Daniel Haston Family Association

Quiz # 2 – Haston Family History Quiz

1897 – Hastons-Hastains-Hastins in the News

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.

1897, January 1

Jess Haston

Marceline (MO) Journal-Mirror: I’m not sure who this Jess Haston was, but I’m sure he was from the Jesse Haston branch of the family. Ludlow a village in southwest Livingston County, Missouri, United States. It is about 18 road miles southwest of Chillicothe, MO.

January 7, 1897

W.C. Hastin

Cedar County (MO) Republican and Stockton Journal: As in previous years this newspaper ad appeared frequently in the 1897 newspapers in Cedar County, MO. W.C. (William Carroll Hastin), son of Samuel Douthard Haston/Hastin, was a grandson of Isaac Haston, who moved to Greene County, MO in about 1837, then later to California.

1897, February 14

Erastus Haston

The (Nashville) Tennessean: Erastus S. Haston (1875-1919), son of George W. and Sarah Armanca Shockley Haston, and Grandson of Isaac T. and Elizabeth Sparkman Haston married Cleopatra Brady Haston (1874-1900). Cleo was the daughter of (Civil War Federal) Colonel Hugh James Brady and Cherokee Deloniga Wilcher Haston.

February 20, 1897

Walter Haston

The Clinton (MO) Eye: Poor Walter Haston, it just goes to show that you couldn’t get away with anything in a small town in Missouri in those early years. I suspect that Walter’s father took some other actions when Walter showed up at home.

March 2, 1897

Rev. Jesse B. Haston

San Antonio (TX) Express-News: Jesse Haston, Sr.’s grandson, Rev. Jesse Bascom Haston, moved from Texas to California for a change of climate thought to be beneficial to his and his family’s health. As you will see in later articles, he became very popular as a preacher in Northern California.

Rev. Jesse B. Haston was so popular in California that reports of his ministry appeared frequently in newspapers there. You will see just a few of those below. He was described as being scholarly and a fluent speaker, who attracted large crowds.

March 18, 1897

Hon. P.D. Hastain

The Tipton (MO) Times: Pleasant Dawson Hastain, Mayor of Sedalia, MO, was an applicant for the US attorneyship of the Western District of MO. His lineage from Daniel Haston: Daniel > David > Daniel McComisky Haston/Hastain > Pleasant Dawson Hastain.

June 1, 1897

Janet Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mayor P.D. Hastains’s youngest daughter chosen to christen a new boat.

See the June 18 story (below).

June 8, 1897

Ed Hastain

Butler (MO) Daily Democrat: Ed Hastain made an application to be admitted to the Bar.

See the July 8 newspaper article (below) to learn how his bar exam turned out.

June 11, 1897

“Bud” (P.D.) Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Were Mayor Pleasant Dawson Hastain’s chances really as good as his hometown friends thought? We shall see.

June 11, 1897

Husband of Bettie Haston Broadus

Chariton (MO) Courier: Mrs. John A. Broaddus, was Bettie Haston, a daughter of Jesse Haston, Sr., and granddaughter of Daniel Haston. After the death of her husband, Bettie moved to Broaddus, Montana, to be with her sons. The town in Montana was named for her sons.

June 18, 1897

Miss Janet Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: This must have a BIG deal for Miss Janet Hastain, youngest daughter of Mayor P.D. Hastain. Peter Frank’s Boat article.

June 22, 1897

Mrs. Dee (Hastain) Reese

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mrs. Dee Reese, was a sister of Mayor P.D. Hastain. Her father was Daniel McComisky Hastain, a grandson of Daniel Haston through David Haston. Miss Jennie Hastain married Mr. (Dr.) Dee Reese (both of Warsaw in Benton County, MO) on December 13, 1867.

She survived this near-death fever and lived 40+ more years.

June 23, 1897

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia Democrat: Mayor Hastain fought hard to have the Missouri Capital moved from Jefferson City, MO to his town, Sedalia, MO, but Sedalia lost that battle. However, he remained optimistic about some future plans.

July 8, 1897

Ed Hastain

Appleton City (MO) Journal: Ed Hastain was the son of J.P. (James Preston) Hastain. They lived in Appleton City of St. Clair County, Missouri–about 100 miles northwest of Springfield, MO. Earier newspapers indicated that “Eddie” was a bright and industrious young man. Eddie’s father, James Preston Hastain (1828-1904) was a son of Daniel McComisky Haston, who was the son of David Haston (Daniel’s oldest son).

July 11, 1897

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Earlier newspaper articles indicate that Republcian Mayor Hastain was strongly supported by “negros” because he worked to protect them and come to their aid, politically.

July 12, 1897

Mayor P.D. Hastian

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Sedalia, MO, almost lost their mayor while he was on vacation with his family. Some of his political enemies would probably have been pleased–he was loved by most Republicans and hated by Democrats. Read about neuralgia.

August 1, 1897

Thomas J. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: The healing powers of the water at McAlister Springs, MO.

1897, September 10

Haston and Davis Grocery Store

Gallatin North Missourian: Gallatin is a town in Daviess County, MO in Northwest Missouri.

1897, September 10

Isham S. Haston

The (Memphis, TN) Commercial Appeal: Isham S. Haston became the Postmaster of the River Hill post office in southern White County, TN. This was about a half mile east of the Old Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church and cemetery. And not far from the Isham S. Haston homeplace. Isham S. Haston was the son of Isaac T. and Elizabeth Sparkman Haston. Before the 1829 flood that washed out the Caney Fork River bridge down the hill from there, River Hill was a significant location on the road from Sparta, TN to Spencer and Chattanooga.

September 26, 1897

Mayor P.D. Hastain’s House Fire

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Major disaster avoided at the Pleasant Dawson Haston house.

October 9, 1897

Elder (J.B.) Haston

Marysville (CA) Democrat: Jesse Haston, Sr.’s grandson, Jesse Bascom Haston, was a popular, and obviously successful, minister in the Christian Church. His father was William Asbury Haston. He served for several years in Northern California, as well as other states. Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, CA.

October 14, 1897

Attorney Ed Hastain

Appleton City (MO) Journal: Ed Hastain, the young attorney, decided to move to Ogden, Utah.

About a week later, Ed’s wife left Appleton City, MO, to join her husband in Ogden, Utah.

1897, October 22

Mrs. Richard Haston

Chattanooga (TN) Daily Times: I do not know who this Mrs. Richard Haston was, unless he was the “Dick Haston” that Monroe Seals mentioned in the History of White County:
—

Van Haston, brother of C. T. Haston, ran a fine farm in Western Hickory Valley and raised fine stock. He was a factor in the development of that part of the County but was not as active in the affairs of the County as was his brother, though Van Haston was once County Surveyor. Dick Haston,* another brother was also a useful citizen and large land owner and stock raiser. All these were descended from David Haston.

*Note: I know of no Richard Haston who was a brother of Van and C.T. Haston. There was an R.V. Haston on the 1891 enumeration of Male Voters list in White County, but I am virtually positive he was not a brother of Van and C.T.

October 23, 1897

Ed Hastain

Butler (MO) Daily Democrat: It did not take Ed Hastain long to realize he did not like Utah, so within a couple of weeks of choosing to move there, he changed his mind and moved to Denver, CO.

October 26, 1897

Thomas Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: One brother (P.D.) a Republican, the other (Thomas), a Democrat. But apparently they were on friendly terms. I assume Thomas visited his brother to get some political advice.

October 27, 1897

Evangelist (J.B.) Haston

Tri-Weekly Promoter (Willows, CA): Apparently, Jesse Bascom Haston was an excellent Bible teacher and evangelist in the Christian Church.

October 29, 1897

Shirk and Hastain Office

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mayor P.D. Hastain and his brother-in-law, Judge Shirk, were on the cutting edge of technology!

November 1, 1897

Rev. J.B. Haston’s Father-in-Law

Oakland (CA) Enquirer: Rev. Jesse Bauscom Haston’s father-in-law was a professor at the University of Texas.

December 6, 1897

P.D. Hastain and Hastain, MO

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: The village of Hastain in Benton County, MO was named for P.D. (Pleasant Dawson) Hastain. On this occasion, he defended a doctor of his name-sake town who was charged with conspiring with another party to comit murder.

Here’s how the trial ended. Article

December 11, 1897

Stone Hastain

The Clinton (MO) Eye: Stone Haston was on a list of young people who attended a party 4 1/2 miles northwest of Calhoun, MO. Stone was a son of Thomas J. Hastain, and his wife Elizabeth.

December 16, 1897

Ed Hastain

Appleton City (MO) Journal: Ed Hastain moved to Ogden, UT, and stayed there a couple of weeks – moved to Denver, Co and stayed there a few months. Now, he’s back in his hometown of Appleton City, MO.

December 16, 1987

William Carroll Hastain, Attorney

The Greenfield Vedette and the Dade County (MO) Advocate: William Carroll Hastin, grandson of Isaac and Agnes Haston/Hastin, was a prominent attorney in Cedar County, MO. He was also a leading Democrat in county politics.

1897, December 20

Woodville Haston

Nashville, Tennessean: This was an early report about the murder of Woodville Haston by his cousin, Kin Maynard. To read the full account, click on the button below this newspaper story.

December 30, 1897

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: As the year of 1897 comes to an end, it is not looking good for P.D. Hastain’s chances of becoming the next U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Quiz # 1- Basic Daniel Haston Quiz

Confederate Guerrilla, David J. Hastin – Post Civil War

Daniel Haston > Isaac Haston/Hastin > John Wesley Hastin > Dave J. Hastin

March 1894 – Dave J. Haston – Gloriously Converted

No doubt, Dave had lived for years with a deep sense of guilt about some of his experiences during the Civil War. As he heard that Jesus could forgive him of ALL his sins, he must have realized that he needed Jesus to be his Savior — to cover his sins with the blood of Christ, to change his life, and to give him eternal life. He was “converted March, 1894 and joined the M.E. Church, South, October 28, 1894” and “lived in the church a consistent life until God called him to the church triumphant.

January 1, 1895 – 30+ Years Later, Dave Hastin Goes “Home” to Visit His Kin Folks

Perhaps Dave’s conversion emboldened him to go to “home,” where he grew up to reunite with his uncle, cousins, and others he knew as a child and young man.

David J. (Johnson) Hastin, son of John Wesley Hastin, returned to the place in Cedar County, Missouri, where he grew up. Because of his notoriety as a Confederate “bloody bushwhacker” during the Civil War, he had essentially been exiled from his homeland for approximately 30 years. He and Attorney William Carroll Hastin were first cousins, sons of John Wesley Hastin and Samuel Douthard Hastin; D.J. was not W.C.’s uncle. However, David’s uncle, Samuel Douthard Hastin, was still alive (until 1914). The newspapers were generally gracious in their remarks.

January 17, 1895 – Dave’s Past Haunts Him

Even though the editor of the Dade County Advocate newspaper probably thought he was being kind to Dave, his article brought up some haunting reminders in Dave’s mind about things he had tried put behind–things that were now under the blood of Jesus and totally forgiven by his Lord and Savior.

March 14, 1895 – Dave’s Response to the Editor and the Editor’s Reply

Two months after the earlier Dade County story came out, a response from Dave Hastin was published in the Dade County Advocate.

Although Dave’s response was technically accurate, on a deeper level, it contained some untruths. The term “bush whacker” (bushwhacker) carried two different meanings. One, it was sometimes used synonymously with “guerrilla” (irregular) soldier, a person who fought independently of a “regular/official” military unit. Two, the original and more specific meaning referred to an ambusher who shot and killed unsuspecting enemies from a hidden location. Dave was probably denying that he was the second kind of combatant, which was probably the truth.

Thomas R. Livingston was a wealthy mine owner and entrepreneur, west of Carthage, MO. He held the title of Major and commanded a unit of notorious partisan rangers designated as the 1^st Missouri Cavalry Battalion,* a group of 75 to 200 men sometimes called the “Cherokee Spikes.”**

Although the battalion was officially endorsed by the Confederate Congress under the Partisan Ranger Act, it fought much like a guerrilla unit. Some say it operated more like an independent band of outlaws.

*Livingston’s unit was not actually a battalion (300-1000 soldiers); it was more like a company (60-200).

**The name “Cherokee Spikes” came from the many Native American troops, Cherokee especially, who fought alongside Livingston’s white volunteers, and “Spikes” reflected their fierce reputation for unconventional warfare.

Captain Robert’s company was led by Lafayette (“Fate” / “Pete”) Roberts, who was, like Dave, from Linn Township in Cedar County and about Dave’s age. They were probably good buddies from their earlier years. After Major Livingston was killed on July 11, 1863, in a battle on the town square of Stockton, the county seat of Cedar County, his band split up. Dade Countian Kinch West led one group, and Cedar Countian Lafayette “Pete”/“Fate” Roberts led the other. David Hastin chose to “ride” with Roberts, not Kinch West. But one was about as bad as the other, and the bands of Kinch West and Lafayette Roberts were both involved in the Melville attack on June 14, 1864, in which Dave Hastin participated.

May 2, 1908 – Dave Death

1908 – Eulogy for David J. Haisten by Major General James H. Berry

Who would have thought that the life of a so-called “bloody bushwhacker” would be summarized in such an impressive obituary as that composed by James H. Berry, who had served as a U.S. Senator and Governor of Arkansas.

Burial in the Centerton Cemetery in Centerton, Benton County, Arkansas

Isaac’s grandson, David J. Haisten, died one month shy of age 66. Given his Civil War experiences, it is remarkable that he lived as long as he did. His obituary in the Western Methodist says, “He was a constant sufferer from [his Civil War] wound until the day of his death.”

David J. Haisten died in Christian faith. Those who knew him best loved him most.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Dave Hastin – Ex-Bloody Bushwhacker

Daniel Haston > Isaac Haston/Hastin > John Wesley Hastin > Dave J. Hastin

We don’t know much about the war experiences of Isaac’s son, John Wesley Hastin, but we know (1) he was suspected of supplying cattle for the Confederate army and (2) after the war, he fled to Fannin County, TX, “where other Missouri refugees (pro-Confederates) found new homes.” And we know (3) his son, David J. Hastin, was one of the most feared Confederate guerrilla fighters in SouthWest Missouri.

Confederate 1st Lieutenant David J. Hastin

January 11, 1863 – John Wesley and Anna Hastin’s son, David J. (Johnson) Haisten (sic, Hastin), served as a lieutenant in Hunter’s Regiment of Joseph O. Shelby’s Confederate “Iron Brigade.” The brigade participated in 4 major raids into Missouri, earning the reputation as the most formidable brigade in the theater. David Hastin was badly wounded in the January 11, 1863, Battle at Hartville, Missouri, but lived until May 2, 1908.

David Haisten/Hastin’s injuries at Hartville, MO, did not end his service for the Confederacy. Here are just a couple of examples of the kind of guerrilla activity David J. Hastin participated in during the war. One source names him, along with two others, as some of the most dreaded Confederate guerrilla fighters in Southwest Missouri.

February 15, 1863 – A month and four days after his serious wounds in the Battle of Hartville, David Hastin, along with James Miller, and Lafayette (known as “Fate” and as “Pete”) Roberts, were accused of, “with force and arms,” robbing George Fullington in Dade County, Missouri. Among other things, they stole sixty dollars in cash, a double-barreled shotgun, a rifle, and an army jacket. The plaintiff sued to attach their property, which only affected James Miller. The sheriff stated, “The other within-named defendants have no property in my (Dade) county that can be found.”

Source: “George Fullington vs. Miller, Roberts and Hastings,” Dade County, Missouri Circuit Court, c43230_B0059F0012, 1864. Accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.sos.mo.gov/Images/Archives/Judicial2/c43230_B0059F0012.pdf.

Fullington said he believed “the defendants in the foregoing action have absented themselves from their usual place of abode in this state so the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon them.” The incident, apparently, was not presented to the Dade County Circuit Court until August, 1864.

June 14, 1864 – David (D.J.) Hastin participated in a raid of about 150 Confederate guerrillas on the village of Melville* in Dade County, Missouri.

At daybreak on June 14, 1864, Kinch West and Lafayette [Fate] Roberts, at the head of about 150 men, raided the little town of Melville*…robbing the stores and afterward applying the torch to every building in town. All were completely destroyed except three dwelling houses, which were saved by the women, who fought the flames heroically and succeeded in extinguishing them as the bushwhackers withdrew. After the war, the village of Melville was rebuilt and renamed Dadeville, Missouri.

Source: The Springfield (Missouri) Leader and Press, October 24, 1965, 29, 32.

Eyewitness claimed the “guerrillas charged into the town, shooting indiscriminately, killing and wounding a dozen citizens.

Later that year, David and more than twenty other guerrillas, including leader Lafayette Roberts, were sued in the Dade County Circuit Court for the destruction and property losses caused by the fires and theft. “D.J. Hastin” is named in more than a dozen of those lawsuits, such as the one in this image.*

Source: “Francis M. Compton vs. Jeremiah Bigley, et. Al. Dade County, Missouri Circuit Court, c59150_B0061F0003-1.pdf. Accessed February 22, 2026, https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Records/Archives/ArchivesMvc/JudicialRecords/Detail?id=65836.

*Out of the approximately 150 guerrillas, how did the plaintiffs know the names of the ones who were served with lawsuits? As the story goes, a group of Union militia ran upon the guerrilla band in a forest while they were auctioning off the goods they had stolen. The guerrillas fled, leaving behind a list of those who had purchased at the auction.

As with the February 15, 1863, incident, the court documents admit: “The above-named defendants have absented themselves from their usual places of abode in this State so that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon them.”

I suspect that these examples are just the “tip of the iceberg” about David J. Hastin’s guerrilla war experiences. In the following article, I will share his defense of his reputation. Also, I will tell you about David J. Hastin, the post-war man.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Zoom Meeting – Planning for October 9-10, 2026 FAMILY Gathering in MO

Zoom Meeting, Monday at 7:00 p.m. Central Time – March 9, 2026

Your Invitation Link – Plug This Into Your Web Browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89784337004?pwd=UVtg1k6DXQJDlT7el7jZby8C8FvmWF.1

We will talk about the basic plans we have now – the presentations, field trips, meals, etc. But we want to hear from you, what can we do to make this a memorable and educational experience for you?

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Is Every Haston a Descendant of Daniel Haston

1852 – James Haston, a Case in Point

When I see the HASTON name, I immediately begin to ask myself, “How did this James Haston fit into the descendancy of Daniel Haston, our c. 1750-1826 ancestor, from whom a massive FAMILY of Hastons (and other H-name variations) spread all across the United States in the 1800s and later?”

Probably at least 90% of the time, I do discover that the person descended from the Daniel Haston who was born in Virginia and later settled in White County, Tennessee, in about 1804. Why? Because Daniel’s Haston’s family is SO EXTENSIVE in the United States! But there are some exceptions.

The (born 1852) James Haston is an example of an exception. There were many of Daniel Haston’s family members who moved from Tennessee to Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, etc. So it is easy to assume that Kansan James Haston must have been one of them.

But when you read more about this prominent Kansan farmer, you learn that his grandfather came to America at age 13 from Scotland, and later fought for the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War. He remained in Virginia after the war, and his descendants spread to other states.

The Scottish Hastons

The “Haston” surname is known to be native to Scotland, leading some descendants of Daniel Haston to assume that we are Scots or Scots-Irish (also known as Ulster Scots).

For example, the late Dougal Haston, of climbing fame in the Alps and on Mount Everest, was born in Scotland. And to this day, the Haston name is still common in that country.

So, if you come across a Haston in the United States or Canada who is not a descendant of Daniel Haston, the chances are very high that they have roots in the United Kingdom, eventually traced back to Scotland.

However, I have learned that most of the Hastons who are now in the United States descend from Daniel Haston, who was originally Daniel Hiestand, from a Mennonite family that originated in Switzerland.

In addition to the many people who carry the HASTON name, there are many others who descend from Daniel Haston, whose family names are spelled HASTIN, HASTINGS, HASTING, HASTAIN, and probably other similar H-names.

How Can I Know If I Descend from Daniel Haston?

DNA can settle the question, but it is essential to know which DNA company to use and how to understand the results. You can not determine your family’s country of origin by DNA results that report what % (percent) of your DNA is from various parts of the world.

But we are willing to help.

If you can tell us your family line back a few generations, we can probably help you answer that question.
And if, it turns out that you descend from Daniel Haston, we can probably tell you exactly how you fit into the family.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Lucas Haston – Sparta TN

The Y’s Fitness Director, Nina Weston, has seen Lucas through this journey and could not be prouder. She shared part of Lucas’s story, as he got comfortable teaching the others in Special Olympics, and how the two of them worked hard to get him certified.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Civil War – Haston Cousin Against Haston Cousin

One a Son of Jeremiah Haston, the Other a Son of Isaac Haston — Both, Grandsons of Daniel Haston

Sometimes, Haston family genealogists have confused these two men, but one was the son of (Daniel Haston’s son) Isaac Haston, and the other was the son of (Daniel Haston’s son) Jeremiah Haston. The “boys” were about 4 1/2 years apart in age and probably were close friends and playmates growing up. But issues that led to the Civil War drove a wedge between them.

Jeremiah’s John Wesley Haston enrolled in the Missouri Home Guard in Dallas County, MO. I know that Isaac’s John Wesley Haston (in Cedar County, MO) was a Confederate sympathizer and very likely an active soldier, one way or another.

Isaac’s grandson (son of John Wesley Hastin), David Haston (Haisten), was a Confederate soldier who was severely wounded in the Battle of Hartville, MO, and was known to be a “bloody bushwhacker.” More about him in another article.

Date	Isaac’s John Wesley Haston	Jeremiah’s John Wesley Haston
October 12 1818		Born (probably) in White County, TN
January 27 1823	Born (probably) in White County, TN
August 5 1841	Married Anna Brown in Greene Co, MO
January 15, 1846		Married Mary Caroline Forrester in Greene Co, MO
January 1, 1849	40 acres: T32, R27, S23, NE¼NE¼ in Dade Co, MO 40 acres: T32, R27, S23, SW¼NE¼ in Dade Co, MO
January 1, 1850		40 acres: T33N, R19W,S32, NE¼NE¼ in Dallas Co, MO
1850 Census	“Wesley Haston” (age 27) and wife Anny (age 27), both born in TN, and son David, age eight. $400, real estate in District 25 of Dade Co, MO Year: 1850; Census Place: District 25, Dade, Missouri; Roll: 398; Page: 284a.	“John H. [sic, W.] Hastings [sic, Haston] (age 30 or 36?) and wife Mary C. (age 24), both born in TN, and daughter Hester, age one. $50, real estate, in District 26 of Dallas Co, MO Year: 1850; Census Place: District 26, Dallas, Missouri; Roll 398; Page: 339a.
October 1, 1852	40 acres: T33N, R27W, S17, NW¼SW¼ in Cedar Co, MO
April 15, 1853		80 acres: T32N,19W,S20, E½NW¼ in Webster Co, MO
December 1, 1856	80 acres: T33N, R27W, S17, S½NW¼ in Cedar Co, MO
May 15, 1857	40 acres: T33N, R27W, S17, SE¼SW¼ in Cedar Co, MO 40 acres: T33N, R27W, S18, NE¼SE¼ in Cedar Co, MO	40 acres: T32M,R19W,S20, NE¼SW¼ in Webster Co, MO
1857	“J.W. Haston” on a militia list in Sonoma (Santa Rosa Co), CA
How could J.W. Haston (Isaac’s son) have been in Cedar County, MO, in 1852, 1856, May 1857, and 1862, but in Sonoma County, CA, in 1857? Maybe he went there for gold, returned to Cedar County, MO (when others returned), and later left MO for TX. Or, perhaps this was not Isaac’s son.
June 1, 1859	His brother, Samuel D. – 40 acres: T33N, R26W, S21, NE¼NW¼ in Cedar Co, MO	40 acres: T32N-19W,S20, SW¼NW¼ in Webster Co, MO
1860 Census	J.W. Haston (age 38) and family in Linn of Cedar Co, MO Year: 1860; Census Place: Linn, Cedar, Missouri; 95.	John W. Hasten (age 41) and family in Washington of Webster Co, MO Year: 1860; Census Place: Washington, Webster, Missouri; 710.
June 24, 1861		Enlisted, Dallas Co, MO, Federal Home Guard
Pre-September 25, 1862	In Cedar Co, MO, paid to have three cows driven to and sold at market. Suspicious to be Confederate sympathizer.
November 20, 1862		Discharged from the army, over age; Dallas Co, MO.
July 1, 1863	J.W. Hasten, on a Class II list of men in Lynn of Dade Co, MO, subject to Federal military service
1865	J.W. Haisten was on the Fannin County, TX tax list, beginning this year. "Fannin, Texas, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-W6YW-1: September 20, 2021), image 1 of 1238; Texas State Library. Archives Division (Austin, Texas).
October 1868	Samuel D. Hasting was on the 1868 voter list for Linn Township in Cedar Co, MO, but John W. Haston was not. To be qualified to vote, a man had to take an oath of loyalty to the USA. Southwest Tribune (Cedar County, Missouri), October 9, 1868.
August 23, 1870	Assumed to be “residing in the State of Texas,” according to his father’s will
June 6, 1874 or… July 6, 1876	Daughter A.M. (Matilda Agnes) Haisten married T.E. Lovelace in Fannin County, Texas, on July 6, 1876, or June 6, 1874. Matilda Agnes Hasting was his 2nd wife; Elizabeth Tabitha Genette Gaither died in 1876. Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Austin, Texas; Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975; Collection #: CPA16526; Roll #: 209; Roll Description: Pension File Nos. 04877 to 45350, Application Years 1916 to 1929. “Thomas Elam Lovelace,” FamilySearch.org, accessed January 29, 2026, https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/KGST-FJS.
November 6, 1879	J.W. Haisten married Emma Strange in Sherman, Grayson County, TX.
June 1, 1880 Census	J.W. Haiston (age 56) and wife, E.J. Haiston, were living in Precinct 3 of Fannin County, TX. Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 3, Fannin, Texas; Roll: 1302; Page: 382B; Enumeration District: 025.
1885	Twenty years after J.W. Haiston’s first appearance on a Fannin County, TX tax list (although the “Location” column says, “Grayson Co.,”), he was still living there. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-W2B7-9, May 2014), Fannin County> 1885 > image 593 of 613; State Archives, Austin.
April 26, 1898	John W. (Wesley) Haiston (Haston) died on this date in Benton County, Arkansas, and is buried in the Centerton Cemetery. He was 75 years old. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29T-3R2C: 9 July 2020), John W Haisten, 1898; Burial, citing record ID, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
May 2, 1898		John Wesley Haston died and was buried in Dallas Co, MO
These same-name first cousins died less than one week apart - six days

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Catherine Haston Austin’s Sons

Pleasant Richard Austin - 1820-1900

The following information about Catherine Haston Austin’s firstborn son was published in 1886 in one of the “vanity biography” books of that era.

Pleasant Austin, a prosperous agriculturist of the Second [Hickory Valley] District, was born September 8, 1820, on the farm upon which he now resides. His parents were John and Catherine (Haston) Austin. The father was born on January 6, 1779, in Virginia, of English descent. He immigrated to Tennessee at an early date and died there on February 28, 1858. The mother is thought to have been of Dutch [German-speaking] descent. She was a native of Tennessee, and her entire life was passed in the State. Our subject was brought up on the farm and educated in the school in the vicinity. After attaining his majority, he purchased land in the county and farmed for about six years. At his father’s death, he bought the homestead and moved to it, where he has since resided. He is a substantial, honorable, and worthy citizen. He is interested in the advancement of education and all beneficial enterprises. He is a Democrat. On September 14, 1852, he was united in marriage to Mary E., daughter of Bluford and Sarah (Yates) Warren. The father was raised in Halifax, NC, and the mother in Halifax, VA. The grandfather Yates lived to the unusual age of one hundred and twelve years. Mrs. Austin was born October 15, 1825, in Tennessee, and is the mother of John W., William Bluford, Robert S., Sarah Alice (wife of Norman Gist, who resides near Sparta), Flora C. (wife of Lewis Akins), James Mc., and Frank P.

Tennessee History and Biographies: White County, TN (Goodspeed Publisher, 1886), page 7.

Robert (Robin) S. Austin - 1826 - After 1910

Robert (“Robin” in Civil War records) enlisted in (initially, Mounce L. Gore’s) Company D of the Confederate 13^th Regiment of the Tennessee Cavalry on September 1, 1862, in Sparta, TN, where the unit was organized. A month later, the unit joined Brigadier General Nathan B. Forrest’s Brigade and reorganized as the 8^th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry, commonly known as Dibrell’s 8^th Cavalry.

As partisan rangers, they acted independently of the rest of the army. They fought fiercely in many battles and skirmishes across the South, from Chickamauga (GA) to Saltville (VA) and elsewhere, and served as Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s escort at the end of the war, until they were captured and forced to surrender in Washington, Georgia, in May 1865. Amazingly, Robert was never seriously wounded, according to his pension application.

Robert was mustered out on May 11, 1865. He ranked in and out as a private. On February 9, 1900, he filed an application for a pension based on complications from rheumatism and hemorrhoids resulting from his service in the war. The application was rejected because he had “not proved” he was incapacitated by the stated health issues. At the time of the application, he was living in Lost Creek, where the post office was Greentree.

By occupation, Robert was a farmer and blacksmith. He never married and, according to census records, lived with family members most of the time. In 1900, Robert (age 73) was living with the family of his nephew, Frank Austin. His brother, Pleasant Austin (age 79), was also living there.

He (Robin Austin) was still alive at age 84 in 1910 and living in the 4^th District of Bledsoe County, TN, with the family of his niece, Flora*—Mrs. Lewis P. (Pollard) Akin(s). I have no record of when or where Robert/Robin died or was buried, but those events may have occurred in Bledsoe County (Pikeville), Tennessee.

*Flora Elizabeth Austin Akins was the daughter of Pleasant and Mary E. Austin.

William Edward Austin - 1833-1890

William Edward Austin, the last child of Catherine and John Austin, was born on this date. At the time of William Edward’s birth, John would have been about 54 years old, and Catherine in her 40s.

Catherine’s son, William, was the second son of John, named William. John and his first wife, Rachel, named their first son William. But Rachel’s William died on April 7, 1833, and was buried in the Austin Cemetery. According to family stories, on September 28, 1833, William was named in honor of his older half-brother, whom he would never meet. Catherine was pregnant with this William Edward when the older half-brother William died.

William E. Austin married Mary Lou Frazier on January 24, 1859. According to her tombstone, Mary was born on October 6, 1824. If so, she was about nine years older than her bridegroom. The following year, the couple was residing in Precinct 4 of Dallas, Texas, where their daughter Maggie was born. Later census records confirm Dallas as Maggie’s place of birth. But Maggie’s parents did not linger long in Texas.

The Confederate 28th Tennessee Infantry, also known as the 2nd Tennessee Mountain Volunteers, was organized during September 1861 at Camp Zollicoffer in Overton County, Tennessee. Men for this unit were recruited from White County and other counties of upper middle Tennessee. As a private, William E. Austin enlisted in this Confederate infantry.

During the war, the 28th (Consolidated) Tennessee Infantry was active in several major battles, including Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Fishing Creek, Chickamauga, Port Hudson, and Atlanta.

On June 15, 1870, William Edward and Mary L., with children ages 3, 7, and 9, were living in the 1st Civil District in White County. He was a farmer. An 87-year-old “unable to work” female, Claricy Frasier, was living with them. This may have been Mary Lou’s mother.

On June 23, 1880, the William E. Austin family was still living in Civil District 1 of White County. The census record indicates that Mary and her parents were born in North Carolina. And their 19-year-old daughter, Maggie, was born in Texas, which is consistent with the 1860 and 1870 censuses. William’s brother Robert, a blacksmith, was living with them.

William Edward died in 1890, and Mary Lou also died that year, on October 18, 1890. They are both buried in the Bethlehem Cemetery in White County, near Doyle, TN. There is a tombstone for Mary, but none for her husband.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Catherine Haston Austin’s Daughters

Emmeline Austin (Doyle)

November 15, 1822 – Emmeline Austin, daughter of John and Catherine, was born in White County, TN, on November 15, 1822. On January 31, 1844, Emmeline married Downs B. (Brewster) Doyle, a planter (farmer). Downs was born in White County, TN, on September 10, 1817. Apparently, the newlywed couple moved to Bossier, Louisiana, very soon after their marriage, where they joined members of Downs’s family.

White County, TN residents, Simon Rogers Doyle (son of Simon Doyle) and Nancy White (daughter of John White, Sr. of White County, TN) moved to Bossier, LA, from White County sometime in the 1840s, but all of their children were born in Tennessee. Simon R. Doyle, Esq. was the coroner for White County, but resigned this position on July 5, 1841. I assume this was a step in the process of moving his family to Louisiana. Simon Rogers Doyle and Downs Brewster Doyle were first cousins; their fathers were brothers.

Downs and Emmeline were living in Bossier Parish at the time of the 1850 census, and their oldest child, age six, was born in Louisiana. Dossier Parish was one of the best cotton divisions of Louisiana.

The 1850 census indicates Emmeline was born in Georgia, which is inaccurate. And her recorded age of 22 is also inaccurate, but future censuses correct both. Notice that Emmeline named her second daughter Susan, perhaps a continuation of that name in Catherine Haston Austin’s family.

Downs became a prominent citizen in his parish. In 1847, he acquired 320 acres from the Bureau of Land Management (159.97 and 159.55). By 1872, he was a “police juror” for his district. In Louisiana, a police juror was an elected official who served as a member of the parish’s governing body, like a county commissioner in other states. Even the town where they lived was named “Doyline” for the Doyle families!

In 1880, Emmeline was living with her husband and their family (five daughters and three sons) in the 3^rd Ward of Webster Parish, Louisiana. Webster Parish, east of and adjacent to Bossier Parish, was formed in 1871 out of Bossier and a couple of other parishes.

Emmeline had 13 children during their marriage. She died on February 13, 1902, and is buried in Doyline Cemetery in Webster Parish, LA.

Susan Austin (Duncan)

February 13, 1829 – Susan Austin, daughter of John and Catherine, was born on this date. She married John J. Duncan on November 1, 1855. Rev. William Jared, who performed their wedding ceremony, was a popular Methodist circuit-riding and camp meeting preacher in White County and the surrounding area.

In 1860, John J. and Susan Austin Duncan were living in District 12 of White County, John J.’s home district. His occupation was “County Officer.”* Even though they had been married for about five years, they had no children.

A Civil War Confederate document states he was a Clerk of the Circuit Court in White County when he enlisted.

In mid-1860, Susan’s husband was sued by George W. Gibbs* of Sparta, TN, for a breach of contract. The case was tried in the Tennessee 5th Circuit Court at Sparta, TN (where John J. Duncan was the court clerk), but was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

*George W. Gibbs was a prominent lawyer in Sparta. He served as a State senator and General in the War of 1812, as well as the first president of the Union Bank of Tennessee at Nashville, and the founder of Union City, TN. The locally famous Confederate General George Gibbs Dibrell of White County was a nephew and namesake of George W. Gibbs.

On September 21, 1857, John J. Duncan agreed to purchase 1,175 acres on the top of Cumberland Mountain in White County, for one dollar per acre. Gibbs accused Duncan of failing to pay for the purchase. But Duncan claimed the deal was void due to fraud because Gibbs had not provided a sufficient description of the land. The State Supreme Court sided with Duncan. But the $1-per-acre mountain land was probably part of Gibb’s Cumberland Mountain land, which later became a major coal producer.

On December 9, 1861, John J. Duncan enlisted for 12 months in Company D of the Tennessee 1^st Infantry Battalion (Colms’) at Sparta, TN. Captain David Snodgrass was his enlistment agent.

There are 12 pages in his Confederate files, detailing his medical history during the war, eventually leading to his dismissal for health reasons. Here is some of the information from his records.

In January of 1862, he was “sent home on sick furlough from Camp Weekly [near Nashville].” He “had a cough and was spitting up blood.”

May and June, 1863: “Absent at home on sick furlough from [Confederate hospital at] Lauderdale Springs, Miss.”

In 1870, he was a farmer on a 90-acre farm,[i] which must have been difficult given his hemoptysis, which was triggered by the slightest fatigue. Susan and John, apparently, were still childless.

John J. Duncan died on September 2, 1873, and Susan Austin Duncan died six years later, on June 6, 1879, as a result of convulsions. They are buried side-by-side in the Old Bon Air Cemetery in the Bon Air community of White County, Tennessee.

Bird Austin

February 18, 1831 – Bird Austin, a daughter of John and Catherine, only lived two and a half years. She died on July 17, 1833, and is buried next to Catherine in the Austin Cemetery.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

October 2026 – MidAmerica All Hastons Gathering

Articles Related to the Haston-Hastin-Hastain MidAmerica Gathering

It’s set – Mid-America Gathering for all descendants of Daniel Haston!

October 9 & 10, 2026 at the Ebenezer, MO Historical Society near Springfield, Missouri

Each morning, we will have coffee, etc., and light breakfast snacks.
Mid-day lunch included.
Late afternoon dinner included.
All for a total registration price of $50 per adult and teen, $25 per child ages 5-12, and free for ages 4 and under.
——————————————————————————————–

Friday, October 9

Welcome and Orientation to the Village of Ebenezer – Laura Nichols, President of Ebenezer Historical Society
Our Earliest Hiestand/Haston Family Roots – Wayne Haston
- Switzerland to Tennessee
- The Daniel Haston Family Tree, All of Daniel’s Known Children
Jeremiah Haston Family of Dallas County, MO – Wayne Haston

Dallas County, MO Field Trip – Jeremiah Haston Family Historic Places
—————————————————————–

Saturday, October 10

The Westward Migrations of Hastons – MO, AR, OK, TX, CA and Elsewhere – Wayne Haston
(Hastons, Hastins, Hastings, Hastains, etc.)
Jesse Haston Family of Howard and Adjacent Counties – Wayne Haston
Isaac Haston/Hastin and Other Greene County, MO Relatives – Wayne Haston
- Isaac Hastin Family in Cave Spring Area
- Jacob Mitchell (husband of Daniel’s daughter, Lucinda) in Ebenezer

Greene County, MO Field Trip – Isaac Haston Family Historic Places

Wayne will have the first 4 (of 5) of his Daniel Haston Family History books available for sale, and he will autograph them for you. And you can pre-order the 5th book.

It’s centrally located to numerous sites where Daniel Haston’s children and grandchildren settled in the 1800s. And we will visit some of them! Plus, historical presentations about some of these ancestors, and more.

Directions to Ebenezer, Missouri

Click on the map to expand the map.

Monday, April 13

We will visit this place as part of the October 9-10 All Hastons Gathering.

Charlie Dill, His Family Owns the Land Where the Jeremiah Haston Cemetery Probably Is

Although I have a lot of evidence that Jeremiah Haston and some of his family members are buried (as late as 1913) in a "Haston Burying Ground" on land where they settled in about 1837, nobody in the county knows the location of the cemetery.

Charlie Dill's family owns the land where we think the cemetery is located. Charlie and his family have been super helpful! He drove us around the 40-acre tract where I feel confident the graveyard is located.

I was pleased to hear that all 160 acres (4 tracts) that Jeremiah and his oldest daughter, Minerva, owned are now in the Dill family and they are very interested in and supportive of what we are doing.

Monday, April 13

We visit this place as part of the October 2026 All Hastons Gathering.

Old Stones, Previously Unknown to Charlie

Charlie grew up on this farm and has run cattle on this land most of his life, but he found some large stones that he had never known were there. They were positioned in what appears to be a rectangular pattern, perhaps foundation stones for a very old homesite. And other similar large stones were located on the surface of the ground nearby. A perpetual spring is about 30 yards away.

Some of these stones could be gravestones, but if not there is plenty of room in that area for a burying ground.

Charlie told me that he had heard about a man, James Williams, who knew all about locating forgotten graveyards. You will learn more about James in the Thursday section of this story.

Monday, April 13

We will visit this place as part of the 2026 All Hastons Gathering.

Beautiful Site Near the Pattern of Large Stones

20 yards or so in front of the pattern of old stones is this site. Charlie estimates that some of these oak trees are 200+ years old, old enough to have been there when Jeremiah and daughter Minerva lived on this land. It is on a high point of land that Minerva purchased in 1874, two years before Jeremiah died in 1876! The site overlooks the 1874 40 acre-tract , and the fence row in the distance is the east side of the 40 acres that Jeremiah acquired after he settled there. We think this would be a prime site for a cemetery. We shall see.

Monday, April 13

We will visit this place as part of the 2026 All Hastons Gathering.

Ebenezer Methodist Church

After our exciting tour of the original Haston property in the community of Charity in Dallas County, MO. We drove through the little village of Ebenezer, MO, where we would meet with the board members of the Ebenezer Historical Society the next day, Tuesday.

The historical center of the hamlet of Ebenezer, Missouri is the Ebenezer Methodist Church, which was founded in 1832. The current (beautiful) building was constructed in 1894. It is the oldest continuously functioning United Methodist congregation west of the Mississippi. Lucinda Haston's (daughter of Daniel Haston) inlaws--Jacob Mitchell family--lived in Ebenezer in the mid-1800s and were active members in this church. One of Jacob's brothers was the pastor of this congregation in 1850. Jacob may have died in the village. Facebook Page

Monday, April 13

Meeting place for our October 2026 MidAmerica All Hastons Gathering.

Ebenezer Historical Society

This is our meeting place for the October 2026 MidAmerica All Hastons Gathering.

The original building was the one-room school for the community of Ebenezer, MO. It has been beautifully remodeled, added to, and converted for meetings such as we will have there. Website Facebook Page

Tuesday, April 14

Laura will tell you the story of this historical village.

Laura Nichols, President of the Ebenezer Historical Society

Laura and I discussed logistics and general planning related to the MidAmerica All Hastons Gathering. She also explained the layout of the historic village of Ebenezer, MO in its earlier years.

Tuesday, April 14

You will have an opportunity to view key historical sites in the village.

View of Key Early Historical Ebenezer Sites

Laura showed us some of the historical locations of Ebenezer sites, such as the original church, the Methodist college, and the original road.

Tuesday, April 14

We will visit this site as part of the October 2026 All Hastons Gathering.

The Friendship Baptist Church Building

We visited the Friendship Baptist Church building, the church that some descendants of Isaac Haston attended.

The story of how this building was moved intact from its original location near Isaac Haston's land, down a creek bed to the current site on the Little Sac River is truly amazing--on wagons pulled by mules. You will hear that story when we visit here in October.

Tuesday, April 14

We will visit the inside of this old church building as part of the Gathering.

Inside of the Friendship Baptist Church Building

Some of Haston relatives worshiped in this building. The family that owns the property where the building is located is in the process of restoring it to, as near as possible, to its original condition.

Wednesday, April 15

We will visit this church--one of the oldest in SW Missouri.

Historic Mount Zion Presbyterian Church

Now known as the Cave Spring Memorial Church

Isaac Haston/Hastin's land in Cass Township of Greene County, MO was about a mile east of this church, which was established soon after Isaac's family settled in Greene County. It was founded in 1839, a few years after the Ebenezer Methodist Church was organized. Before its founding, large camp meetings were held in this area.

Even though he was probably a Methodist, and not a Presbyterian, Isaac, Agnes, and members of their family no doubt attended here some times. There is evidence that some of their children were associated with this congregation.

This building, which was constructed in 1869, is being restored by members of the local community. After a few decades of the discontinuance of services, monthly services are now held in the building.

Wednesday, April 15

We will visit this room as part of our October All Hastons Gathering.

2nd Level (Upstairs) of Cave Spring Memorial Church

Originally, the church services were held in this room, upstairs in the church. You can see the "choir loft" and platform at the front of the church. Eventually, church services were moved to the first floor, due to the difficulty of getting caskets up and down the steps for funerals. Obviously, members with mobility issues had a difficulty time ascending the steps.

Wednesday, April 15

We will visit this room as part of our October Gathering.

1st Floor of the Church

This room was originally used for a school, but later used for worship services, as it is monthly now. There are some interesting artifacts in the room. You will hear the story of the founding of this church and its many years of gospel ministry. Let's plan to sing a few old hymns while we are here.

Thursday, April 16

We will not be able to visit the DCHS, but maybe I can get Jack and Linda to attend our Gathering when I talk about the Jeremiah Haston family.

Dallas County Historical Society - Buffalo, MO

On Thursday morning I visited the Dallas County Historical Society, where I met Jack and Linda Crawford. For several years, Linda, President of the Historical Society, has been my go-to person for historical information about Dallas County, MO. Jack's ancestors lived in the Cherry Creek community of White County, TN in the early 1800s. He's a great storyteller with lots of good stories about history. Website

Thursday, April 16

You may get to meet one or both of these men at our Gathering.

Charlie Dill and James Williams

I was happy that Charlie and James got to meet each other the morning I visited the Dallas County Historical Society. Charlie, whose family owns the possible Haston Cemetery property, and James, an experienced locator of "lost" or hidden cemeteries, are both interested in helping to find the old "Haston burying ground," as it is described in one family source.

Thursday, April 16

If James can find it, we plan to visit the old Haston Cemetery in October.

James Williams - Graves Finder

James Williams grew up in Dallas County, Missouri but worked for a large cemetery in California for many years. Now, retired, he hopes to locate every "lost" cemetery in the county. He had read about the Haston family cemetery, but I was able to give him more detailed information about it and get him connected with Charlie.

James uses dowsing rods and says they are about 80% accurate in locating graves. He has already located about 50 previously old hidden cemeteries in Dallas County, MO. We hope he can add the Jeremiah Haston family cemetery to his list of successes.

Thursday, April 16

We plan to visit this site as part of our October All Hastons Gathering.

Union Mound Church - Dallas County, MO

Since the 1950s, this church is a Baptist Church. But its history goes back into the 1840s, when it was a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It is located about 3 miles from where Jeremiah Haston settled. Although the church records for the earlier years of the church no longer exist, we do have evidence that members of Jeremiah's family were members there. Jeremiah's son, John Wesley Haston, may have been a member there for 50 years or more.

There is one Haston family buried in the old cemetery adjacent to the church.

Friday, April 17

You will meet these board members during our Gathering.

Ebenezer Historical Society Board Members

On Friday, Sharon and I had lunch with the Board of the Ebenezer Historical Society (Nelson, Kevin and Laura), to make some additional plans for our October Gathering.

Friday, April 17

Entering Cave Spring, near the old church.

Historic Village of Cave Spring, Missouri

On Friday, we drove through Cave Spring again. You can see the old Mount Zion Presbyterian [now, Cave Spring Memorial] Church building and cemetery in the background. We were on our way to see the land that Isaac Haston owned while living in Greene County, Missouri.

Friday, April 17

We will definitely drive around this land that Isaac owned while in Missouri.

280 Acres of Isaac Haston/Hastin Land

When Daniel's son, Isaac, left Tennessee in about 1836, he owned no land and was apparently quite poor. But before moving to California in 1857, he owned 280 acres. His son, William Carroll Hastin, owned 40 acres when he died in 1845. Notice that West Farm Road 54 goes right through Isaac's land, making it possible to get some good views of the property he settled on and farmed.

Friday, April 17

And we will see cattle grazing on the land formerly owned by Isaac.

Typical View of the Land Isaac Was Granted

When Isaac settled here in about 1836, this was prairie land, part of the Grand Prairie of Greene County, Missouri. Because of the thick prairie grass, the soil was extremely difficult to plow. The land proved good for pasture but not so good for many crops, such as corn.

Friday, April 17

We will not be able to visit this historic site, but you might want to do so after the Gathering is over.

Mitchell Campground and Cemetery

About 20 miles north of Cave Spring, MO, the historic Mitchell Campground Cemetery is located in southern Polk County, MO. Daniel Haston's daughter, Lucinda married (Jacob Mitchell) into this family. The Mitchells moved there from East TN in the mid-1830s. They were stauch Methodists and established a church, cemetery, and campground there shortly after they arrived. The history of this site is legendary! Daniel Haston's family is probably connected to these Mitchells in another way. Sarah Nave, probably a close relative of Christina Nave (Daniel's wife), is buried in this cemetery. She married Rev. James Mitchell, a popular Methodist preacher from the family for which this site is named.

Friday, April 17

Just inside the cemetery's entrance gate.

Historical Monument

The Methodist Church and cemetery were organized on this site in 1839. Many of the graves are from the mid-to-late 1800s.

Meetings are still held annually to support the foundation that cares for the property.

Friday, April 17

Still a functional building for the annual meetings.

Building on the Campground Property

The Mitchell Methodist "class" (church plant) was organized in the house of Ransome Cates in 1834 or 1835. A hewed log meeting house was built in 1836, and the Mitchell Camp Ground was established in 1841, in which year the first camp meeting was held there. In 1858, a brick church building was erected at that location. There was a fire in 1904 that partially damaged the building, and it had to be rebuilt. The church [building] was dedicated in 1905.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

E.C. Haston – WCHS Principal

E.C. Haston - Principal of White County (TN) High School

Van Buren County, TN – Born and Grew Up

Edwin Cummings Haston was born on November 9, 1913, in Cummingsville, TN (3rd District in Van Buren County, TN).

Middle Tennessee State Teacher College – Murfreesboro, TN

1938

Cassville in Bartow County, Georgia

White County High School, Sparta, TN – 1951-1958

Death

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

1896 – Hastons in the News

1896 - Interesting Facts and Stories About Our Earlier Cousins

1896, January 30

I. (Isaac) S. and Levinia Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex:

1896, March 15

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Pleasant Dawson (P.D.) Hastain, great-grandson of Daniel Haston, was a controversial mayor in Sedalia, MO — Daniel > David > Daniel McComisky Haston/Hastain > Pleasant Dawson Hastain. In the Republican municipal primary, incumbent Mayor Hastain bested his opponent by 911 to 721 votes. Frequently, there was some controversy or fracas anytime Mayor Hastain was involved in an event, but this election went amazingly peacefully.

1896, March 20

J.M. Haston

Joel Montgomery Haston (son of Montgomery Greeneville Haston) was a vice postmaster at Cummingsville in Van Buren County, TN. In two papers on the same day–one says he had deceased, the other said he had resigned. Well, I know he was not deceased until 1925.

1896, April 16

W.C. Haston

Cedar County Republican and Stockton Journal: Attorney W.C. (William Carroll) Hastin, grandson of Isaac Haston (Daniel Haston’s son) was a Democrat. His cousin, P.D. Hastain, of Sedalia, MO was a staunch Republican.

1896, May 2

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The International. The African American (negro) population in Missouri were not shy about letting it be know that Mayor P.D. Hastain was their friend.

International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor

It was founded as the International Order of Twelve in 1846 as an antislavery society. The Order was re-organized in 1872 as a fraternal organization in Independence, Missouri. The new leader of the group was Moses Dickson, a clergyman of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In the 1890s the group claimed to have 100,000 members in thirty US states, the West Indies, England and Africa. Men’s lodges were called “Temples” and women’s lodges were “Tabernacles”. There were also juvenile lodges of the order called “Tents”. Male and female junior members were known as Pages of Honor and Maid, respectively.

1896, May 4

Jesse Haston (Jr)

The Independent Record (Helena, Montana): Jesse Haston, Jr., grandson of Daniel Haston and son of Jesse Haston from Howard County, MO was the ultimate cowboy. He dealt in thousands of cattle at a time.

1896, May 7

Haston Cemetery – Dallas County, MO

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: This is the Haston Cemetery in the county where Jeremiah Haston and his family lived. But no one in that area seems to know where the cemetery was/is located. I suspect it was on Jeremiah’s land, or perhaps the property of one of his children. It’s just seems to make sense to me. – Wayne Haston

1896, May 14

Wm Haston – Emma Melvina Banks

The Carthage (MO) Press: I don’t know how this William Haston fits into Daniel Haston family line, but since he’s from an area where several of our Hastons settled, he probably fits in somewhere. It’s a “sweet” story of young lovers madly in love.

1896, May 15

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Republican mayor of Sedalia, MO reminded the negros in Missouri that he “had always been the friend of the negro, in public and in private.” He told them that he wanted to see them prosper and fit themselves for the same positions among their own people that white men occupy among theirs.

1896, May 21

Mrs. W.C. Hastin & “Dow” Hastin

Stockton (MO) Journal: Attorney William Carroll Hastin was the son of Samuel Douthard (“Dow”) Hastin, whose father was Isaac Haston (son of Daniel Haston). They were in Cedar County, MO.

1896, June 3

Jesse B. (Bascom) Haston

St. Louis (MO) Globe-Democrat: Jesse B. Haston, son of William Asbury Haston and grandson of Jesse Haston, Sr., received an “A.M.” degree (now called a Master of Arts, M.A. degree) from the Add-Ran Christian University, now Texas Christian University. It was named Add-Ran for two brothers, Addison and Randolph Clark, who were ministers and teachers in the Fort Worth, TX area, who had a vision for a Christian university. The school was affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

1896, June 16

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mayor P.D. Hastain never shied away from a fight and sometimes instigated them. In a session to select national committeeman, Mayor Hastain made a remark that sparked an opposing delegate to stand up and make a sharp personal attack on the mayor. Hastain pulled a knife from his pocket in response. Fortunately, friends stepped in to separate the two men.

Two days later, the same (Democrat) newspaper that made the report about the knife, published a different story, saying Mayor Hastain did not have a knife – that it was only a shining match case.

1886, July 17

Mrs. Jane Haston

Marceline (MO) Journal Mirror: I am not sure how Jane Haston fits into our Haston family, but the fact that the wedding was held at Chillicothe, MO is a clue that she was probably from the extended Jesse Haston family. But, I don’t know what she was doing living in Massachusetts. But, what a touching love story!

1896, July 19

Mina Haston

The (Nashville) Tennessean: Mina Haston (probably Minnie Lavina Haston, daughter of James Woodville Haston, Sr. and Celia Jane Womack) was an officer in Alma Rebekah Lodge, No. 25, at Onward Seminary in White County, TN. Onward was a community a mile or so east of the town of Doyle, TN. She married John Andrew Johnson Savage on February 26, 1899.

The Daughters of Rebekah, founded in 1851, began as the female auxiliary of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a single woman at the time of this story, Mina’s father would have had to be a member of the Odd Fellows.

1896, July 21

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: In debates about moving the MO capital from Jefferson City to Sedalia, MO, Jefferson City mayor was not match for Sedalia’s Mayor P.D. Hastain. This was certainly true at the 15th anniversary of the discovery of the El Dorado springs in Cedar County, MO.

1896, August 14

C.T. and Van and Dick Haston

The Sparta (TN) Expositor: Three Hickory Valley (southern White County, TN) Hastons were on the committee to organized a reunion of Civil War veterans.

C.T. [Charles Thomas] Haston (son of William Carroll Haston and grandson of David Haston and great-grandson of Daniel Haston) was my great grandfather on my dad’s paternal side. J.C. [John Calvin] Wallace was my great-grandfather on my dad’s mother’s side. He was a Confederate Civil War veteran and was a POW, but escaped. Van [David Lavander] Haston was a brother of C.T. Haston. -Wayne Haston

1896, September 4

Jesse Haston (Jr.)

Jesse Haston, in Miles City, MT, died of a broken heart, 15 months after the death of his wife. They left behind three orphaned children. He was only 55 years old.

1896, October 22

D.L. Haston

The (Nashville) Tennessean: It appears that D.L. Haston was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $100 in a Federal Court in Nashville, TN. There were three D.L. Hastons in White and Van Buren Counties at that time. We are not told what the crime was and we can not be sure which D.L. Haston this was, but other sources indicate that D.L. Haston, the son of Isaac T. Haston, conducted business in Nashville, which was approximately 80 miles west of where he lived. He was known to distribute illegal whiskey.

1896, October 23

Mayor P.D. Hastain

Sedalia (MO) Weekly Democrat: Pleasant Dawson Hastain’s most significant political maneuver as Major of Sedalia, MO was an attempt to move the capital of Missouri from Jefferson City to his down, Sedalia, MO.

1896, December 9

George Hastain

George was the son of Woodson Asbury Hastain. He was born on October 27, 1881, so he would have been 15 years old at the time his coat was stolen.

1896, December 5

W.A. Hastain

The Clinton (MO) Eye: Woodson Asbury Haston was a son of Daniel McComisky and Anna Greene Hastain. His mother, Martha J. Wade Hastain, was the second wife of his father. So, he was a half-brother of Pleasant Dawson Hastain, mayor of Sedalia, MO.

1896, December 20

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mayor Hastain came with an idea of providing work for the deserving poor, to help them provide for their families.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Who is Buried in the Christina Nave Grave

When he was approximately 23 years old, our ancestor Daniel Haston (originally Hiestand) married Christina Nave on September 28, 1773, in Dunmore/Shenandoah County, VA. I think we can say with confidence that she was the mother of Daniel’s first four or five children, at least.

And we can be sure that for the first few years of their marriage, including the birth of the first four or five of their children, they were living along Passage Creek in Fort Valley on top of the Massanutten Mountain between New Market, VA, and Strasburg, VA.

But…there are reasons to believe Christina died in VA, or maybe somewhere on the way to TN.

I do not believe Christina Nave is buried in the “Christina Grave” in the Big Fork Cemetery,

next to Daniel’s grave. But, I think his post-Christina wife is buried there!

Who was she?

John Sevier, the first governor of the State of Tennessee, knew, and he gave us the answer!

John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee, came to Tennessee from the same area of Virginia that Daniel Haston came from. When he was governor, Knoxville was the state capital. Sevier owned a farm southeast of Knoxville, where he spent much of his time when he was not doing “governor stuff” in Knoxville.

To get to his farm, he took a ferry across the Holston (now Tennessee) River and took the road toward what is now Sevierville, TN. In doing so, he passed by the lot where Daniel Haston’s family lived.

According to his journal (see below), in 1796 he purchased garden products from Mrs. Haiston. Her name was Suza. Mrs. Haston’s name, at that time, was not Christina.

OK, I’ve known this much for several years, and it has made me suspect that Daniel’s second wife was someone named Suza, with her more formal birth name being Susan. But, is there supporting evidence to confirm this suspicion?

I was recently working on chapter 21 for Book 3 in the four-part series, The Heritage, Life, and Legacy of Daniel Haston. Chapter 21 covers the life of Daniel’s daughter, Lucinda Haston, and her husband, Jacob Mitchell. I noticed something that I had not seen before:

Lucinda named her first daughter Susan!
Lucinda’s first son (Lorenzo Dow) named his first daughter Susan.
Lucinda’s second daughter (Rhoda Jane) named her second daughter Susan.
And given the infant mortality of that era, it’s possible there were other girls who were given the name Susan in Lucinda’s family.

These multiple appearances of “Susan” in the family were certainly not coincidental–there was a reason behind it. And Susan was not a common name in the Daniel Haston family, nor the Mitchell family of Lucinda’s husband. And it’s common knowledge in genealogy that children were often named after their parents or grandparents.

I now believe that Daniel’s post-Christina wife was someone named Susan. And I think she probably was the mother of Lucinda and the later batch of Daniel Haston’s children. Lucinda was probably born in the 1790s, along with Isaac, Jesse, Jeremiah, and probably Catherine. Maybe others!

At the time of the 1820 White County, TN census, a female “of 45 years old and upward” (column 11) was living with Daniel. That means this woman was born sometime before 1775. Unfortunately, the census does not tell us the “upward limit” beyond age 45, so we don’t know how young she was. If that was Mrs. Suza Haston who sold garden produce to Governor John Sevier in the mid-1790s, she could have been the right age to be Lucinda’s mother and the mother of several of Lucinda’s siblings.

So, if I had to guess who is buried in “Christina Nave’s grave,” I would guess that her given name was Suza, a nickname version of Susan. But, I still haven’t a clue what her maiden family name was.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Hastons in Early Van Buren County, TN Court Minutes – 1860-1866

Hastons in Court - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Year of 1860

Page	Name	Description
361	Wm. C. Haston	Mentioned here as a constable.
	Ritchmand (Richmond) Haston	State vs. Richmond Haston (small offenses court) – cost or fine of $2.00. Note: This was probably Richmond T. Jones, who lived in the David Haston household and may have been adopted by David and Polly Haston.
362	M.G. Haston	State vs. M.G. Haston – cost or fine of $3.00.
	W.C. Haston	2 cases – State vs. Joseph Simmons, Execution in W.C. Haston …?
367	James A. Haston’s place Emely Haston	2nd class road from the crossroads near W.B. Cumming’s to the two-mile post on the mountain near James A. Haston’s. On the road crew were hands on W.B. Cumming’s place, except for where Emely Haston lived. Who was Emely Haston?
373	W.C. Haston	Mentioned here as a constable.
376	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
	M.G. Haston	Produced his commission as a Justice of the Peace.
383	M.G. Haston	Voted in the affirmative on court action regarding some bills of cost.
384	M.G. Haston	Voted “yea” on court action regarding a court expenditure.
	M.G. Haston	Voted “yea” on court action regarding a court expenditure.
388	William C. Haston M.G. Haston	William C. Haston produced his certificate for re-election as 3rd District Constable. M.G. Haston was security for him. Also, see below and on the next two pages.
389	William C. Haston M.G. Haston	Continuation of the re-installation of William C. Haston as constable.
390	William C. Haston M.G. Haston	Continuation of the re-installation of William C. Haston as constable.
	M.G. Haston	J.P. – count court (adjournment of the Monday session of the April term). This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session of April term)
398	Nancy Haston W.B. Haston	W.B. Cummings was appointed guardian for Nancy Haston, daughter of W.B. Haston and his wife, Tansy Haston, deceased. Isaac T. Haston was a security for this arrangement. This transaction calls Tamsy Haston the “former wife” of W.B. Haston and indicates that she was deceased. Note: Some records indicate that W.B. Haston married Mary Dunham (second wife) on July 13, 1845, in VB County. A man by the name of W.B. Haston (54 years old, farmer, born in TN) and Mary (35 years old, born in TN) appear on the 1860 Sebastian County, Arkansas census. If this is accurate, why would W.B.’s daughter (born to Tamsey Austin Haston…his first wife) be put into the care of a guardian in Tennessee? Census records indicate that she would have been about 20 years old at the time, which would have still been a minor. Perhaps she chose to stay in Tennessee when her father and stepmother moved to Arkansas.
399	David Haston – now deceased	David Haston had died. Isaac T. Haston was appointed as the administrator of his estate. Wm. Sparkman and Ichabod Mitchell were his securities. No mention is made of W.C. Haston or M.G. Haston, or other Hastons.
412	James A. Haston	Ordered to take oversight of the road from Spencer to the 2-mile post near the top of the mountain on the Spencer and Sparta road.
413	Montgomery G. Haston	Appointed to serve on the December 1860 circuit court. He lived in the 4th district.
421	James R. Haston	James R. Haston had been overcharged for one pole (poll) at the rate of 70 cents.
422	M.G. Haston	M.G. Haston was a judge in the 4th district for the 1860 presidential election. Note: This was the election in which Abraham Lincoln was elected and which ultimately precipitated the Civil War.
426	M.G. Haston	M.G. Haston was a bondsman for this legal arrangement regarding J.W. Mitchell’s appointed role as guardian of minor orphans.
432	M.G. Haston Wm. C. Haston	Both were appointed to lay off and set apart to Nancy Jane Myers, widow of Dillard P. Myers, deceased, one year’s support.
434	M.G. Haston	Apparently, Hester Seamans (formerly Hester Mitchell) had been put under the guardianship of James W. Mitchell, but is now married to James Seamans. M.G. Haston had been a bondsman for the guardianship arrangement.

Year of 1861

Page	Name	Description
	M.G. Haston	On an unlined page at the front of the book, someone had written: “M.G. Haston – Trustee Page 113-“
	M.G. Haston	Two lines below on the same page, someone had written: “M.G. Haston – resignation as trustee Page 156”

1-2	“Index to July Term 1866”	An index appears that covers the content of pages 168-195. (August – October 1865)
1	James Haston’s place	Index reference to page 185: “top of the mountain of Haston’s” (which would have been the home of James A. Haston, who lived at the top of the mountain on the Spencer to Sparta road)
2	M.G. Haston’s place	Index reference to page 187: “J. Walker’s to M.G. Haston’s”
	I.T. Haston W.C. Haston’s place	Index reference to page 187: Isaac T. Haston was a road overseer, from W.C. Haston’s to Crain farm.”
3-18	These pages do not appear in the book, but the content on page 19 appears to continue the content of page 2.
19-20	The index continues so as to include pages 196-342. (October 1865 – middle of April 1866 term)
19	Miles H. Haston W.C. Haston	Index reference to page 199: Added to W.C. Haston’s order.
	James A. Haston	Index reference to page 201: Proved wildcat scalp.
20	Isaac T. Haston	Index reference to page 239: He was the administrator for an estate that was settled.”

29	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (January 1861 term)
31	M.G. Haston	Voted for some men to receive money for services rendered.
34	M.G. Haston W.C. Haston	Had laid off one year of support for Nancy Myers, widow of D.P. Meyers, deceased.
35	M.G. Haston	Voted for quorum court members of previous year to be paid $1.00 per day for their services.
	M.G. Haston	Voted for G.B. Johnson to be paid for services rendered.
	M.G. Haston	Voted for Joseph Cummings to be paid for services as court chairman.
	M.G. Haston	Voted for William L. Steakley to be paid various services.
37	M.G. Haston	Voted for the revenue assessors to be paid for their services.
38	M.G. Haston	Appointed as revenue assessor for the 4th district.
39	James A. Haston’s place Emely Haston	2nd class road from the cross road near W.B. Cummings to the two mile post on the top of the mountain near James A. Haston’s. All hands from W.B. Cumming’s farm, except where Emely Haston lives.
40	Montgomery G. Haston’s place	3rd class road from Newel Crains to Mongomery [sic] Haston’s.
	James Haston	2nd class road from the Caney Fork at the mouth of Cane Creek to the forks of the road near W.B. Cummings…James Haston on that crew.
45	M.G. Haston	Replaced Joseph Cummings as a J.P. in this case, due to Cummings’ “relationship” to someone (Jonathan Seamans or Wm. Sparkman) in the case.
46	W.C. Haston M.G. Haston	W.C. Haston and M.G. Haston served as bondsmen for this guardianship case, involving John J. Walker and the heirs of David Walker decd.
47	W.C. Haston M.G. Haston	Signed for the court proceedings that continued from the previous page.
48	M.G. Haston
50	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of March term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
51	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
54	James A. Haston’s place Emely Haston	2nd class road from foot of mountain near W.B. Cummings to two mile post on the top of the mountain near James A. Hastons….crew included hands from W.B. Cummings farm except for those where Emely Haston now lives.
55	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of April term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
58	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (May term)
	I.T. Haston Wm. C. Haston	The court then proceeded to appoint a home guard as minute men. These men were assigned to the home guard representing the 3rd district. This was a month before TN seceded from the Union.
	M.G. Haston	He was assigned to the home guard representing the 4th district. This was a month before TN seceded from the Union.
59	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
60	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
63	Isaac T. Haston Wm. C. Haston	Wm. Sparkman was elected by the court to be Sheriff, upon the resignation of William L. Steakley. This was 15 days before TN seceded from the Union. Isaac T. Haston and Wm. C. Haston were securities for this appointment.
64	Isaac T. Haston Wm. C. Haston	Another (2nd) bond for the Wm. Sparkman election for Sheriff, to replace resigned Wm. L. Steakley. Isaac T. and Wm. C. Haston were bondsmen.
65	William C. Haston	Resigned from his office as constable of the 3rd. district.
	William C. Haston	Took oath of office as deputy sheriff.
66	M.G. Haston	Appointed to be Captain in the home guard, representing the 4th district.
67	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
71	J.A. Haston’s place	2nd class road from Cummings’ stoar [sic] to J.A. Hastons at the top of the mountain.
72	M.G. Haston’s mountain lands	His “mountain lands” were mentioned in a description of lands in a dower petition to the court by Nancy Jane Myres, widow of D.P. Myres.
74	James A. Haston	Ordered by the court that he (that is, his property) be attached to the 3rd district.
	M.G. Haston	Appointed to look after the wives and children of the volunteers now in the service of our country. Note: That country would then have been the Confederate States of America.
77	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (September term)
	James Haston I.T. Haston Wm. C. Haston	On the home guard list for the 3rd district.
	(M.G. Haston)	He was not on the home guard list for this term, in the 4th district. Perhaps that is because he was the captain of the guard for that district.
78	M.G. Haston	Appointed to December 1861 circuit court duty, to represent the 4th district.
82	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
84	James W. Haston	Appears to have been credited for one pole (poll tax) at 80 cents.
85	M.G. Haston	Paid $4.00 out of court funds, possibly for his provision of some meals for John Grayham’s family.
86	James A. Haston John Haston	James A. Haston appointed as overseer of the 2nd class road from Spencer to the two mile post on the Sparta road. Was one of the crew members a “John Haston?” (handwriting is not clearly legible)
87	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
	W.C. Haston	On the home guard for the next three months term, for 3rd district.
	__?__ Haston	_?_ Haston on home guard for 4th district during the upcoming three months term.
89	Wm. C. Haston	Security on this dower case involving Nancy Myers/Myres.

Year of 1862

Page	Name	Description
90	Montgomery G. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
	William C. Haston	Was one of the poor house commissioners for 1862.
91	Isaac T. Haston
	J.A. Haston	J.A. Haston appointed for April 1862 circuit court jury duty from the 7th district. Was this James A. (Alfred) Haston? If so, how could that be since he was attached to the 3rd district in the previous year?
	James M. Haston	State vs. James M. Haston – $6.75 fine or court cost.
	M.G. Haston	Voted to certify the court costs presented to the court (including the James Haston case)
93	M.G. Haston	Voted for payment of last year’s services by quorum court members – paid $1.00 per day of service.
	M.G. Haston	Voted to pay the Superintendent of the Poor House $352.95, possibly for a year’s service.
	Wm. C. Haston	Appointed as one of the 1862 poor house commissioners.
94	M.G. Haston	Voted to pay A.L. Parker, court clerk, for a records book he had purchased, probably the very one that he was using at this time.
95	M.G. Haston	Voted to pay G.B. Johnson $23.92 for something.
	M.G. Haston	Voted to pay the revenue commissioners $5.00.
98	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in January term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session in January term)
99	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
	Wm. C. Haston M.G. Haston	Wm. C. Haston and M.G. Haston appeared in court as securities for John J. Walker as a guardian of the heirs of David A. Walker decd.
101	Wm. C. Haston	State vs. Wm. C. Haston – It appears that Wm. C. Haston owed $2.00 in court costs from an 1861 case.
	Wm. C. Haston	Referred to as Sheriff.
102	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session in April term)
107	Montgomery G. Haston	Mongumery [sic] G. Haston was security for John M. Billingsley, who had been elected as county trustee.
108	M.G. Haston	Another bond for John M. Billingsley, with M.G. Haston’s signature.
	William C. Haston Isaac T. Haston Montgomery Haston	William C. Hastin elected as Sheriff, as of March 1, 1862. Isaac T. Hastin, Mongumry G. Hastin, and John J. Walker were his securities.
109	W.C. Haston M.G. Haston Isaac T. Haston	Signatures for the election of W.C. Haston as county Sheriff.
	W.C. Haston M.G. Haston Isaac T. Haston	Another bond for Wm. C. Haston as the elected Sheriff.
110	William C. Haston	Took his oath for the office of Sheriff.
	W.C. Haston	Was appointed to make sure that the able bodied men in the 3rd district from 18-55 years old reported for military duty immediately. Note: Wm. C. Haston was in this age range too.
	M.G. Haston	Was appointed to make sure that the able bodied men in the 4th district from 18-55 years old reported for military duty immediately. Note: M.G. Haston was in this age range too.
113	Montgomery G. Haston Wm. C. Haston	Elected to be the revenue collector of county and state taxes for two years. Wm. C. Haston was one of his securities.
114	Montgomery G. Haston	Another bond for M.G. Haston’s election as tax collector.
115	M.G. Haston W.C. Haston	Signatures for M.G. Haston’s appointment to the office of tax collector.
	M.G. Haston	Took office for his new role as tax collector.
	Isaac T. Haston	Security for John H. Jones, who had been elected as constable of the 3rd district.
116	Isaac T. Haston	His name on another bond for John H. Jones, 3rd district constable.
	M.G. Haston	Voted to pay the previous Sheriff for his services.
	M.G. Haston	Voted to use the money from the jail tax to be applied to pay off the _____.
121	W.C. Haston	Mentioned as the Sheriff.
	W.C. Haston	Mentioned as the Sheriff.
123	W.C. Haston	Mentioned as the Sheriff.
124	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
125	M.G. Haston	Appointed for jury in December 1862 circuit court, representing the 4th district.
	Wm. C. Haston	Mentioned as the Sheriff.
127	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of August term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
129	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
	M.G. Haston	He and William Worthington approved quorum for the unexpired term of the present year.
131		J.P. – county court (adjournment of October term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
132	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
	Wm. C. Haston	Appointed as an assessor (?) for the 3rd district.
	M.G. Haston	Appointed as an assessor (?) for the 4th district.
133	Abijah Crane’s death	Death of Abijah Crane.
134	Wm. C. Haston	Security in estate settlement of M.D. Walker.
135	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (Wednesday session of November term)
136	Wm. C. Haston	He and others appointed to lay off one year’s support for widow of M.D. Walker decd.
	Isaac T. Haston	Isaac T. Haston, as administrator of David Haston’s estate, was in court. Apparently the estate was settled and recorded.
	William C. Haston Isaac T. Haston	Securities for G.W. Sparkman who was elected to the county court.
137	William C. Haston Isaac T. Haston	Signatures as securities for G.W. Sparkman’s election to the court.
	M.G. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in November term) This appears to be the personal signature of M.G. Haston.
138	Wm. C. Haston	Report to the court (by him and others) regarding the assignment in the previous term to lay off one year’s support for widow of M.D. Walker decd.

Year of 1863 January – August Only

Page	Name	Description
141	W.C. Haston	Appointed as a commissioner for the poor house for this year.
142	James R. Haston	On the tax collector’s list: James R. Haston for the amount of 80 cents.
	William C. Haston	As the Sheriff he was to be allowed $23.20 for various reasons.
150	M.G. Haston	Resigned as the enrolling officer for the 4th district.
151	Robert Gamble died	He died in 1862.
152	Robert Gamble (Sr.) estate settlement information	Robert Gamble, Sr. estate settlement information. His property was in the 4th district. It is interesting that not much (if anything) was said about him in recent years, previous to his death.
153	W.C. Haston	W.C. Haston was one of several people to divide Robert Gamble, Sr.’s land for estate settlement purposes.
156	M.G. Haston	April 6, 1863 – M.G. Haston (4th district) resigned his office as Justice of the Peace. He also resigned his office of tax collector on the same day. On March 2 of this same year, he had resigned his office as enrolling officer. Note: As per his C.S.A. records, he enlisted in military service on July 17, 1863 and deserted on July 31, 1863. He enlisted for a term of “three years or war.”
160	W.C. Haston	Reference to him as one of the men who divided estate lands of Robert Gamble, Sr. deceased.
161	Wm. C. Haston	Owned 100 acres, for which it appears that he owed some taxes.
162	M.G. Haston	As tax collector he turned in a list of land owners and taxes, which had been paid or were due.
166	Isaac T. Haston	Elected as justice of the peace for the 3rd district.
167	I.T. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of July term) This appears to be the personal signature of I.T. Haston.
The court minutes (recorded in this book) end here, at the adjournment of the August 1863 term. In mid-summer 1863, some of the key leaders in Van Buren County went to Tullahoma and joined General Bragg’s Confederate Army to try to stop the Federal Army from invading Van Buren and the surrounding counties of Middle Tennessee.

Year of 1864

There are no (known existing) Van Buren County, TN court minutes for the year 1864.

It appears that there was no active Van Buren County Court for two years during the Civil War. After Confederate General Braxton Bragg retreated from Tullahoma to Chattanooga, Federal troops roamed freely throughout the county.

Year of 1865 August – December Only

The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. There are no (known existing) 1865 court minutes until July of this year.
Page	Name	Description
168	[Wm. C. Haston]	James Hunter was commissioned as Sheriff. The last time county court minutes were available, Wm. C. Haston was Sheriff. Apparently, he was not or chose not to be re-elected at some time during the Civil War.
173	Isaac T. Haston	Appointed to jury duty for the August 1865 circuit court, to represent the 3rd district.
176	Isaac T. Haston	Produced a commission in court for the office of Trustee of Van Buren County.
177	Isaac T. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
	Isaac T. Haston	A 2nd bond for Isaac T. Haston’s installation as trustee. W.A. Myers, Wm. L. Steakly and A.L. Parker were his securities.
185	Haston’s place – top of the mountain	2nd class road from W.B. Cummings’ stoar [sic] house to the top of the mountain of Haston’s…
	John Shepard Dock Shepard Miles N. Haston	John Shepard was appointed overseer of the 2nd-class road from W.B. Cummings’ stone house to the ford of the Caney Fork at the mouth of Cane Creek. Dock Shepard and Miles N. Haston were on that crew. Note: Miles N. Haston was probably the son of Isaac N. Haston, son of Joseph Haston (Daniel’s son). He married Mary A. Shepard. For information on John and Dock Shepard, see the material on the Daniel Haston family prepared by Howard H. Hastings, Sr.
186	James R. Haston M.G. Haston	Both were on a road crew – 3rd third-class road from the lower end of James Myer’s farm at the forks of the road to the top of the mountain near Aaron Seitz’s. Note: This is the first court minutes mention of M.G. Haston after the Civil War.
187	James Haston	On a road crew – from the county line at Lynn Mitchell’s farm to the foot of the mountain at the Crain farm. This may have been from the White County – Van Buren County line to the foot of what became Yates Mountain (now, Lemont) Road…up the mountain by Spring Branch. The previous road (just mentioned) was probably the mountain road extension of this current road.
	M.G. Haston’s place	3rd class road between the end of the lane at M.G. Haston’s and the end of the lane near Joseph Walker’s.
	W.C. Haston’s shop William Haston Wm. C. Haston Isaac Haston, Jr. Isaac T. Haston	3rd class road from Wm. C. Haston’s Shop to the forks of the road at Crain’s farm – William Haston, Wm. C. Haston, Isaac Haston, Jr. were on that crew. Isaac T. Haston was the road overseer.
194	William C. Haston	Appointed to jury duty for the December 1865 circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
198	M.G. Haston	On a jury to view and change the road…leaving the road at the forks between Jesse Brock and the top of the mountain.
199	Samuel Haston John Haston	2nd class road from Spencer to two two-mile post at the top of the mountain…Samuel Haston and John Haston on that crew.
	W.C. Haston’s place Miles N. Haston	Road from W.C. Haston be extended to Wm. Moore’s. Miles N. Haston was appointed to the overseer.
201	James A. Haston	“Proved” a wild cat scalp in court.
220	M.G. Haston	He was security in the estate settlement of Daniel Mooneyham.
222	Wm. C. Haston	Was security for the estate settlement of Ste___? Hollingsworth, deceased.
239	Isaac T. Haston David Haston, decd.	More on Isaac T. Haston’s settlement of the David Haston estate.
241	Richmon Haston M.G. Haston’s fields	Richmon (probably “Richmond”) Haston on a jury with a view to laying off and marking a change in the road from the north east corner of M.G. Haston’s fields to the old road at the north east corner of Drake’s field.
242	M.G. Haston	Appeared in open court with John J. Walker, who was the guardian of the minor heirs of David Walker. M.G. Haston was a security for this arrangement.

Year of 1866 January – June

Page	Name	Description
Note: The last page for the minutes of the December 1865 term was page 242. The first page for the minutes of the January 1866 term was page 259.
264	Release from tax obligations	Van Buren County people were released from the obligation of 1862, 1863, & 1864 taxes.
265	Some changes in civil districts	Some changes in the civil districts, especially district 1. Districts 2 & 3 remained unchanged.
267	I.T. Haston	I.T. Haston was appointed to serve as a judge for official business, representing the 3rd district.
271	W.C. Haston lands	Plumlee lands (about 800 acres) were adjacent to land owned by W.C. Haston on the east, in the 3rd district.
277	Mirah Haston	Appointed as administratrix of the estate of James (M.) Haston, deceased. James Sparkman and John A. Head were securities for this estate settlement.
279	Mira / Myra Haston	Administratrix of James M. Haston, deceased. She signed with her mark.
Note: Page numbers 281 – 300 & 303 – 318 & 323 – 338 are missing. It appears, however, that no court minutes were skipped.
321	Dock Shepard Miles Haston	2nd class road from mouth of Cane Creek to Cummings’ stone house – Dock Sheapard (Shepard) and Miles Haston were on that crew.
340	Arthur Mitchell’s farm	Road passing near Hodges Ferry changed…until it strikes the line between Arthur Mitchell and Wm. Hodges farms.
345	W.C. Haston	Introduction to W.L. Mainard’s election to the office of constable (see next page).
346	W.C. Haston	W.C. Haston was a bondsman for W.L. Mainard, elected to the office of constable for the 2nd district.
347	W.C. Haston	Bondsman’s signature for the W.L. Mainard election to the office of constable.
351	M.N. Haston W.C. Haston	M.N. Haston produced in court a certificate of his election to the office of 3rd district constable. Who was he? Was W.C. Haston a security for him?
	M.N. Haston W.C. Haston	Their signatures for M.N. Haston’s election to the office of 3rd district constable.
	M.N. Haston	He took the oath for the office of constable.
352	M.N. Haston	The post-Civil War climate is seen here as M.N. Haston is required to pledge his loyalty to the United States of America in a very explicit way.
	M.N. Haston	M.N. Haston officially assumed the office of constable of the 3rd district.
353	W.C. Haston	Security for William A. Myers for his election to the office of Trustee of Van Buren County.
	W.C. Haston	His signature is related to the William A. Myers election as a trustee.
354	W.C. Haston	2nd bond for William A. Myers
	W.C. Haston	Mentioned again in the William A. Myers installation as a trustee.
360	I.T. Haston	Security in estate settlement for F.E. Plumlee, decd.
361	I.T. Haston	He signed as a bondsman for the F.E. Plumlee estate settlement.
	Isaac T. Haston	Appointed to jury duty for the August 1866 circuit court.
	M.N. Haston	Appointed to serve as the constable for the August 1866 circuit court.
	James A. Haston Isaac T. Haston	Appointed to be judges in the 3rd district for the election of attorney general.
362	Isaac T. Haston	Was security for the estate settlement of Hesekiah (Hezekiah) Mooneyham.
	Isaac T. Haston	Signed as a bondsman for the Hezekiah Mooneyham estate settlement.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Murder of Sheriff Montgomery G. Haston – 3

As the story goes, she strapped her husband's guns on around the waist of her dress and got to work. She meant business! When her term was expired, Imogene moved to Warren County and raised her two daughters, Dorothy and Lenora. Dorothy was about a year old when her father was killed. Imogene was pregnant with Lenora, who was born about six weeks after the tragic event occurred. Lenora passed away in 1965 and Dorothy in 2025.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Murder of Sheriff Montgomery G. Haston – 2

Links will be activated when the stories are posted.

I’ve been taught, and have taught others, that the stories we tell ourselves create emotions, and it is those emotions that sometimes drive us to reactions that we often later regret. Here is a classic example.

Here are some clippings from the many newspaper accounts of the June 13, 1936 murder of Van Buren County, Tennessee’s Sheriff, Montgomery Greenville Haston. Each article tells a little bit about that sad event.

M.G had apparently just paid for something in the garage (probably gasoline), and had just walked out of the garage. According to my mother (who attended the murder trial), he had some loose change in his hand when he was shot. He was standing on the north side of the street - right in front of the garage (which faced south). Raleigh Hutchinson's restaurant, which was across the street and slightly southwest, can be seen in the 1939 aerial photograph. The big building just east of the gas pump was Morgan Lewis' store.

Hoyte Cook

You will see contradictions (and untruths) within these newspaper reports, but that’s the way it is with newspaper reports.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Murder of Sheriff Montgomery G. Haston

Links will be activated when the stories are posted.

Who would have thought that this innocent-looking little boy would become the Sheriff of Van Buren County, TN, and be gunned down in such a horrific way?

Montgomery Greenville Haston, born June 9, 1898, was the son of Isham (Isom) B. and Mary Emma Lewis Haston. His grandparents were Montgomery Greenville and Rachel Wheeler Haston. He was the namesake grandson of Montgomery Greenville Haston, the prominent Van Buren Countian who died in 1869. He was a great–great-great-grandson of Daniel Haston, but Daniel may have held him in his arms as a baby or a toddler.

–

Montgomery was completing his first term as Sheriff and was planning to run for another term, but that may not have been a factor in what happened about two months before the election.

–

On June 13, 1936, Sheriff Montgomery G. Haston was murdered by an angry citizen of Van Buren County, TN. The Sheriff pulled in front of a business across the street from the county courthouse in Spencer, TN. Charles M. Clark pulled up, opened the door of his vehicle, confronted Sheriff Haston with a shotgun, and shot him point-blank. Montgomery’s death certificate[i] says he was “shot down on the street; death was instantaneous.” “Shot [twice] with a shotgun, 70 [# 8] buckshot in the abdomen.”

–

There are different versions of the story. Mr. Clark’s granddaughter candidly shared with me the most likely real story. As that story goes, Montgomery and his brother, Ray Haston, had an earlier disagreement with Charlie Clark over some wood that Charlie had cut on the Hastons’ property, a relatively minor matter.

–

Charlie Clark accused the Hastons of lying about him, which was the incident that sparked Clark’s volatile temper. Clark was convicted of first-degree murder and spent several years in prison.
–

[i] “Montgomery G. Haston,” Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965 (Year 1936, Roll Number 6). Nashville, TN: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

That’s the basic story, but there is more to the story.

The story of Sheriff Haston’s death was covered by newspapers all across the USA. Some of the stories provide additional details, and sometimes the stories contradict each other. In the next episode, I will share some of those nuanced newspaper stories. In the third episode, I will present the aftermath of the murder of Sheriff Haston, what happened in the months and years to follow his death.

Links will be activated when the stories are posted.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

David Montgomery Haston – Trouble Getting His Confederate Pension

65 Years After the War - Confederate Pension Denied

Jane Ritter’s Memory of the Family Story About Her Maternal Great-Grandfather, David Montgomery Haston

The only thing I remember my Haston mother saying was that he never ate biscuits after the war because of worms or bugs, something was in them. He always ate and enjoyed cornbread.

Jane Ritter

David Montgomery Haston was born and grew up in Van Buren County, TN, but in 1930 he was living in Stephens County, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s Confederate Pension Act of 1915 provided pensions for disabled or indigent Confederate veterans and their widows who were residents of the state. Applications were handled by the state’s Board of Pension Commissioners, and records can be found through the Oklahoma Historical Society or its digital archives, which preserve the index cards for these pensions. It’s important to note that this was a state-level program, as the federal government did not issue pensions for Confederate veterans.
https://digitalprairie.ok.gov/digital/collection/pensions

In 1915, the Oklahoma Legislature approved the Confederate Soldiers’ Pension Bill. The Board of Pension Commissioners received applications and allowed, or refused, pensions based on established criteria, including the applicant’s residence in Oklahoma for 12 months prior to the passage and approval of the Act. -Oklahoma Department of Libraries

At the age of 84 and living in Marlow, OK, David Montgomery Haston file an application for a pension, 65 years after the war ended and he was discharged.

It’s so sad!

After serving for three full years, fighting in such an active outfit for a cause so dear to him, 84-year-old David Montgomery Haston’s petition for a pension was rejected. Why? Because all of his known soldier friends had died, and no one remained to vouch for him. He lived three years and died in 1933.

Why Could the Pension Commissioner Not Find a Confederate Record for Him?

Many Confederate soldier records are missing due to poor record-keeping, the destruction of Confederate archives after the war, and a lack of a centralized personnel system. Additionally, many records were lost, misplaced, or never created in the first place.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this quiz please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

The Scottish Hastons

How Can I Know If I Descend from Daniel Haston?

The more information (names, dates, place) you can provide, the greater the possibility that we can help trace your Haston ancestry.

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

Pleasant Richard Austin - 1820-1900

Robert (Robin) S. Austin - 1826 - After 1910

William Edward Austin - 1833-1890

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

Emmeline Austin (Doyle)

Susan Austin (Duncan)

Bird Austin

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

E.C. Haston - Principal of White County (TN) High School

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

1896 - Interesting Facts and Stories About Our Earlier Cousins

International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

Hastons in Court - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this:

65 Years After the War - Confederate Pension Denied

If you appreciated this article, please share it with others who might also enjoy it.

Share this:

Like this: