Laura Houston ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  Burial Notes:

Find A Grave Memorial# 25416138

  Noted events in her life were:

• She has alternate birth date of 1836 and a birth location of New Hampshire.

This birth year was referenced by her age of 34 on the 1870 US Census.
. ⁶

• She appeared on the 1860 US Census in Canton Township, Fulton, IL on 22 June 1860. ⁴

1860 US Census
Page 89, Roll 179, Dwelling 674, Family 655
Canton Township, Fulton County, Illinois
Lauretta Fast..23..NH

(Laura was married but enumerated as living or perhaps just visiting back with her parents.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 18 Aug 1837, then her age should have been 22 instead of 23.
.

• She appeared on the 1860 US Census in Banner Township, Fulton, IL on 6 July 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 137-138, Roll 179, Dwelling 986, Family 964
Banner Township, Fulton County, Illinois
Lauriett Fast..23..NH
(Living with husband and 5 step-children.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 18 Aug 1837, then her age should have been 22 instead of 23.
.

• She appeared on the 1870 US Census in Banner Township, Fulton, IL on 18 July 1870. ⁶

1870 US Census
Page 5, Family 41, Roll 244
Banner Township, Fulton County, Illinois
Laura Fast..34..NH..Keep House
(Living with husband, 3 step-children, and 3 of her own children.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 18 Aug 1837, then her age should have been 32 instead of 34.
.

• She appeared on the 1900 US Census in Banner Township, Fulton, IL on 2 June 1900. ⁷

1900 US Census
Sheet 2A, District 3, Family 27, Roll 302
Banner Township, Fulton County, Illinois
farm owned, no mortgage
Laura Fast..Head..Aug 1837..62..NH..Widowed..4/3..Farmer
Euly Fast..Son..Mar 1865..35..IL..Farmer

(Laura was widowed and living with son.)
.

Laura married Martin Fast, son of Christian Fast and Elizabeth Blosser, on 11 March 1860 in , Fulton County, IL.¹ (Martin Fast was born on 17 February 1816 in , Richland County, OH,^{5 8 10 11} died on 13 February 1880 in , Fulton County, IL ^{8 10} and was buried after 13 February 1880 in Canton, IL ⁸.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Banner Township, Fulton, IL on 6 July 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 137-138, Roll 179, Dwelling 986, Family 964
Banner Township, Fulton County, Illinois
Martin Fast..44..OH..Farmer
Lauriett Fast..23..NH
Omrie Fast..16..--..Farm Hand
Anagusta Fast..14..IL
Butler Fast..10..IL
Martin Fast..8..IL
Meriett Fast..6..IL
James Griggsby..19..IL..Farm Hand
.

• They appeared on the 1870 US Census in Banner Township, Fulton, IL on 18 July 1870. ⁶

1870 US Census
Page 5, Family 41, Roll 244
Banner Township, Fulton County, Illinois
Martin Fast..53..OH..Farmer
Laura Fast..34..NH..Keep House
Butler Fast..20..IL..Farm Laborer
Martin Fast..18..IL..At Home
Meritt Fast..15..IL..At Home
John J. Fast..8..IL..At Home
Ulysses Fast..5..IL..At Home
Mary A. Fast..3..IL..At Home
Mary E. Bennett..7..IL..At Home
Tillie B. Bennett..5..IL

Unknown who Mary and Tillie Bennet were. The surname of Fast is sometimes indexed as Fiest due to poor handwriting.
.

  Marriage Notes:

The 1860 census for Martin and his children is a little confusing. He was newly married to his 2nd wife, Laura Houston, in March of 1860 so supposedly the census conducted in the month of June or shortly thereafter would find them all together. However, in June, Laura was first enumerated as living with the "John Houstine" family in Canton Township, Fulton County, Illinois. Presumably this was John Houston and wife Sarah who were the parents of Laura. Perhaps Laura and Martin's first few months together were a little rocky or perhaps Laura just happened to be visiting her parents on the day of the enumeration in Canton Township. In July, Martin, Laura, and all of Martin's children were enumerated as living together in Banner Township, Fulton County, Illinois.
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