Perry A. Fast ^{1 2 3 4}

   Cause of his death was Myocarditis.⁴

  General Notes:

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 7, Ed. 1, Tree #1334]
Reared by paternal grandfather, John Fast. From page 251 of unknown book (Ashland County History?).

"On the Night of January 25 the old Hotel at Hereford burned down; also the barn back of it was destroyed. The Hotel had been built by Perry Fast and was occupied by his family. It was built about the time the B&O Railroad began to operate in September, 1892. Perry had a saloon there although there was supposed to be no saloons north of Montgomery Township in Ashland County. Mr. Fast sold to Matt Davis, father of Mrs. Jessie Davis Stevens. Mr. Davis was the postmaster when the Knowlton office was at Hereford. Some thought Mr. Knowlton, who was owner of much land there, might have had the station named 'Hereford' from his large herd of beef cattle in exchange for giving the right of way to the railroad; it was appropriate to give his name to the Post Office. The Hotel had been used to house section men. It was supposed to have been unoccupied at the time of the fire. It made a good haven for tramps. The neighbors saved the Depot from being destroyed. Perry died at home of his niece, Mrs. Carrie Swope."
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of April 1860 and a birth location of Ohio.

This birth date was given on his 1900 US Census.
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• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Ruggles Township, Ashland County, OH on 21 June 1870. ¹

1870 US Census
Page 19, Dwelling 167, Family 157
Ruggles Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Perry A. Fast..12..OH
(Living with parents.)
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• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Clear Creek Township, Ashland, OH on June 1880. ²

1880 US Census
Page 3A, Roll 0991
Clear Creek Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Perry A. Fast..Other..21..OH..Farm Labor
(Perry was living with John and Tinna Baum and family where he worked on their farm.)

NOTE - Within a year or two, he would marry their oldest daughter, Emma Baum.
.

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Ruggles Township, Ashland County, OH on 25 June 1900. ³

1900 US Census
Sheet 15B, District 1, Dwelling 393, Family 397
Ruggles Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Farm owned, with mortgage
Pery Fast...Head..Apr 1860..48..OH..Married. 18 years..Farmer
Catherin Fast..Mother..Dec 1838..61..OH..6/4

(Perry was living with his widowed mother.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 22 Apr 1858 instead of Apr 1860, then his age should have been 42 instead of 48.

Perry's marital status was indicated as "married" but his wife and two daughters were living about 30 miles north in New London, Huron County, Ohio where she worked as a washerwoman. Both were listed as "married" on their individual census forms.
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• His occupation in 1938 was a Retired Farmer in New London, OH. ⁴

• He resided at 94 West Main in December 1938 in New London, OH.
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Perry married Emma Alice Baum, daughter of John H. Baum and Phianna Fraul, after June 1880. (Emma Alice Baum was born on 25 February 1864 in Ashland County, OH,^{2 5 6 7} died on 1 August 1945 in New London, OH ^{5 7} and was buried on 4 August 1945 in Orange Township, Ashland, OH ^{5 7}.)

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage date had to be after June 1880 because at that time Emma was still listed as living with her parents on the 1880 census.

Sometimes it is difficult to "read between the lines" and discern exactly what was happening in the lives of people with no real written record to assist. But I suspect that when Perry and Emma moved to Kansas leaving all their friends and relatives behind in Ohio, things in their marriage may not have gone too smoothly. Following the birth of their second daughter, Zetta, in 1887 in Kansas, the entire family moved back to Ohio. By June 1900, the census showed Emma living with the two daughters in New London, Huron County, Ohio while Perry was back in his home area of Ruggles Township, Ashland County, Ohio living with his widowed mother and managing what probably was the family farm. Emma worked as a "washerwoman" and both were still listed as married on the 1900 census.

Following 1900, I'm not sure if they ever got back together or divorced completely but Perry spent some of his last years with his niece (a daughter of his sister, Ida Lavina Fast) who had also moved to New London. Upon Perry's death, one researcher reports that he was buried in Attica, Seneca County, Ohio, and the exact reason for that still escapes me. His death certificate indicated "divorced".

Emma remained in New London and upon her death, was buried back in her home area in Maple Grove Cemetery of Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio. Emma's death certificate indicated "widowed" and not "divorced" but that was probably a clerical error.
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