fairmont who did so much to inflame the public mind, and who were so brave and full of fight before the conflict began, and so meek while it was going on. It has been said that "the brains of West Virginia went into the rebellion". Be this as it may (if true it is a sad commentary upon brains) it is certain that the recognized party leaders went into it, and that new leaders, strong, brave and true, like Mr. Fast, arose all over the country and save this part of Virginia to the Union. The people rallied round these men and rejected their former leaders, and disbanded court house cliques. Mr. Fast represented Marion county in the first Legislature under the restored government of Virginia. He died during the war.

(Source: The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, 16 Nov 1877, page 2)
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1850 US Census in Eastern District, Marion County, VA on 14 August 1850. ³

1850 US Census
Page 129B, Dwelling 246, Family 247
Eastern District, Marion County, Virginia
Richard Fast..37..VA..Farmer
(Living with wife and 5 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Third District, Marion County, VA on 5 July 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 98, Roll 1361, Dwelling 730, Family 692
Third Magisterial District, Marion County, Virginia
Richard Fast..47..VA..Miller
(Living with 2nd wife and 6 children.)
.

• He was buried after 7 April 1864 in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Fairmont, WV.

Find A Grave Memorial 92412335
. ⁵

Richard married Sarah Trickett, daughter of William Trickett and Mary Shriver, on 30 August 1832 in , Monongalia County, VA.¹ (Sarah Trickett was born on 19 March 1812 in , Monongalia County, VA,⁶ died on 13 May 1857 in , Marion County, VA ^{6 7} and was buried after 13 May 1857 in Mount Zion Cemetery, Fairmont, VA ⁶.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1850 US Census in Eastern District, Marion County, VA on 14 August 1850. ³

1850 US Census
Page 129B, Family 247
Eastern District, Marion County, Virginia
Richard Fast..37..Virginia..Farmer
Sarah Fast..36..Virginia
Dorcas Fast..16..Virginia
Nelson Fast..15..Virginia
Delia Fast..7..Virginia
Mary Fast..5..Virginia
Octavius Fast..5m..Virginia

NOTE - The name of Octavius is somewhat of a mystery and he may not have been a son or Richard and Sarah's. With an age of 5 months, that would place his birth probably around January or February of 1850 depending upon how the enumerator calculated it. However, there is a supposed birth date of 8 Dec 1849 to a son named Joseph Emery Fast whose name does not appear on the census record at all. It is possible that Octavius and Joseph are the same son (perhaps the parents changed his name) but if so, then his age should probably have been shown as 6 months old. The ages are too close to tell for sure and there is no other mention of the name of Octavius.
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.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Richard Fast
Sex: Male
Spouse's Name: Sarah Trickett
Spouse's Sex: Female
Spouse's Father's Name: William Trickett
Spouse's Father's Sex: Male
Marriage Date: 30 Aug 1832
Marriage Place: Monongalia, West Virginia, United States

Citing this Record
West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZF-S5Q9 : 12 September 2020), Richard Fast and Sarah Trickett, 30 Aug 1832; citing Marriage, Monongalia, West Virginia, United States, county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm .
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Richard next married Letha Ferrell, daughter of Unknown and Hannah, on 15 December 1857 in , Monongalia County, VA.² (Letha Ferrell was born on 11 May 1821 in Virginia,⁸ died on 23 August 1894 in Monongalia County, WV ⁸ and was buried after 23 August 1894 in Summers Cemetery, Triune, WV ⁸.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 15 December 1857, in , Monongalia County, VA. ²

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Third District, Marion County, VA on 5 July 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 98, Family 692, Roll 1361
Third Magisterial District, Marion County, Virginia
Richard Fast..47..Virginia..Miller
Letha Fast..38..Virginia
Delia Fast..17..Virginia
Mary Fast..12..Virginia
Joseph E. Fast..10..Virginia
Harman Fast..8..Virginia
Lindy J. Fast..6..Virginia
Infant Fast..1..Virginia
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Archibald Fast
Sex: Male
Age: 45
Birth Year (Estimated): 1812
Birthplace: Monongalia Co., Va.
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Name: Adam Fast
Father's Sex: Male
Mother's Name: Elizth. Fast
Mother's Sex: Female
Spouse's Name: Letha Jacobs
Spouse's Sex: Female
Spouse's Age: 35
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1822
Spouse's Birthplace: Monongalia Co., Va.
Spouse's Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Mother's Name: Hanah Ferrel
Marriage Date: 20 Dec 1857
Marriage Place: Monongalia, West Virginia, United States
Source Details: p 1

Citing this Record
"West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR44-PHC : 30 January 2020), Archibald Fast, 1857.
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