John Blosser Fast ^{1 2 3 4 5}

  General Notes:

"This congregation was organized in September, 1857, by Elder John B. FAST, assisted by Elders S. SHAW and P. CHRISTIAN, and consisted of the following members: Elder John B. FAST and Sarah, his wife, John J/ FAST, Samuel NESTLERODE and Catherine, his wife, William NESTLERODE, William BOLIN, Adeline TAINTER, Belchy Mary WHITE, and David S. JOHNSON. From 1859 to 1868, the congregation met in the Prairie City Academy Building. Elder John B. FAST was employed as the first pastor, and the first Deacons were: Samuel NESTLERODE and John MURPHY. For a while the church was quite prosperous having a membership of two hundred." ---History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1878

"John B. FAST, born October 12, 1814, married Sarah ---. He was a Free Will Baptist clergyman, being chosen their first pastor when the congregation was first organized in Prairie City, Illinois, in September 1857. This congregation also founded, in 1859, the Prairie City Academy which for several years met with success, students being attracted from adjoining counties." ---Wirt Gerry Faust
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1850 US Census in Joshua, IL on 14 October 1850. ⁴

1850 US Census
Page 261, Roll 107, Dwelling 27, Family 27
Joshua, Fulton County, Illinois
John B. Fast..36..PA..Farmer
(Living with wife and 4 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 14 Oct 1814, then his age should have been 35 instead of 36.
.

• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Nevada Gulch, KS on 30 September 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 542, Roll 348, Dwelling 6401
Nevada Gulch, Arapahoe County, Kansas
J. B. Fast..46..PA
(Living with wife and 4 children.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 14 Oct 1814, then his age should have been 45 instead of 46.
.

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Salamanca Township, Cherokee County, KS on 15 June 1880. ¹

1880 US Census
Page 605C, Roll 376, District 50, Dwelling 126, Family 124
Salamanca Township, Cherokee County, Kansas
John B. Fast..Father..68..OH..Farmer
(Living with married son, David, and his family.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 14 Oct 1814, then his age should have been 65 instead of 68.
.

John married Sarah Ann Ogle about 1837.¹ (Sarah Ann Ogle was born on 26 April 1819 in Ohio ^{4 6} and died on 16 November 1882 ⁶.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1850 US Census in Joshua, IL on 14 October 1850. ⁴

1850 US Census
Page 261, Roll 107, Dwelling 27, Family 27
Joshua, Fulton County, Illinois
John B. Fast..36..PA..Farmer
Sarah Fast..31..OH
Carlton M. Fast..12..IL
Martha A. Fast..10..IL
Columbus Fast..6..IL
Phebe Fast..1..IL
.

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Nevada Gulch, KS on 30 September 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 542, Roll 348, Dwelling 6401
Nevada Gulch, Arapahoe County, Kansas
J. B. Fast..46..PA
Sarah Fast..42..OH
C. Fast..16..IL
D. M. Fast..9..IL
Olive Fast..7..IL
Lo Fast...5..IL
.

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Salamanca Township, Cherokee County, KS on 15 June 1880. ¹

1880 US Census
Page 605C, Roll 376, District 50, Dwelling 126, Family 124
Salamanca Township, Cherokee County, Kansas
David M. Fast..Self..29..IL..Farmer
Annie Fast..Wife..24..IL..Keeping House
Mattie Fast..Dau..5..KS
John B. Fast..Father..68..OH..Farmer
Sarah Fast..Mother..64..OH
.