Bastin in Kansas, United States

Arriving in Kansas

It has been told to Vera Bastin by Bernice Todd (Emily Alice Bastin McKee's daughter), that the Bastin family moved from Hart County Kentucky to keep the boys from going to war during the Civil War. Elizabeth Jane's husband, Benjamin Carter, was in the Confederate Army.

When they left Kentucky they went by covered wagon and horseback. The women rode in the covered wagon, and the men either rode the horses or walked. At night, the boys would sleep in the forest.

It is stated in Elizabeth's obituary that she moved with her family to Missouri at the close of the Civil War. There was a period of residency in Cass County, Missouri, and then the family moved to Kansas in 1871. They settled in the Hillsdale, Miami County area.

When Major Brockman Bastin got to eastern Kansas he settled the family where there was a spring close to the house, disregarding the fact that it was poor land for farming. Bernice imagined that the women folk appreciated that!

Moving to Thomas County

As told to Vera Bastin (ca 1963). Bernice recalls when she and her family came to western Kansas (ca 1904), Emmet Bastin and her dad (McKee) met them at the train in a big lumber wagon. Her dad had come earlier by "immigrant car". This meant he rode with the animals because they would require care during the journey.

Emmet's brother Ed did a very pioneering thing - he went to Calgary, Canada, in the early 1900's. The railroad was just going through Canada. Opportunity to homestead was a great motivation. Ed thought it was really nice there and later invited Emmet to come to Canada also. So, Emmet and his family went to Canada by railroad, along with John Bastin and his family. While they were in Canada Emmet broke his hip while ice skating, and walked with a limp thereafter. Gladith hauled him home in a wagon. Harvey was around 16 at this time (ca. 1904). The family filed homestead claims, and possibly paid for some land.

After about two years of this, they got tired of chopping trees, and Emmet and family moved back to Kansas on the freight train. They returned to Miami County, Kansas. Ed stayed a year longer in Canada.

Later, Emmet moved to Thomas County, Kansas, and bought land there. He had heard one could get cheap land there. Emmet owned and lived on a farm near Menlo, Kansas. Gladith farmed land near Rexford for Emmet. They had first settled in the Rexford area. When Harvey got married, his house was a mile from Emmet's, and their land joined.