1876-1880 - Interesting Facts and Stories About Our Earlier Cousins
Thanks to the “now” online availability of historical newspapers, we can learn interesting facts and stories about some of our Haston relatives, especially the ones who lived in communities where there were newspapers that have been digitized and become accessible through the Internet.
I focus only on the Hastons known or suspected to be members of the Daniel Haston FAMILY. That includes the Hastains, who changed the spelling of the family name in Missouri and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, I am unable to include those who adopted the English Hasting and Hastings spellings, because only a tiny percentage of the people with those spellings are Daniel’s descendants.
Haston
1876, March 17
Horace and Ernest Haston
The Sparta (TN) Index: Horace and Ernest Haston of River Hill (in southern White County, TN) were visiting in Spring City of Rhea County, TN.
1877, April 25
Byrd Haston
The (Nashville) Tennessean: Byrd Haston, John C. Flanigan, Kendrick Mayner (Maynard), John Lewis, and James Shortley (Shockley?) were taken from Nashville to Van Buren County, TN to serve out their terms in the jail there, for illicit distilling (bootlegging/moonshining).
1878, March 3
Haston vs. Cummings
The (Nashville) Tennessean: The TN Supreme Court confirmed a decision offered by Justice Turney in Haston vs. Cummins. This was the William C. Haston v. William B. Cummings case. Cummings was the administrator of the Samuel Schockley, dec. et. al. estate. The case involved a land and title dispute. Trial Transcript
1880, May 15
W.C. (Wm. Carroll, Sr.) Haston
Southern Standard (McMinnville, TN): W.C. Haston (youngest son of David Haston and grandson of Daniel Haston) was elected Chairman of the Democratic Convention in Van Buren County, TN. The purpose of the convention was to elect delegates to the National convention at Cincinnati, to nominate candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, and also to the Gubernatorial Convention at Nashville, TN. In the 1880 election, Republican nominee James A. Garfield defeated Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock. Van Buren County and White County (heavily, more than 90%) voted for Hancock.
Hastain
In the area of Missouri, where our Hastain relatives lived in the late 1800s, the newspaper coverage was much better than in other states (TN, TX, CA, AR, OK, et. al.) where Daniel Haston’s descendants lived at that time. Daniel McComisky Haston, born December 25, 1808, was the 4th child and 2nd son of David and Peggy Roddy Haston, and a grandson of Daniel Haston. He moved from Tennessee to Missouri in about 1834. Consequently, members of Daniel McComisky Haston’s family (who had adopted the Hastain spelling of their name) appeared fairly often in newspaper articles.
1876, January 28
P.D. (Pleasant Dawson) Hastain
Columbia (MO) Herald-Statesman: Mr. P.D. Hastain, law student of the University, was called to his home in Warsaw, MO., by telegraph last week on account of the serious illness of his father (Daniel McComisky Haston), who has since died. Daniel McC. Hastain was the son of David Haston and the grandson of Daniel Haston. Daniel M.C. Hastain did not live long enough to see his son, Pleasant Dawson Hastain, graduate from law school.
1876, June 15
J.P. (James Preston) Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: J.P. Hastain was on the tax list for the Big Creek Township in Henry County, MO.
1876, September 1
“A person named Hastain”
The Palmyra (Marion County, MO) Spectator: Sidney Smith, a student at the (MO) State University in Columbia, MO, was murdered by Wright Christian and a companion named Kenard. Smith’s throat was slashed by a knife in Christian’s hand. “They met incidentally for the first time that night, perhaps half an hour previous, and under the [drunken] belief that Sidney was a person named Hastain, who had previously offered him insult.” More Was Pleasant Dawson Hastain, a student at the same university, the alleged insulter and the intended target?
1876, December 14
John G. and Woodson A. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: “John G. (Greene) Hastain vs. Woodson A. (Asbury) Hastain, et. al., for specific performance.” This case was on a list of “Appeal Causes” for the Circuit Court in Henry County, MO. John G. Hastain was John Greene Hastain who married Martha Austin on May 4, 1862, in Henry County, MO. This would have been related to the settlement of their father’s (Daniel McC. Hastain’s) estate. The “Greene” in John’s name, came from his mother’s (Anna N. Greene’s) family. Anna’s father was Rev. John Greene. Burial
1876, December 28
Thomas J. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: Thos. J. Hastain was on a committee representing the Hall of Plum Grove Grange No. 1,061. A “grange” was an association of farmers.
1877, April 13
Pleasant Dee (Dawson) Hastain
Salaine County (MO) Weekly Progress: Daniel McComisky Hastain’s son, P.D. Hastain, received the Bachelor of Laws degree from the State University at Columbia, MO.
1877, August 23
Thomas J. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: “Thomas J. Hastain, granger [farmer] of Tebo Township, has been hanging on the ragged edge of circuit court–witness.”
1878, July 4
T.J. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: T.A. (Thomas J. Hastain), a Democrat from Tebo Township in Henry County, MO, was elected as a delegate to a county convention.
1879, June 16
P.D. Hastain
St. Louis (MO) Globe-Democrat: P.D. Hastain of Warsaw, MO, was appointed to be a delegate to the Jefferson City (MO.) meeting where a railroad project was to be discussed.
1879, September 4
Eddie Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: Eddie was the son of (J.P.) James Preston Hastain, whose father was Daniel McC. Hastain. In this article, he is mentioned as canvassing the town of Clinton, MO for subscribers to the Illustrated Family Herald, an “excellent paper” with a subscription price of $1 per year. He, born August 21, 1869, was ten years old at that time. More He died in Maricopa County, Arizona July 12, 1943. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a law degree and practiced law in MO and OK for several years. He was a Deputy Clerk of the Maricopa Superior Court when he died. Obituary
1880, January 8
W.A. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: W.A. (Woodson Asbury) Hastain was on a committee as part of a School Book Convention. The first matter of business was to decide between Appleton and McGuffey reading books. The Appleton reader was chosen, 57 votes compared to McGuffey’s 31 votes.
1880, January 15
P.D. (Pleasant Dawson) Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: P.D. Hastain, Esq., a young attorney at Warsaw, MO, married Miss Lena Hill of Warrensburg (Johnson County), MO. P.D. was the son of Daniel McComiskey Hastain and a brother of T.J. Hastain. The couple planned to make their home in Warsaw, MO.
1880, March 18
J.P. (James Preston) Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: J.P. Hastain sold his farm in the Big Creek Township of Henry County, MO, and purchased 83 acres of improved prairie and timber 7 or 8 miles east of Appleton City, on the edge of St. Clair County, MO. His post office would be in Ohio, St. Clair County. He regretted leaving his friends and neighbors, but “hopes to meet them where separations and parting are no more.”
1880, April 15
Hastain (probably J.D. Hastain)
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: “Anderson B. Goss, who recently escaped from the Warsaw (MO) jail, will be tried at the May term of the Benton County (MO) circuit court. Goss is charged with adultery, open and notorious, and abortion. Hastain and Law will defend him.”
1880, June 24
W. A. (Woodson Asbury) Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: This son of Daniel McComisky Hastain received 100 head of choice 3 and 4-year-old steers at Lewis Station.
1880, August 12
Thomas J. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: Thomas J. Hastain, the son of Daniel M.C. Hastain, signed a petition asking the Henry County, MO officials to put a question on the upcoming election ballot regarding the issue adopting township organization in Henry County.
1880, September 23
P.D. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: Pleasant Dawson Hastain was on the Republican ticket, running for the office of County Attorney.
1880, September 30
W.A. and Thoms. J. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: W.A. (Woodson Asbury) Hastain and Thomas J. Hastain were appointed to be election judges in their Henry County, MO. townships: W.A. Hastain, Bethlehem Township; Thos. J. Hastain, Tebo Township. They were sons of Daniel M.C. (McComisky) Hastain. More
1880, November 18
W.C. Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: In the State Items section – Thomas York “attempted to assassinate W.C. Hastain in Stockton [of Cedar County, MO] last week. His shot passed between Hastain’s legs, when Hastain knocked him down. York made no secret of his murderous design and told parties what he intended to do.” According to the 1880 census, W.C. Hastain was 27 years old (born about 1853) and a lawyer in Stockton of Cedar County, MO. According to the 1860 census, he was William C. Hastin, the oldest son of S.D. (Samuel Douthard) Hastin. S.D. was the son of Isaac Haston/Hastin and Grandson of Daniel Haston. William C. was probably named for his uncle, S.D.’s brother, William Carroll Haston/Hastin, who died in Greene County, MO in about 1845. Family Tree
1880, December 2
P.D. Hastain, Esq.
The Standard Herald (Warrensburg, MO): P.D. Hastain was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Benton County, MO, on the Republican ticket.
1880, December 9
W.A. (Woodson Asbury) Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: W.A. Hastain, son of Daniel M.C. Hastain, went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for health reasons. The town was famous for its natural springs, believed to have healing properties.
1880, December 16
J.P. (James Preston) Hastain
Henry County (Clinton, MO) Democrat: Son of Daniel McComiskey and Anna Green Haston/Hastain and Great-Grandson of Daniel Haston. This newspaper article indicates he purchased 80 acres of prairie land in St. Clair County, MO, seven miles east of Appleton. More.
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