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Jacob Bast – Health Officer of Williamstown
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on August 22, 2018
Jacob Bast was born in Pennsylvania in 1847, the son of Isaac Bast (1799-1868) and Catherine Bast (1802-1877). However, at least one record states he was born in 1841.
According to his grave marker at the Seybert’s Cemetery, Williamstown, Dauphin County, he died in 1917, and he had Civil War service in Company C of the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry, a three month regiment.
The Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives (shown above) indicates that Jacob Bast enrolled in the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, at Pottsville, on 17 April 1861, and the next day at Harrisburg was mustered into service as a Private. On or about 3 June 1861 he was transferred from Company D to Company C, and then was mustered out of service when his 3 months term was completed, 26 July 1861. Other than his age, no personal information was on the card.
A second card has been located for a person named Jacob Bast which indicates that on 2 September 1861, at Pottsville, he enrolled in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, and on 23 September 1861, was mustered into service as a Private at Pottsville. This time he gave his age as 21, and additional information was recorded as follows: He stood 5 foot 7 inches tall; he had light brown hair; he had a light complexion; and he had grey eyes. He gave his occupation as engineer. However, there was no honorable discharge date on the card. It was reported that he deserted on 2 July 1863 at Gettysburg.
When Jacob Bast applied for a pension on 14 January 1902, he reported service in the two companies of the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry as shown on the card (above) from Fold3. He did not receive a pension, because the examiners caught the fact that he was a deserter in a the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.
At the end of the Civil War, Jacob married Mary Hand of Schuylkill County, daughter of Abraham Hand and Pauline Mary [Brown] Hand. She was born in 1846 and died in 1929 in Williamstown. Jacob and Mary had at least six known children. Mary is also buried at Seybert’s Cemetery. After Jacob died in 1917, Mary waited until April 1919 to apply for widow’s benefits. She too was not awarded a pension.
A second Pension Index Card was found for the same Jacob Bast, shown above, also from Fold3. This card was filed with the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, and indicates a desertion rather than a discharge, and confirms the date of 2 July 1863 (Gettysburg).
An obituary has been located in the Lykens Standard, 2 November 1917L
DEATH OF JACOB BAST AT WILLIAMSTOWN
Jacob Bast, an aged and respected citizen of Williamstown, pased [sic] away at his home on Elizabeth Street, Sunday night, after a lingering illness of two years. Death was caused by heart trouble.
Deceased was born in Pottsville, 24 August 1841. He was unite in marriage fifty one years ago to Miss Mary Hand, who with one sister survive. He is also survived by these children: May (Mrs. Harry Kaufman) of WIlliamstown; Carrie (Mrs. Ed Yeager), Albert Bast, Charles Bast, and Mrs. William Ramp, of Williamstown; and Joseph Bast of South Bethlehem. He is also survived by six grandchildren.
Mr. Bast was a widely-known resident of Williamstown, being its health officer for several years. As a citizen, he was peaceful and law abiding; as a neighbor, he was ever ready to lend a helping hand to aid a friend.
His largely attended funeral was held from his late residence, Wednesday afternoon. Services were conducted at the house by the Rev. Smith. Interment was made in the Evangelical [Seybert’s] Cemetery.
The pall bearers were Joseph James and Edward James; Harry Messner; WIlliam Page; Frank Wagner; and John Griffith.
Finally, a photograph has been located on a public Ancestry.com tree with the indication that it of Jacob Bast who is profiled here:
The photograph appears to be a post-Civil War “cabinet card” that was produced at the Landon Studio, 629 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. Other than the surviving son, Joseph H. Bast who at the time of his father’s death was living in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, no other member of the family seems to be associated with the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. Note: South Bethlehem and Allentown are adjacent communities. Since the original of this photograph has not been seen, it is possible that it is of the carte de visite size and was taken during the Civil War – but Joseph H. Bast was not born until 1883, so why in Allentown? It is also possible that Landon created a cabinet card from a copy of a Civil War photo.
But, there’s more – the surviving sister at the time of Jacob Bast‘s death was Sarah J. [Bast] Strouse, who in 1920 was living in Allentown as a widow. A photograph of Sarah appears on an Ancestry.com tree. That photograph was taken in Allentown, at 629 Hamilton Street!
In any event, more research needs to be done to confirm that this is actually a photograph of Civil War veteran Jacob Bast.
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News clipping from Newspapers.com.
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