Haston Family History Blog – Page 2 – Daniel Haston Family Association

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

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1896 - Interesting Facts and Stories About Our Earlier Cousins

Thanks to the “now” online availability of historical newspapers, we can learn interesting facts and stories about some of our Haston relatives, especially the ones who lived in communities where there were newspapers that have been digitized and become accessible through the Internet.

I focus only on the Hastons known or suspected to be members of the Daniel Haston FAMILY. That includes the Hastains, who changed the spelling of the family name in Missouri and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, I am unable to include those who adopted the English Hasting and Hastings spellings, because only a tiny percentage of the people with those spellings are Daniel’s descendants.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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David Montgomery Haston – Trouble Getting His Confederate Pension

65 Years After the War - Confederate Pension Denied

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

The only thing I remember my 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 Haston 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.

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1895 – Hastons in the News

1895 - Interesting Facts and Stories About Our Earlier Cousins

Thanks to the “now” online availability of many 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.

J.P. (James Preston) Hastain, the son of Daniel McComisky Haston/Hastain, and his business partner, ran this newspaper ad throughout the year 1895. Appleton, MO was in St. Clair County.

When James Preston Hastain was born in 1831, in Tennessee, United States, his father, Daniel McComisky Hastain, was 23 and his mother, Anna N. Greene, was 16. He married Octavia Hinckle on 21 March 1867, in Henry, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Monegaw Springs, St. Clair, Missouri, United States in 1880 and Appleton City, St. Clair, Missouri, United States in 1900. He died in 1913, in Missouri, United States, at the age of 82, and was buried in Appleton City, St. Clair, Missouri, United States. FamilySearch.org

1895, January 26

Dave Hastin

The Clinton (MO) Eye: Dave Hastin, who was once a “bloody bushwhacker” in Cedar County, MO returned to his home county after being away for 20 years. He was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War and moved to Texas, then Arkansas, after the war, probably to escape revenge from some of his Union neighbors. He was a grandson of Isaac Haston, who moved to California before the war. Apparently, his war activities were remembered 20 years later.

1895, January 31

Miss Anna A. Hastain

The Clinton (MO) Daily Democrat: The marriage of Anna A. Hastain, daughter of W.A. Hastain, to Bendix Holst was announced. W.A. Hastain was the son of Daniel McComisky Haston/Hastain.

1895, February 4

Mayor P.D. Hastain

St. Louis Globe-Democrat: In the previous months, Cheyenne County, Kansas, had suffered because of a drought and grasshopper invasion. Mayor Pleasant Dawson Hastain, led in a relief effort to provide assistance to the county.

Mayor Hastain also organized efforts to assist other counties that had suffered from the same fate.

1895, February 7

George Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: This was probably George W. Haston (born 1866), son of Jeremiah McKinley Haston II and Nancy E.N. Cooper (Haston). According to family records, he married Martha Priscilla White on January 13, 1889.

Box (or pie) suppers used to be money-raising events, where girls made pies and cakes, etc., and boys bid on them, which came with the opportunity to eat with the girl. Sometimes the pie, cake, or whatever was hidden inside a box, thus the term “box” supper. I’ve been there, done that! George Haston was voted the “Ugliest Man,” which doesn’t mean he was actually the ugliest. It was good entertainment, especially in the years before TV and internet.

1895, February 18

Bertha Hastain

The Clinton (MO) Daily Democrat: Bertha May Hastain (born 1875) was the daughter of Woodson Asbury Hastain and Sarah Jane Walker Hastain, and granddaughter of Daniel McComisky Hastain and Anna N. Greene Hastain. She married Joseph Shelby McCuan in 1895. She apparently was a leader in the Epworh League, a Methodist young adult association fo rpeople aged 1835.

1895, February 21

Mrs. J.W.B. Haston, Sr.

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: The wife of John W. Brownlow Haston was honored with a birthday dinner. According to family records, she was Mary Adeline Holmes (Haston), born December 5, 1867. If she were born on December 5th, why would she have a birthday dinner in mid-February? John W. Brownlow was the son of John Wesley Haston and Mary Caroline Forester Haston. Was he given the Brownlow part of his name because of “Parson” (William Gannaway) Brownlow the prominent Tennessee politician and Methodist minister who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War, later to become Governor of Tennessee (1865-1869)? Brownlow became Tennessee’s governor the year J.W.B. Haston was born.

1895, February 22

Mayor P.D. Hastain

Rocheport (MO) Commercial: Mayor P.D. Hastain led an effort to move the capital of Missouri to Sedalia from Jefferson City. Mayor Hastain and his associates were mocked for this attempt, which failed by a margin of 65% to 35%. Jefferson City was established as the state capital in 1821, but Sedalia experienced rapid growth after the Civil War due to its railroad connections and the surrounding area developing as an agricultural region.

In March of 1895, Mayor P.D. Hastain entertained members of Missouri’s General Assembly. “Not less than 10,000 persons turned out to welcome the General Assembly, officials, and clerks of the House and Senate.” Major Hastain and the town of Sedalia were trying to showcase the town in an effort to win the 1896 vote to make Sedalia the capital of Missouri.

1895, March 29

Mayor Hastain

The Standard Herald: Apparently, Mayor P.D. Hastain of Sedalia, MO wanted a local paper that was supportive of his Republican agenda, especially at the time he was working to move the Missouri capital from Jefferson City, MO to Sedalia, where he was the mayor.

1895, April 12

John Haston

Chariton (MO) Courier: The county seat of Buchanan County, MO, was St. Joseph, MO. At this time, I do not know who this John Haston was.

1895, April 24

Mr. (P.D.) Mayor Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mayor P.D. Hastain was a controversial man, especially as a politician and mayor. Apparently, you either hated him or respected him. I doubt that many loved or liked him as a person. It appears that he made decisions that drew the ire of people in Sedalia, MO.

1895, May 23

ED Hastain

The Butler (MO) Weekly Times: Ed Hastain, the stenographer of the Circuit Court of Butler, MO, was married to Miss Mary Crawford in Appleton City, MO. Edwin Hastain was the son of James Preston Hastain and Octavia Hinckle Hastain of Henry County, MO. The Wedding

1895, May 23

Haston Cemetery in Dallas County, MO

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: As happened in May 1891, the Haston Cemetery was mentioned and Sanford Creek was appointed to clean and decorate it. This annual event indicates that there was at least one Civil War veteran buried in the cemetery. As of now (8-4-2025), the location of Haston Cemetery is unknown to the Dallas County Historical Society. I have evidence that suggests it was on the property of Jeremiah Haston or one of his children, north of Charity, MO in the Jackson Township.

1895, June 21

T.J. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Mayor P.D. Hastain’s brother, Thomas Jefferson Hastain, said that his brother (the mayor) is the stray sheep (politically) of the family.

1895, July 12

Mrs. Jesse Haston, Jr.

After only barely five years of marriage, the wife (Ida McMelan) of Jesse Haston, Jr. (grandson of Daniel Haston), passed away. She left behind three daughters and a baby boy.

1895, July 18

Mayor P.D. Hastin

The Milan (MO) Republican: Mayor P.D. Hastin and some of the Sedalia, MO councilmen were arrested for violating a Judge’s restraining order.

1895, August 1

J.H. Hastin

The Springfield News-Leader: J.H. Hastin and Son was a firm doing business at Cave Springs in Greene County, MO (the community where Isaac settled in the late 1830s. Apparently, they were in debt and their deeds were collateral for the debt.

1895, August 30

Peggy Hestand

The Paducah Sun: This lady’s husband would have been a descendant of Abraham Hiestand/Hestand, Daniel Haston’s older brother. The family lived in Monroe County, KY, south-central KY. What would she have done to have caused someone to poison her entire family?

1895, September 29

Mayor Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Even the local Democrat newspaper seemed to agree that Republican Mayor P.D. Hastain was the handsomest mayor of Missouri’s 30 largest cities.

1895, October 17

Bertha Mae Hastain

The Clinton (MO) Daily Democrat: Bertha Mae Hastain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Hastain, was married on this date. This article gives a very detailed description of the wedding. It was a big event!

1895, October 17

W.R. Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: William Riley Haston and a friend were arrested for burglary in December of 1893. Nearly two years later, W.R. was declared “not guilty.”

1895, October 31

Jerry (Jeremiah III) Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: Jerry Haston, apparently, was moving away from Dallas County, MO, to Christian County, which was south of Greene County, MO. Here is his lineage back to Daniel Haston: Daniel>Jeremiah, Sr.>Jeremiah MC (McKinley; “Mac”)>Jeremiah III (“Jerry”)

1895, November 22

Haston Broaddus

Chariton (MO) Courier: The daughter of Jesse Haston, Sr., Elizabeth (Bettie) V. Haston, married John A. Broaddus (Sr.) in Glasgow, MO on September 22, 1859. John died in 1897, and Elizabeth went to southeastern Montana to live on a ranch with her son John, Jr. Haston Broaddus was one of John and Bettie’s sons. There were twelve children in all. The oldest son was Oscar. The town of Broaddus, MT was named for her sons.

1895, December 20

Son of Rev. & Mrs. J.B. Haston

Weekly Graphic (Kirksville, MO): Rev. Jesse Bascom Haston and his wife, Coramantha Baldwin Haston, experienced the death of their (approximately) one-year-old daughter, Helen Washington Haston, in April of 1893. Now, they had a baby boy!

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Scalding Death of Isaac T. Haston Jr.

The Horrible Death of "Shack" (Isaac T. Haston, Jr.)

The Chattanooga (TN) Commercial, January 1, 1887

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150 Years – Haston Cemetery

150 Years of History in the (Isaac T.) Haston Family Cemetery

Imagine: For 150 years, descendants of Isaac T. and Elizabeth Sparkman Haston have been visiting this cemetery!

On Sunday, October 12, 2025, a few dozen Haston family members gathered for the annual decoration at the Haston Cemetery on Tandy Lane off TN Highway 285 (Cane Creek – Cummingsville Road) in northern Van Buren County, TN, for what was really a historic event. As of this year (2025), it has been 150 years since Isaac T. Haston became the first person buried on his farm, just east of where his father (David Haston) and grandfather (Daniel Haston) lived. In the years since his death and burial, many of his and Elizabeth’s, descendants have been buried there.

I (Wayne Haston) was invited to share some stories about the history of the Isaac T. Haston family, his farm, the cemetery, and a few of the stories of people interred there. Most of that information, and much more, can found on the following pages.

Although Dr. Fred Dexter Haston was not buried in this cemetery, his father (Erastus S. Haston – son of Isaac T.) is buried here.

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Hastons in Early Van Buren County, TN – Court Minutes – 1855-1859

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

Year of 1855 (June – December)

Page	Name	Description
3	Isaac T. Haston Abraham Trogdon, decd.	Isaac T. Haston, administrator of Abraham Trogdon’s estate, petitioned to sell Trogdon’s land at the court house on Monday, June 4, 1855.
4	Heirs of Abraham Trogdon, deceased	Abraham Trogden (Sr.) died sometime in 1854. Loucinda Trogden was his widow. Heirs: Albert L. Trogden, James Trogden, Charles (Charley) Trogden, Nathan Trogden, Milton Trogden, Abraham Trogden, Jr., David Trogden, George W. Trogden and John Brock and Nancy Brock. Most of these were minor children. He lived on “waters of Cane Creek” in 4th district. His land (50 acres) was on and crossed Cane Creek. Note: John and Nancy Brock were Abraham’s grandchildren. Sarah, his oldest child (born of Abraham’s first wife) married Allen Brock. Allen Brock married three times. Apparently, Sarah was deceased at the time of her father’s death. -As per Kim Jackson
5	Isaac T. Haston Abraham Trogdon, decd.	Isaac T. Haston signed the above description of Abraham Trogdon’s heirs and estate property.
9	Wm. C. Haston	Appointed to be a judge for the August 1855 election in the 3rd district.
12	Gillentine & meeting house reference	Terry Gillentine and others to examine the road opened by L.B. Denton’ .. past his house to the “meeting house.” Was this the Big Fork Baptist meeting house?
15	Jacob Stipe	Jacob Stipe’s mental condition evaluated by a jury appointed in previous court term. The report was that he was of sane mind.
20	William C. Haston James A. Haston	Overseers on the public roads and were given a credit on their poll taxes.
	Road from Spencer to mouth of Cane Creek	Road from Spencer to Caney Fork, at mouth of Cane Creek was ordered to be a 1st class road. Note: Presumably this was the road that ran by Big Fork Baptist Church and Cemetery.
21	James A. Haston’s place at the 2 mile post on the road from and north of Spencer	Road from Spencer to the 2 mile post at James A. Haston. Formerly a “Widow Parker” lived at or near this location. Then Isaac Haston live at or near here. James A. Haston’s place at the 2 mile post will become a regular marker for road assignments in subsequent court minutes.
	James A. Haston’s place I.T. Haston James Haston	He lived at the top of the mountain, up above Cummingsville. I.T. Haston and James Haston were on this road crew – 1st class road.
	Wm. C. Haston	On the crew for 1st class road from foot of mountain to Cane Creek. John Gillentine was the overseer of this crew. This would have probably gone past Big Fork Church & Cemetery.
25	Dillard Haston	On road crew from first branch south of the school house from Passons’ on to the Maple Branch. Note: This would have been William Dillard Haston, son of Wiley B. Haston.
26	James A. Haston’s place	Reference to 1st class road up the mountain to James A. Haston’s place.

Year of 1856

Page	Name	Description
30	Isaac Haston	Appointed to serve circuit court duty in April 1856, for the 3rd district.
33	Isaac T. Haston	Apparently was paid $60 for use of Jesse & Martha Davis for a certain number of months. It appears that they were paupers.
43	Lucinda Trogden	The widow of Abraham Trogden petitioned for a dower. She was a daughter of David and Peggy Roddy Haston.
	Isaac T. Haston	Isaac T. Haston was administrator of Abraham Trogden’s estate. Details of the estate were recorded here, including description of the two tracts of land that Trogden owned on Cane Creek.
45	Isaac T. Haston Lucinda Trogden	Isaac T. Haston petitioned to sell the land in Abraham Trogden’s estate. Children of Abraham and Lucinda are named, as well as some children with the surname of Brock.
69	Lucinda Trogden	Her dower is laid off. The land boundaries are described and there is a simple rectangular sketch of the plat.
70	Isaac T. Haston Lucinda Trogden	Report on the situation of the estate of Abraham Trogden.
Note: There are two copies of page 77 (the same page). The first is partially covered with a bond certificate.
77	William C. Haston	Became constable in the 3rd district. A copy of his certificate is photographed on top of the text at the top of this page. His bond details are described at the bottom of the page.
77	William C. Haston	Same page as above, but on this copy the bond certificate has been flipped out of the way to show the text at the top of the page, which simply states that William C. Haston produced his certificate in court to prove that he had been elected to the office of constable for the 3rd district.
78	William C. Haston	Took his oath for the office of constable.
82	Abraham Trogden’s estate	David A. Walker purchased the land from the sale of Abraham Trogden’s estate.
85	Road to mouth of Cane Creek	The road from Spencer to the county line at the mouth of Cane Creek was reduced to a 2nd class road.
87	James Haston	On a crew for a 2nd class road up Cane Creek, from forks of road near Carter Drake’s up the creek to Nathan Durham’s shop.
93	W.C. Haston’s lane W.C. Haston Isaac T. Haston	2nd class road from Crain’s lane by the way of W.C. Haston’s lane on to the Sparta Road at William Moore’s. Isaac T. Haston and W.C. Haston were road hands.
94	James A. Haston’s place Willie B. Haston	James A. Haston lived at the top of the mountain on the 2nd class road. Willie Haston was on that crew. Note: This was probably the Willie B. Haston (son of James A. Haston) who was killed at Perryville, KY in the Civil War.
98	Wm. C. Haston’s shop	3rd class road from Wm. C. Haston’s shop up the mountain to the Spencer & Sparta road near the mile post.

Year of 1857

Page	Name	Description
106	James A. Haston’s place	Road from Spencer to roof of mountain at James A. Haston – 2nd class road. Willie Haston was on that crew. This was probably the Willie B. Haston (son of James A. Haston) who was killed in the Civil War battle of Perryville, KY a few years later.
113	Isaac T. Haston	Reference to him as the administrator of the Abraham Trogden estate settlement.
120	Isaac T. Haston	Reference to him as the administrator of the Abraham Trogden estate settlement.
146	W.B. Haston	Appointed juror for January 1858 circuit court, representing 4th district.

Year of 1858

Page	Name	Description
155	W.D. Haston	Appointed overseer of 2md class road from first branch south of the school house near William Passons to the eight mile mark.
157	Antioch Meeting House	Near Dillon’s Ferry road.
158	James Haston	State vs. James Haston – fine of $20.
159	Southwestern Rail Road	Seeking to put a railroad in this county.
193	Isaac T. Haston	Appointed to represent the 3rd district in the May 1858 circuit court.
	William C. Haston	Appointed, as constable, to “wait on” the May 1858 circuit court.
207	William C. Haston	In court and produced a certificate for his election as constable. John Stewart & W.B. Cummings were his bondsmen. He was elected on March 6, 1858 in the 3rd District.
208	William C. Haston	2nd bond for William C. Haston as newly elected constable for the 3rd District.
209	William C. Haston	3rd bond for William C. Haston as newly elected 3rd District constable.
210	William C. Haston	Took his oaths for the office of constable.
216	James A. Haston’s place Willie Haston	2nd class road from Spencer to James A. Haston’s. Willie Haston appointed to that crew. This was probably the son of James A. Haston who died in the Civil War.
218	Road from White County line to foot of mountain	2nd class road from White County line to to the foot of the mountain near Abijah Crane’s. Wm. L. Mitchell had been overseer of that road previously.
232	Common school commissioner	Common school commissioner (W.B. Parker) appointed to examine applicants for commons schools in Van Buren County.
250	Isaac Haston	Appointed to represent the 3rd District as a juror for December 1858 circuit court.
251	James Haston	On a crew for a 3rd class road from Newel Crain’s up Cane Creek to Nathan Durham’s.
255	Isaac Haston W.C. Haston’s blacksmith shop	Appointed overseer of a road from Abijah Crain’s to the mouth of the lane at W. C. Haston’s blacksmith shop – 2nd class road.
	Carel Haston’s farm hands	3rd class road from forks of the road at Gillentine’s house intersecting the Spencer – Sparta Road at the head of the muddy branch. Samuel Shockley was the overseer. All of the hands of Carel Haston’s farm were appointed to the crew.
256	Death of John W. Gillentine	John W. Gillentine had died with no will. John Stewart was appointed administrator. William Wallis and F.E. Plumly were security.
260	James A. Haston’s place Willie B. Haston	2nd class road from Spencer to the two mile post at James A. Haston’s. Willie B. Haston (probably the son of James A.) was on the crew.
	James A. Haston	Appointed as overseer of 2nd class road from mouth of Cane Creek to the fork of the road near W.B. Cummings.
263	Manerva Gillentine dower petition	Manerva Gillentine (wife of deceased John W. Gillentine) vs. John Stewart, Elias B. Gillentine, & Sarah J. Gillentine (petition for a dower). John W. Gillentine died on September 7, 1858. His 3rd District land (180 acres) is described here. No mention is made of the Big Fork Church or Cemetery.
271	Manerva Gillentine dower petition	More on John W. Gillentine’s land. More descriptions of the land.
276	James A. Haston	He and Edmond Seals heard a deposition from Thomas J. Shockley regarding the value of the land and machinery in the John W. Gillentine estate.

Year of 1859

Page	Name	Description
279	James A. Haston’s place	2nd class road from the crossroads near W.B. Cummings to the two-mile post near James A. Haston’s at the top of the mountain.
280	James Haston	Appointed to jury duty for the April 1859 circuit court, representing the 4th District.
286	W.C. Haston	Allowed $1.00 for arresting William Brimer (spelling?).
293	W.C. Haston	Security for John J. Walker, who was appointed guardian of some minor children, heirs of David Walker, who was now deceased.
294	W.C. Haston	Co-signed for John J. Walker, who became guardian of some orphaned children.
295	Manerva Gillentine’s ferry	Apparently, Manerva Gillentine, widow of John Gillentine, had a ferry boat.
305	Gillentine’s mill on Cane Creek sold	Jonathan Simmons bought the mill (on Cane Creek) of the deceased John W. Gillentine in a public sale.
307	James Haston court case	State of TN vs. James Haston – the court collected $4 for that case.
309	Hodges ferry	Jasper Hodge established a ferry on the Caney Fork at the mouth of the Calfkiller River.
313	Road to the mouth of Cane Creek	Road from the mouth of Cane Creek to Spencer was classed as a 2nd-class road.
314	W.C. Haston’s lane Montgomery Haston’s place	Road from the mouth of W.C. Haston’s lane to Montgomery Haston’s on Cane Creek was classed as a 3rd-class road. Note: Montgomery Haston was mentioned here after a long absence from these court records. This is now April 1859, and the last reference to him in these minutes was a January 1854 court case, in which he and David Lewis had been cited for an affray. The most recent reference previous to that was in September 1851.
331	M.G. Haston	M.G. Haston made a motion in court regarding a change in a road on Cane Creek. What position did M.G. Haston hold at this time?
333	William C. Haston	Appointed to be the constable in the August 1859 circuit court.
	M.G. Haston	M.G. Haston & J.J. Walker authorized the Sheriff, Wm. L. Steakley, to return the jury of view that was granted to them on petition at the last term of this court (not executed). It was ordered that Haston and Walker pay the court costs. This was probably the road jury to check on the Cane Creek road.
334	Marthy A. Haston	George Sparkman, Jr., was accused of being the father of a bastard child, born of Marthy A. Haston, a single woman. The child was born on May 21, 1859. Who were the parents of Marthy A. Haston?
335	Isaac T. Haston	Was one of the men who bound themselves to assure that the bastard child of Mathy A. Haston (and George Sparkman, Jr.) would never become a liability to the state. Was Isaac T. Haston the grandfather of this child?
340	Montgomery Haston’s place	3rd class road from where Newel Crain lived to where Mongomery [sic] Haston lived.
342	M.G. Haston	Appointed to court duty for the December 1859 court, representing the 4th district.
	J.A. Haston	Appointed to court duty for the December 1859 court, representing the 7th district.
344	James Haston	He and others were released from their duties as overseers of public roads in Van Buren County.
347	M.D. Haston	Some tax adjustment for one pole (poll) in the amount of .85 for M.D. Haston. Who was he?
348	James A. Haston’s place Wiley B. Haston	2nd class road from Spencer to the 2-mile post near James A. Haston’s at the top of the mountain on the Sparta Road. Wiley B. Haston was on that crew.

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Hastons in Early Van Buren County, TN Court Minutes – 1850-1854

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

Year of 1850

Page	Name	Description
292	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
294	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session of January term)
296	W.B. Haston	Appointed as judge for the May 1850 elections in the 4th district.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
297	James A. Haston	Appointed to serve on the jury for the May 1850 circuit court.
	H. Shackleford	Presumably, “Harrison Shackleford” was in the 7th district at this time. If so, he was probably an ancestor of Sarah Ophelia Colley (known popularly by the name “Minnie Pearl”).
298	W.B. Haston’s old house	2nd class road from W.B. Haston’s old house on to Abijah Crain’s.
303	William C. Haston Montgomery G. Haston	Elected as constable in the 3rd district. Montgomery G. Haston was one of his securities.
304	William C. Haston Montgomery G. Haston	These men signed for the proceedings associated with William C. Haston’s election to the office of constable for the 3rd district.
	W. C. Haston M. G. Haston	Securities for Edmon Seals, elected constable for the 4th district.
307	W.B. Haston	He and others on a jury to lay off and mark out a road from Wm. L. Mitchell’s on to intersect the old road near John W. Riddle’s old place on the mountain.
308	J.A. Haston	As a justice of the peace, he and others entered into a new bond required by law.
310	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of April term) This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
311	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
312	W.B. Haston	Appointed to serve on the August 1850 jury, presumably for the circuit court.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
313	W.D. Haston	On the crew for a 2nd-class road from Spencer onto Samuel Mattheis’ mill place. Note: The second initial was clearly a “D” in the text of the minutes. This was probably “William Dillard Haston,” oldest son of Willie B. and Tamsey Austin Hsaton. See also page 335.
314	William C. Haston	Resigned as constable for the 3rd district.
318	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of September term). This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
319	William C. Haston	Appointed to the December 1850 jury, presumably for the circuit court, to represent the 3rd district.
	M.G. Haston	On a crew for a 2nd class road from the top of the mountain near the two-mile post to the south side of the branch near Denny’s old still house place.
320	Sparta-Pikeville turnpike	Reference to the turnpike road leading from Sparta to Pikeville.
	Road to the mouth of Cane Creek	2nd-class road from the Wm. Denny, Sr. place to the mouth of Cane Creek.
	Road to ford of Caney Fork	Road from the mill near Joseph Stipes’ passing Fines E. Plumlee to the ford of the river be disannulled.
	Arthur Mitchell	Farm hands from Arthur Mitchell’s farm assigned to road crew – from the mill near Joseph Stipes to the forks of the road near William Denney, Senior’s. – 2nd class road.
322	James A. Haston	Security for Seth Wright as elected constable for the 7th district.
323	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
324	James A. Haston	Ordered to have some repairs done to the justice bar of the courthouse.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	Road from the ford of Cane Creek to Robert Gamble’s	2nd class road from the ford of Cane Creek near Joseph Moore’s to the mouth of Robbert Gamble’s lane.
325	Road to Cane Creek	Order to change the Cane Creek road so as to leave 250 yard from the college gate. Note: This apparently started on top of the mountain near Burritt College.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to a jury of view to change the road near where M.T. Gillentine formerly lived.
326	Thomas & Margrt Creely or Crawley?	Discussion regarding the death of these persons. Margrt was the wife of Thomas. He died on July 1, 1843, and she died on December 5, 1844 (appears to be 1844, but second the last number is blotched).

Year of 1851

Page	Name	Description
327	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
	M.G. Haston	Appointed to serve in April 1851, presumably on the jury of the circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to serve in April 1851, presumably on the jury of the circuit court, representing the 7th district.
328	James A. Haston	Appointed to be a revenue officer for the 7th district.
	Road at Crain’s Gate	Road crossing the Pikeville road at Crain’s long gate and running by the __ ___ and intersecting the same at his stable.
329	Arthur Mitchell	Released of thirty-five cents on tax.
	James A. Haston	Appointed as coroner.
330	W.B. Haston’s place	2nd class road from the forks of the road near Gamble’s to the ford of Cane Creek above W.B. Haston’s.
331	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday morning of January term)
	Arthur Mitchell	Hands of his farm appointed to a road crew, from Dry Branch to Wm. Denney’s old house.
334	Road from Denney’s old still house	2nd class road from Denney’s old still house on the side of the mountain to Wm. Denney’s __ cross road at the foot of the mountain.
335	David McHaston	On road crew from Camp Ford on Cane Creek to the foot of the mountain above Birden Wheeler.
	Wm. D. Haston James W. Haston	Attached to John Vrack Road. Note: By comparing the “D.” in “Wm. D. Haston” to other capital “D’s” on this page, this seems to clearly be “Wm. D. Haston.” This was probably William Dillard Haston, the oldest son of Willie B. and Tamsey Austin Haston. See also page 313.
	James A. Haston	Voted in favor of John Brock’s appeal for some allowance for his cost as overseer of his road crew.
336	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (February term)
337	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of February term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
338	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (March term)
	Road to the mouth of Cane Creek	2nd class road from the crossroads near Wm. Denney’s to the mouth of Cane Creek.
339	M.G. Haston	On crew for 2nd class road from the top of the mountain near the 2-mile post to the south side of the branch near Denney’s old still house.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
343	Isaac Haston	On a crew for a 2nd-class road – probably in Sparkmantown area.
	Wm. C. Haston David McHaston David Haston’s lane	Wm. C. Haston to oversee a 3rd class road from David Moore’s to David Haston’s lane. David McHaston (older brother of Wm. C. Haston) was appointed to that crew.
344	Town of Spencer incorporation	Citizens of the town of Spencer present a petition for the incorporation of the town with a mayor and aldermen, which is granted. Spencer was located in a 50-acre tract.
345	James A. Haston	Voted for the incorporation of Spencer.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of April term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
346	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (May term)
	David Haston	Appointed to jury duty for the August 1851 circuit court, from the 3rd district.
347	Isaac Haston	Lived at the break of the mountain – 2nd class road from Spencer to there, and Isaac Haston was on that crew.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
348	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of June term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
	Wm. C. Haston’s road	David Moore and his road hands were attached to Wm. C. Haston’s road (probably the road that Wm. C. Haston was appointed to oversee).
	Blunt Haston	Ordered that a “road be established from the corner of the college lot following the Blunt Haston road to a place known by the narrows thing following a __ direction of a __ __ made by Solomon Reese, an that the Reese Road from the junction to college hill be disannulled.” Question: Who was “Blunt Haston?” Was this the middle name for W.B. Haston? Was his name “Wiley Blount Haston?” A militia listing for 1828 in White County mentions a “Blount Hasting.”
349	David McHaston	On a road crew from the top of the mountain near Aron Seitz to James B. Myars’ – 2nd class road. Note: This July 1851 reference appears to be the last mention of David McHaston in the Van Buren County, TN court minutes. David McHaston moved to Missouri at some point shortly after this time.
350	Road near the Big Spring	2nd class road from the middle of the old near G.W. Sparkman’s on to the old road near the Big Spring.
351	Road from Camp’s Ford on Cane Creek	2nd class road from Camp’s ford on Cane Creek on to the foot of the mountain above Col. Wheeler’s.
	William Denney	His death was recorded in court.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (September term)
352	William C. Haston William Denney, deceased	William C. Haston and others related to William Denney, Sr. came to court and presented a petition to sell (not divide) property owned by Wm. Denney Sr. He owned about 238 acres (where he lived) when he died, plus 4689 acres on the mountain. He also owned four slaves. Note: William C. Haston married Jane Denney, the daughter of William Denney, Sr.
	William C. & Jane Haston	“William C. Haston & wife Jane.”
	The court agreed to sell Wm. Denney’s lands & slaves	The court agreed to sell the lands and slaves of Wm. Denney Sr. & Joseph Cummings appointed to lead that process.
353	M.G. Haston	2nd class road from the top of the mountain to Denney’s old still house – M.G. Haston on that road crew. This is now September 1851, and it is the last time that M.G. Haston appears in these county court minutes until April 1859, except for a January 1854 reference to him having been involved in an affray case. The 1860 census indicates that two children had been born to Rachel and him…in Georgia…sometime in the mid to late 1850s. It is interesting that David McHaston apparently left Van Buren County at about this time. See page 349.
355	W.D. Haston	Name crossed off a road crew list. This was probably William Dillard Haston, son of W.B. Haston.
	W.C. Haston	Attached to a road crew.
357	W.B. Haston W.D. Haston	On a road crew, working under James Durham. W.B. was the father of W.D. Haston
	Road from the ford of Cane Creek to Denney’s.	Milton Gamble appointed to oversee the 2nd class road from the ford of Cane Creek near Abijah Crain’s on to the crossroads near Denney’s.
	Road from Camp’s Ford on Cane Creek.	2nd class road from Camp’s ford on Cane Creek on to Gamble’s land.
358	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
	Wm. Denney’s estate report	Joseph Cummings brings a report of William Denney Sr.’s estate into court.
360	Date of William Denney’s death	William Denney, Sr., died on October 4, 1851.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”

Year of 1852

Page	Name	Description
361	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
	Wm. C. Haston	On crew for the 2nd class road from Spencer on to the E___ house.
362	James A. Haston	Appointed to serve as a coroner.
	David Haston	Appointed to be an election judge in the 3rd district for the March 1852 election.
366	James A. Haston	Absent from this court.
367	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (March term)
	Road to the mouth of Cane Creek	2nd class road from the crossroads near W.B. Cummings to the mouth of Cane Creek – probably was what formerly was called the crossroads near Wm. Denney’s.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of March term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
368	James A. Haston W.B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (April term)
	Willie B. Haston	Commissioned to be a Justice of the Peace.
379	Willie B. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session in April term)
382	James W. Haston	Released from paying poll tax and working in public roads because of his ___ ___ of body.
383	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (May term)
	James A. Haston Isaac Haston	James A. Haston appointed overseer of 2nd class road from “this place” (courthouse) to the two mile post on the direction to Sparta. Isaac Haston on his crew.
	William D. Haston	Appointed to jury for August 1852 circuit court, representing the 4th district.
384	James A. Haston	Appointed to jury for August 1852 circuit court, representing the 7th district.
	James A. Haston	Was Justice of Peace on a case involving a single woman (Elisabeth Howard) who came before him and declared that Rubin M. Drake was he father of the bastard child of which she was delivered on April 18, 1851.
385	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
386	Southwestern Rail Road	Southwestern Rail Road – apparently the county voted as to whether or not to bring the railroad to Van Buren County at a price of $8,000 (over four years).
387	Road from Denney’s old still house	2nd class road from Denney’s old still house on side of mountain to the crossroads at the foot of the mountain.
	Isaac T. Haston Wm. C. Haston	Isaac T. Haston had been elected constable of the 3rd district. Wm. C. Haston was one of his securities.
388	James A. Haston Willie B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (July term)
Numbering error: The next page is numbered “380” when it should be 389. The following pages are misnumbered accordingly.
380	James A. Haston	Given $1.50 for a bench furnished for the courthouse.
382	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of July term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (August term)
384	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of August term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston Willie B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (September term)
	James A. Haston	Security for George W. Carter as elected constable.
385	Turnpike road from Abijah Crane’s to near Pikeville	Robert Mitchell had died and Wm. L. Mitchell was the administrator of his estate. Robert Mitchell had been granted a charter for a turnpike road from the foot of Cumberland Mountain in VB County near Abijah Crane’s on to crossing said mountain to foot of said mountain near Pikeville in Bledsoe County. Wm. L. Mitchell petitioned the court to sell the turnpike.
387	William Denney’s estate	William Denney, Sr. estate reported by Joseph Cummings.
	W.C. Haston	Appointed to December 1852 circuit court jury for 3rd district.
388	James A. Haston	Security for Ichabod Mitchell in his role as constable.
	Isaac T. Haston	Constable and was “bound” to the trustee to turn over all money he collected
	Isaac T. Haston	One of the securities for Wm. Sparkman in his role of collecting taxes as a constable.
389	Isaac T. Haston	Signature for proceedings on previous page.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of September term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin.
	James A. Haston Willie B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (October term)
390	Pikeville road at Gamble’s lane	2nd class road from forks of road north of Jesse Durham’s on to the Pikeville Road at the mouth of Gamble’s lane.
	Isaac T. Haston	Appointed to oversee 2nd class road from forks of the road at Crain’s lane on to the crossroads at Denney’s.
	W.C. Haston’s road David Haston’s lane	Road from David Moore’s to the south end of David Haston’s lane be a 2nd class road. Apparently W.C. Haston was the overseer of this road.
391	W.B. Haston Abram Trogdon	Appointed to a jury of view to examine the b___ on the left and right of James B. Myar’s Plantation.
393	Mitchell’s turnpike sale planned	Plans for selling the turnpike formerly owned by John Mitchell, now deceased. See entry a few pages above.
395	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in October term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session of October term)
396	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of October term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
397	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
	Wm. C. Haston David Haston’s lane	2nd class road from David Moore’s shop to the south end of David Haston’s lane. Wm. C. Haston was one of the road hands.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
398	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his name “Hastin.”

Year of 1853

Page	Name	Description
399	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
	James Haston	2nd class road from the ford of Caney Fork near Warren’s mills on to intersect the Pikeville Road at the foot of the mountain – James Haston on that crew.
400	Isaac Haston’s place	2nd class road from the top of the mountain at Isaac Haston’s to the branch at Denney’s old still house place.
	W.B. Haston	Appointed as revenue commissioner for 4th district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed as revenue commissioner for 7th district.
403	James A. Haston	As Justice of the Peace, he handled the case of the State vs. Thomas Stipe and J.P. Denney (affray).
	James M. Haston	State vs. James M. Haston and A.L. Trogden (affray), handled by James Durham, Esquire.
404	W.C. Haston	On a crew for a 2nd class road from Spencer on to the ___ house & ___.
406	W.B. Haston	Reported that he had received no money for the last year __ under the account per the punishment of small offenses.” It appears that he wrote his signature at the end of this entry in the court minutes.
407	W.B. Haston	He and others appointed to examine the situation of Jesse Crain’s mind and report instantly whether he be an ___ or a lunatic.
	W.B. Haston	Jesse Crain was determined to be a lunatic, as per the men (W.B. Haston and others) who were assigned to report his condition.
413	Isaac Haston	2nd class road from Spencer to the __ mile post on the … to Sparta. Isaac Haston was one of the road hands.
Note: The following page should be 416, but there is a page numbering error. It reads “406” instead of 416.
406		2nd class road from Denney’s crossroads to Denney’s old still house…
Note: The page numbering error on the previous page is corrected beginning with this next page.
417	Isaac T. Haston	He and others were ordered to investigate Glap__ Stipe’s mind and report at the June term whether she is a lunatic or not.
423	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
424	James A. Haston W.B. Haston	They voted in the affirmative for what appears to have been the incorporation of the town of Spencer.
428	Report on William Denney’s estate	Joseph Cummings made his report on the estate settlement of William Denney, Sr
	David Haston	Appointed to be an election judge for the 3rd district in the August 1853 elections.
	W.B. Haston	Appointed to be an election judge for the 4th district in the August 1853 elections.
429	Death of Thomas Shockley	Thomas Shockley had died, and Sarah Shockley was appointed to oversee the estate.
	Spencer road to Durham’s and Craine’s	2nd class road from the Spencer Road to Durham’s shop on to Abijah Crane’s.
430	James A. Haston W.B. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
432	Abraham Trogdon	Hands of Abraham Trogdon’s farm were appointed to a road crew.
	James A. Haston	Had served as a road overseer since the passage of some Act of the TN General Assembly.
433	James A. Haston	Paid $20 for repairs on the jail for which he had paid from personal funds.
435	Isaac Haston	2nd class road from Spencer on to the two-mile post near Isaac Haston. He (Isaac Haston) was a member of this road crew.
436	Wm. C. Haston David Haston’s lane	Appointed as a road overseer for the 2nd-class road from David Moore’s shop to the south end of David Haston’s lane. He had held this position previously.
437	Pikeville Road at Gamble’s land	2nd class road from Jesse Dodson’s to the Pikeville Road at Gamble’s land.

Year of 1854

Page	Name	Description
438	W.B. Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (January term)
439	James A. Haston	Appointed to be revenue commissioner for 7th district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to represent the 7th district as a juryman for the April 1854 circuit court.
440	James A. Haston	Appointed to a quorum court for this year. Note: A quorum court included a few selected justices of the peace who were approved to function for the entire court.
	Road from Denney’s old still house	2nd class road from Denney’s old still house to Denney’s crossroads
441	David Haston’s lane	The court ordered that the road from W.B. Cummings to the south end of David Haston’s lane be disannulled.
	Isaac Haston’s road	Road under Isaac Haston’s oversight ordered to be extended by John Stewart’s to the corner of Wm. Moore’s fence.
442	James A. Haston	Reported in the case of the State Vs. Joseph Preston and Dodson Walker __.
	M.G. Haston	State vs. David Lewis and M.G. Haston (affray) – $4.00 court costs. Wm. Thomson reported this case, as well as a few other cases. This case probably occurred in the previous year. Does this have something to do with the fact that M.G. Haston, apparently, moved to Georgia for several years? Note: An “affray” or “fray” was a noisy quarrel or brawl.
	W.B. Haston	Reported revenue collected for 1853.
443	10th Civil District	10th district to be laid off…beginning where county line crosses Cane Creek, running down said creek to the mouth of Pine Creek.
445	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (February term)
	James Haston	On a crew for a 2nd-class road from Durham’s shop to the Turnpike at Crain’s Lane.
446	Road down the mountain to Denney’s old still house	2nd class road from the two-mile post on top of the mountain to the south side of the branch at Denney’s old still house.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to be an overseer of a 2nd-class road from Spencer to the two-mile post on the Sparta Road.
Note: Page number 450 is repeated from a previous page, and subsequent pages are misnumbered accordingly.
453	Isaac T. Haston William C. Haston Willie B. Haston	Isaac T. Haston elected as 3rd district constable. Two of his brothers (all three were sons of David Haston) were securities for him.
454	Isaac T. Haston	Took oaths for the office of 3rd district constable.
457	William C. Haston I.T. Haston Road by W.C. Haston’s	2nd class road from forks of the road at Crain’s lane by the way of W.C. Haston’s __ John Stuart’s to the Sparta Road near the corner of William Moore’s fence. I.T. Haston & William C. Haston were on the crew.
	William C. Crely James T. Creley	Ordered that the Sheriff bring William C. Crely, a minor, to the next term of the court to be bound out as a printer. James T. Creley provided some kind of information.
	William C. Haston David Haston’s lane	He and others on a jury to lay off a 2nd class road from the south end of David Haston’s lane up the mountain, a south course by Allen R___ on the grass ridge on to Shockley’s road and on to the Spencer Road.
	Wm. D. Haston’s house	3rd class road from Cane Creek near Wm. D. Haston’s on by his house and on to intersect the Spencer Road at the head of the Walker Cove.
	Herald of the Times	Reference to this Sparta, TN newspaper.
Note: Page number 480 is repeated by the clerk’s error, and subsequent pages are misnumbered accordingly.
482	W.C. Haston J_. Haston	2nd class road from John W. Gillentine’s shop on to ___ Haston from thence to William Moore’s fence. W.C. Haston was on that road crew, as was J_. Haston.
484	Isaac Haston’s former place	2nd class road from the top of the mountain at the 2-mile post, where Isaac Haston formerly lived to the south side of the branch at Deny’s old still house. Note: Isaac Haston had moved from this place.
485	Road from Denney’s old still house	2nd class road from the south side of the branch at Deny’s old still house to Deny’s cross road at the foot of the mountain.
489	Isaac T. Haston	Resigned as a constable for the 3rd district.
490	Isaac T. Haston	Appointed as an administrator of the estate of Abraham Trogdon, deceased. Note: Abraham Trogdon had married an older sister of Isaac T. Haston, Lucinda (daughter of David & Peggy Roddy Haston).
	Abraham Trogdon, deceased	Ordered by the court that John M. Billingsley, Jesse Dodson, and James Durham be approved commissioners to layoff out of the estate of Abraham Trogdon, deceased, one year’s provisions for the widow… Note: His widow was Lucinda Haston Trogdon. See note in previous entry.

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Mid-America Hastons Gathering

Mid-America All Hastons Gathering - Fall 2026

Exact date and details to be determined with input from interested attendees.

Descendants of Daniel Haston settled in all of the areas within and around the Mid-America circle on the map above. Many of our “H families” (Haston, Hastain, Hasting, Hastin, Hastings, and probably other spellings) are still living in this general area. Let’s get together in Springfield, MO, for a couple of days next fall (2026).

Daniel’s son, Jesse Haston, settled in Howard County, MO, before 1820.
Jeremiah Haston, another son of Daniel, settled in Dallas County, MO, in the late 1830s.
Isaac Haston/Hastin, another son of Daniel, settled in Greene County, MO, in the late 1830s.
Some of David Haston’s children settled in various counties of MO during the last half of the 1800s.
Some of Joseph Haston’s children settled in Arkansas and Missouri in the 1870s.
Lots of these families spread to OK, TX, KS, NE, AR, IA, and other places within an easy day’s drive (400 or fewer miles) from Springfield, MO.
And, there’s an excellent airport right there in Springfield!

Activities

Wayne Haston will give some presentations on the history of family–overviews and some specific families, based on the family lines of those who attend.
We will do some fun activities to help you become acquainted with some of your cousins.
Wayne’s family history books, all four of them, will be available for you to purchase and he will autograph copies.
Bring some of your family’s old photos and heirlooms for display.
We will provide directions to the areas where Jesse, Jeremiah, and Isaac lived, if you want to visit there before or after the gathering.
Branson, Missouri, is just minutes away! You may want to plan to visit there, maybe even make it a vacation for a few days.
AND, of course, we will have lots of food!
More plans will be forthcoming.

If you might be interested in attending this event, please send submit the following form. No commitment.

Name

First

Last

Address

Address Line 1

City

State

Zip Code

INCLUDING YOURSELF, how many people would be coming with you?

Do you have any questions or comments about this event?

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Dwight Haston – 1946-2025

Dwight Haston - A Proud Haston, A Proud American

I just learned that Dwight passed away Thursday morning, September 25, 2025.

I (Wayne Haston) met Dwight in person for the first time in the summer of 2000. I was just beginning to become interested in Daniel Haston family. Dwight had been researching the family for years and was well-acquainted with all the historic sites in the area where Daniel’s family settled. We interacted via email in late 1999 and met in person in the summer of 2000. I was living in Pennsylvania at the time, but visited my parents in Sparta (TN) in mid-2000. Dwight, my brother Ron, and I got together, and Dwight took us on what I now call the “Historic Haston Tour.” He introduced us to the Big Fork Cemetery, where Daniel Haston and many of our early Haston ancestors are buried. Then he showed us the site (in the photo above) where Daniel Haston established his home almost 200 years before my first visit there. Since that time, we have met numerous times and interacted by phone calls and emails many, many times over the past 25 years.

Even as recently as a week or so ago, I contacted him about a Haston history question. Along with his response to my question, he added: “Glad to help anytime I can.” “Looking forward to your next book.”

I recall that, in 2000, I was reluctant to begin researching our Haston family history and told Dwight, “Dwight, I assume you and others have already scraped the bottom of the barrel of Haston history.” Dwight’s response – “Wayne, there’s always more in the bottom of the barrel.” And, he was right. I hope when I am gone, others will continue scraping the layers of history that are still stubbornly clinging to the bottom of that old barrel.

In one of my most recent email exchanges with Dwight, I told him, “Dwight, you will never know how much I appreciate you.” And, I always will.

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Hastons in Early Van Buren County, TN Court Minutes – 1845-1849

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

Year of 1845

Page	Name	Description
139	David Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
140	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to serve in the April 1845 circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
142	W.B. Haston’s old place	Reference to the road from the north end of Robert Gamble’s lane to W.B. Haston’s “old place.”
	David Haston’s lane James W. Haston	Road from Thomas Moore’s to the Pikeville road at the end of David Haston’s lane, a second class road. James W. Haston was on that road crew.
143	David McHaston Road to mouth of Cane Creek	David McHaston was one of the hands on the crew to repair the 2nd class road from the foot of the mountain to the mouth of Cane Creek.
144	David Haston	J.P. – county court (March term)
145	Thomas C. Haston Montgomery Haston Wilie B. Haston Wilie B. Haston’s lane	Appointed overseer of road from Spencer to Wilie B. Haston’s lane at Cane Creek. (3rd class road?) Some of the hands: Montgomery Haston & Wilie B. Haston. Note: This is the first reference to Montgomery G. Haston in the Van Buren County court minutes. He becomes a prominent person in some subsequent years. He would have been approximately 21 or 22 years old at this time. Did he just now move to this area? He would have been of the legal age to work on road crews, etc. prior to this time. For example, Wm. Carroll Haston was assigned to a road crew just about a month after his 18th birthday. See page 198.
	Arthur Mitchell	On a jury of view to lay out a road of the 2nd class from Fleming’s old ferry to the foot of the mountain.
146	David Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
	James A. Haston	Commissioned again as a Justice of the Peace and took the necessary oaths. The record here does not indicate which district he represented at this time. In January 1846 he seems to have been living in the 7th district. See page 161. Perhaps his relocation (from the 3rd district to the 7th district) was the reason that he resigned from his 3rd district J.P. position in October of 1844.
	Isaac Haston	Attached to Smith Vaden’s list of road hands.
149	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of April term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name with an “i.”
150	David Haston	J.P. – county court (May term)
	Wilie B. Haston’s place	Road from Wilie B. Haston’s to Birden Wheeler’s, a 2nd class road.
	David Haston	Appointed to serve in the August 1845 circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
151	David McHaston	Selected to “wait on the court” (August 1845 circuit court) as a constable.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
	Isaac Haston	He and others on the crew for a 2nd class road from Wm. Denney’s old place to the Pikeville road at Abijah Crane’s.
	Arthur Mitchell David Haston	Appointed to be judges and inspectors for the August election in the 3rd district.
	Wilie B. Haston	Appointed to be a judge and inspector for the August election in the 4th district.
152	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (July term)
153	James A. Haston Willie B. Haston	Appointed to be commissioners on Mitchell’s (formerly Hail’s) Turnpike.
	Courthouse	Ordered by the court that the undertaker of the building of the courthouse have liberty to build said house of brick instead of wood.
154	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of July term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (August term)
155	Montgomery G. Haston Thomas C. Haston	Produced a certificate of his election as constable in the 4th district and took the appropriate oaths. Thomas C. Haston was security for this appointment.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of August term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
156	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of September term) This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He signed his name with an “i.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (October term)
157	Joseph Haston	Appointed to oversee the 3rd class road from William Denny’s old place (at the burnt house) to the top of the little mountain.
158	Abram Trogdon	Attached to N.M. Gillentine’s road crew.
159	David Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
160	David Haston	Appointed as chairman of the court protem, since the regular chairman was not present.
	Thomas C. Haston	Made lowest bid ($5.95) on a pauper, James Wasson (?). Thomas C. Haston was to take care of him until next January.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
	Wilie B. Haston’s old place	Reference to the 2nd class road from the end of Robert Gamble’s land to Wilie Bl Haston’s old place.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term). This appears to be a personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. It appears that he probably spelled his last name with an “i.”

Year of 1846

Page	Name	Description
161	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (January term)
	David Haston James A. Haston	Both appointed as coroner for this year of 1846.
	David Haston	Appointed as revenue commissioner for the 3rd district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed as revenue commissioner for the 7th district. Note: He was now living in a different location. Earlier, he had lived in the 3rd district. Perhaps this relocation was the reason that he resigned from his position as J.P. in October of 1844. See pages 133 and 146.
	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to represent the 3rd district in the April 1846 circuit court.
	Wilie B. Haston	Appointed to represent the 4th district in the April 1846 circuit court.
162	James A. Haston	Appointed to represent the 7th district in the April 1846 circuit court.
	Montgomery G. Haston	Resigned his position as constable in 4th district and allowed $2.00 for waiting on the court in December of 1845
163	Thomas C. Haston	Paid $4.00 for taking care of and burying a pauper, James Wassom.
164	James A. Haston	Appointed to hold the March 1846 election for county officers. Apparently, he was over the entire election process and not just his district.
	David Haston	Appointed to be election judge and inspector for the 3rd district, for the March 1846 elections.
	James A. Haston	Security for Josiah Hodges who took the bid on a pauper.
165	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be the personal signature of James A. Haston, which he spelled “Hastin.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (February term)
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of February term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Haston spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
166	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (March term)
167	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of March term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Haston spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (April term)
168	David M.C. Haston Montgomery G. Haston	David M.C. Haston was appointed to two more years as constable in the 3rd district. Montgomery G. Haston (and Birden Wheeler) were security for him.
	James A. Haston	Security for William Moyers, newly elected constable for the 7th district.
169	M.G. Haston	A road hand on the 2nd class road from the little pole bridge to the crossroad at the foot of the mountain.
170	David Haston Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to be 3rd district judges and inspectors for the May 1846 Sheriff’s election.
	W.B. Haston	Appointed to be 4th district judge and inspector for the May 1846 Sheriff’s election.
171	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of April term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Haston spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
172	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (May term)
173	Road from Wm. Denney’s old place	Road from Wm. Denney’s old place to the Pikeville road at Abijah Crane’s, 2nd class road.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
174	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (June term)
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of June term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. Jas. A. Haston spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
175	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term) – continuation of J.P. names from previous page.
	James A. Haston David Haston	Voted to allow $40 for ex officio services for two years to Lewis Hunter (specific type of service not named).
	Road from Spencer to Cane Creek	3rd class road from Spencer to the Cane Creek road near Burrel Manoard’s.
176	David Haston James A. Haston	These and other men relinquished payment (jury tickets) for their jury duty. These appear to be their personal signatures.
177	M.G. Haston David MC Haston	These and other men relinquished their unpaid claims for services rendered to their county. These appear to be personal signatures.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of July term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
178	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (August term)
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of August term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. Jas. A. Haston spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (September term)
179	John Haston	Road hand on the crew for the road from the little pole bridge to the cross roads at the foot of the mountain.
	Joseph Haston	Appointed overseer of 3rd class road from Denney’s old house to top of the little mountain west of Joseph Cummings’.
	Isaac T. Haston James W. Haston John Haston David Haston’s lane	Overseer of the 2nd class road from Thomas Moore to the Pikeville road at David Haston’s lane. James W. Haston was one of the road hands on this crew and John Haston, apparently was originally appointed to this crew but crossed off the list and appointed to another list on the top of this page.
	Road to mouth of Cane Creek	Road from the cross roads at Wm. Denny’s to the mouth of Cane Creek.
180	David Mc Haston	On a crew for the 2nd class road between Wm. Denny’s and the mouth of Cane Creek – continuation from the bottom of the previous page.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of September term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. Jas. A. Haston spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (October term)
	David Haston’s lane James W. Haston Wm. Denney, Sr.	Wm. Denney Sr. appointed overseer of 2nd class road from Thomas Moore’s to Pikeville Road at the end of David Haston’s lane. James W. Haston was one of the road hands.
182	Abram Trogdon	On a list of road hands for the 2nd class road from Indian Camp to foot of first hill.
	James A. Haston James W. Haston Arthur Mitchell David McHaston	James A. Haston appointed overseer of the timber and to open the 2nd class road from foot of the first hill at end of Gillentine’s road to Denney’s still house. James W. Haston and Arthur Mitchell and David McHaston were on the list of road hands
	Montgomery G. Haston Isaac Haston Carrel Haston James W. Haston John Haston	Montgomery G. Haston appointed overseer to open 2nd class road from Denney’s still house to the lime kiln on side of mountain. Some road hands: Isaac Haston, Carrel Haston, James W. Haston, and John Haston
183	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of October term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (November term)
	Willie B. Haston	2nd class road from Willie B. Haston’s to Berden Wheeler’s.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of November term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
184	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (December term)
185	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of December term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name, “Hastin.”

Year of 1847

Page	Name	Description
185	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
186	David Haston	J.P. – county court (January term) – continuation of J.P. names for this term.
	W.B. Haston	Appointed to serve in April 1847 circuit court, representing 4th district.
187	David Haston	Appointed as coroner for this year of 1847.
188	Ford of river at Wm. L. Mitchell’s	Reference to 2nd class road from ford of the river at Wm. L. Mitchell’s to Hail’s turnpike road. Wm. Stipe was the overseer of that road.
	W.B. Haston’s old place	Reference to 2nd class road from the end of Robert Gamble’s lane to W.B. Haston’s old place.
	Abram Trogdon	Ordered by court that a pavement be put around the courthouse, six feet wide all round the house level with door sills. Abram Trogdon to do this work at price of $40.
189	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment until Tuesday morning of January term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
190	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday morning of January term)
	James A. Haston David Haston	Spencer town lots had been sold; apparently James A. & David Haston had been involved in that process.
191	James A. Haston	Paid $2.00 for holding the previous election.
	Arthur Mitchell	On a road jury view to laying off and marking a 2nd or 3rd class road from Hodges Ferry to intersect the road near John Frisby’s.
192	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his last name, “Hastin.”
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (February term)
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of February term) This appears to be the personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (March term)
193	David M.C. Haston	Tendered his resignation as constable. Question: Was this in preparation for his move to Missouri?
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of March term) This appears to be the personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
194	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term) – continuation of list of J.P.s for this term from previous page.
	M.G. Haston	Appointed to a jury of view to change the 2nd class road around Daniel Mooneyham’s farm.
	Arthur Mitchell	He and others made a report on the change of a 2nd class road from Hodges Ferry to John Frisby’s.
195	James A. Haston M.G. Haston	Road they and others had opened was ordered to be received and they were discharged from their duties.
	M.G. Haston	He was overseer of the road from the forks of the road near William Moore’s on to where David Moore lived. He had changed the road and was to keep the road in repair.
	David Haston M.G. Haston	Appointed to a jury to change the road near Robert Gamble’s upper plantation. Reference to “the old road on top of a hill near an old school house.”
196	M.G. Haston David Mc Haston David Haston	M.G. Haston filled the 3rd district constable vacancy created when David McHaston resigned. David Haston and Burden Wheeler were securities. Note: The first mention of M.G. Haston that identifies where he lived in Van Buren Count was his August 1845 election as constable of the 4th district, which position he resigned in January 1846. Here in April 1847, he appears in the 3rd district. Later, he will settle back in the 4th district.
	Willie B. Haston	On a road jury to lay off and mark a 3rd class road from ford below M. Crane’s down the creek toward Anderson’s mill, to intersect at Pikeville road near Abijah Crain’s.
198	M.G. Haston	On crew for 3rd class road from cross roads near William Denney’s to the mouth of Cane Creek.
	James W. Haston Wm. C. Haston John C. Haston David Haston’s lane	Overseer of 2nd class road from Thomas Moore’s to the south end of David Haston’s lane. Wm. C. Haston and John C. Haston were on that crew. Note: Wm. C. Haston had just turned 18 years of age about a month earlier (on March 2nd).
	Isaac Haston	On a crew for a 2nd class road from the ford of the Creek near Crain’s to the Denney’s burnt house.
199	Joseph Haston	On the crew for the 3rd class road from Denney’s burnt house to Alexander Harris’ place.
	Road from cross road near Wm. Denney’s	2nd class road from the cross roads near William Denney’s to the ford of the river near Martin Earl’s.
204	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday’s session in April term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
205	David Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session in April term)
206	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of April term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (May term)
	James W. Haston	Appointed to serve on August 1847 circuit court to represent 3rd district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to serve on August 1847 circuit court to represent 7th district.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
207	David Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
		J.P. – county court (adjournment of June term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
208	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
	Willie B. Haston	He and other appointed to lay off and mark a 3rd class road from ford of creek below M.P. Crain’s down the creek on the direction to Anderson’s mills to intersect the Pikeville road near Abijah Crain’s.
209	9th Civil District formed	A new (9th) district was formed. It bounded White, Bledsoe, and Van Buren counties and one of the lines ran down Cane Creek.
	M.G. Haston	Was a tutor for an orphan boy, George Winder, who was about 17 years old.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of July term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
210	David Haston	J.P. – county court (August term)
	Joseph C. Haston M.G. Haston	Added to a list of Wm. F. Carter’s road hands.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of August term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (September term)
211	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to serve in the next circuit court to represent the 3rd district.
	Thomas C. Haston	Appointed to serve in the next circuit court to represent the 4th district.
212	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of September term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
213	Bethellee meeting house	Located somewhere at foot of the mountain
	Road to intersect Pikeville road near Abijah Crain’s	2nd class road from Martin P. Crain’s down the creek near Robert Gamble’s field to intersect the Pikeville road near Abijah Crain’s.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of October term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
214	David Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
215	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
	Road from Robert Gamble’s lane	2nd class road from mouth of Robert Gamble’s lane to the forks of the road near M.P. Crain’s farm.
	W.B. Haston’s old house	Joseph Moore’s road order to be extended to W.B. Haston’s old house.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.

Year of 1848

Page	Name	Description
216	David Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
217	David Haston James A. Haston	Appointed as coroners for this year.
218	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to serve as judge for the April 1848 election in the 3rd district.
219	David Haston	Appointed to be the revenue collector in the 3rd district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to be the revenue collector in the 7th district.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in January term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men.
220	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (Tuesday session in January term)
	James A. Haston	Allowed 37 1/2 cents for a lock and key to be used in the jail house.
221	M.G. Haston	Appointed to oversee a 2nd class road from John S. Parker’s to the cross roads near the place of Wm. Denney, Sr.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (February term)
	James A. Haston David Haston’s lane	Released as overseer on the road leading past David Haston’s on to Sparta and Wm. Lewis appointed on the same road from Thomas Moore’s to the south end of David Haston’s lane.
223	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of February term) This appears to be David Haston’s personal signature.
224	James A. Haston
	David Haston	Released from his duties as tax collector in the 3rd district.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of March term) This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin, in which he spelled his last name “Hastin.”
225	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
232	James A. Haston	Produced his certificate as J.P. and took the oaths. Apparently, his previous term had expired.
237	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in April term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session of April term)
239	Road from Spencer to Cane Creek	Road from Spencer to Solomon Reece’s (on Cane Creek) be changed to leave Spencer at the southwest corner of the college lot, thence east with Stewart’s fence to southeast corner of same, thence with the ridge including the old road.
242	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of April term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (May term)
	Wille B. Haston	Appointed to serve in September 1848 circuit court to represent 4th district.
243	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
244	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of June term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
245	Thomas C. Haston	On jury to lay off and mark a 2nd class road from this place (court house in Spencer?) on to intersect the Cane Creek road near Samuel Mathiases’ mills place.
	Road from “double ford” on Cane Creek	John Gillentine appointed overseer on road from “Double ford” on Cane Creek on to intersect the Pikeville road near the Pennington cabin.
247	Road from ford of the creek at Joseph Moore’s	2nd class road from the ford of the creek at Joseph Moore’s to the north end of Robert Gamble’s land on the south side of the Guffee Spring.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in July term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session in July term)
248	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (August term)
249	M.G. Haston’s road	Reference to M.G. Haston’s road, that is the road that he was overseeing.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of August term) This appears to be his personal signature. He spelled his name “Hastin.”
250	Joseph Haston	On a crew for a 2nd class road from Widow Parker’s at the top of the mountain on to William Denney’s at the cross roads.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
251	Road from mouth of Cane Creek	David Moore released from being overseer of road from mouth of Cane Creek to the cross roads near William Denney’s Sr. and Jacob Stipes to assume that job.
	David Haston’s lane William C. Haston Isaac T. Haston	William C. Haston and Isaac T. Haston were on a road crew for the road from near the mouth of Cane Creek on to the sound end of David Haston’s lane.
	Willie B. Haston	2nd class road from Willie B. Haston’s old house down Cane Creek on to Abijah Crain’s draw bar’s (?) to intersect the Pikeville road.
252	Isaac Haston	A road hand for the 2nd class road from town of Spencer to Widow Parker’s (probably widow of Andrew K. Parker).
	James A. Haston	He and others on a road jury to view the two roads, one by Harmon York’s and the other down the Laurel Creek.
253	James A. Haston	He and others to lay off and establish school districts to be taken from the 4th and 3rd districts.
254	Abraham Trogden	Still associated with work on the courthouse.
	James A. Haston	On a road jury of view to lay off and mark a road from cross roads near William Denney’s Sr. on to intersect the Pikeville road at the ford of Cane Creek near Abijah Crain’s farm.
	Ford of Cane Creek near Abijah Crain’s farm	Jesse Dodson appointed to oversee the 2nd class road from the cross roads near Wm. Denney’s Sr. on to the Pikeville road near Abijah Crain’s farm at the ford of Cane Creek. See previous entry on this page.
	Road from top of mountain to Wm Denney’s	2nd class road from top of mountain at the widow Parker’s on to the branch at Denney’s Sr. old stillhouse.
	Joseph Haston	On a crew for the 2nd class road from the south side of the branch near William Denney’s old still house on to the cross roads near Wm. Denney, Sr.’s.
255	David Haston – of the 8th district	“David Haston” appointed to jury duty in the January 1849 circuit court. Which “David Haston” was this? This person was in the 8th district, not the 3rd district where David Haston, son of Daniel Haston, lived.
256	James A. Haston	James A. Haston Esq. presented some papers to court which implicated Newel Crain as the father of a bastard child, with Elizabeth Jane Martin, a single woman.
	James A. Haston	Justice of the Peace in the Newel Crain vs. Elizabeth Jane Martin bastardy case.
257	James A. Haston	Another mention of him in his role as the JP for the Crain vs. Martin bastardy case.
	James A. Haston	Voted with the majority of J.P.s regarding some kind of allowance to be set by the court.
258	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday’s session of October term) This appears to be the personal signature of James A. Haston. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
259	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
	Ford of Cane Creek at Abijah Crain’s	2nd class road from cross roads near William Denney’s Sr. on to the fork of the road near Abijah Crain’s farm at the ford of Cane Creek.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be the personal signature of James A. Haston. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
260	Ford of Cane Creek at Abijah Crain’s	John J. Walker be released from overseeing the 2nd class road from cross roads near William Denney’s Sr. on to the road near Abijah Crain’s farm at the ford of Cane Creek.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be the personal signature of James A. Haston. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”

Year of 1849

Page	Name	Description
261	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
263	10th school district David Haston’s far,	Report on October 1848 assignment to lay off school districts. A 10th district was established, “beginning on the east side of Cane Creek, running up said creek crossing the same at the mouth of the big spring including the David Haston farm, thence to Dodson Walker, thence to Robert Walker, thence to the county line running so as to leave Clayton McComack and where Joseph Moore now lives within the same, to the beginning.” Note: None of the other school districts were mentioned here.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session of the January term) This appears to be the personal signature of James A. Haston. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
264	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session of the January term)
265	Ford of Cane Creek to Robert Gamble’s land	Road from ford of Cane Creek on to Robert Gamble’s lane, 2nd class road.
266	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (February term)
267	School house near John McBride	3rd class road from the school house near John McBride on to the top of the mountain near Micajah Simmons’; road hands’ names appear to be from the general Cane Creek – Caney Fork area.
269	Ford of Cane Creek to Robert Gamble’s land	Road from ford of Cane Creek on to Robert Gamble’s lane, 2nd class road.
270	Wilie B. Haston’s spring & lane by his house	Change in road by Burrell Manoard from near the 6 mile post on the south side of Manoard new ground on to cross Cane Creek at Willie B. Haston’s spring running through his lane by his house to intersect the old road near the 5 mile post.
273	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session in April term) This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
274	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (Tuesday session of April term)
275	Thomas C. Haston	Ordered by court to “return William Crealey and Sion C. Crealey back to their mother and furnish two bushels of meal and 20 lbs. of bacon for the use and maintenance of said children until the first Monday in May next and that said Haston return said children unto court at that time to be further dealt with as the law directs.” It appears that Marion (Marvon?) Crealey appeared in court, along with the Sheriff, in behalf of this action.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of the April term) This appears to be the personal signature of James A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”
	Thomas C. Haston	Elected as constable in the 4th district. W.B. Haston and David Haston were securities for him (on next page).
276	Thomas C. Haston David Haston W.B. Haston	Continuation of the process of approving Thomas C. Haston as the 4th district constable.
	Thomas C. Haston Wm. C. Haston	“This day Thomas C. Haston according to order of last court appeared into court with William Crealy who was bound to Wm. C. Haston according to law to serve from this till the age of 21.”
277	Thomas C. Haston	“This day Thomas C. Haston came into open court according to previous orders with S.C. Crealy therefore the court _ said child to be bound and as there was no other person applied for said child the court order Solomon Reese to maintain said child till further orders.”
279	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to be an election judge for August 1849 election, for 3rd district.
	Willie B. Haston	Appointed to be an election judge for August 1849 election, for 4th district.
	David Haston	Appointed to be an election judge for August 1849 election, for 7th district. Question: Which “David Haston” was this? James A. Haston lived in this district, but he did not have a son by this name…as far as we know.
	Isaac Haston	Appointed, from 3rd district, to serve in the September 1849 term of what was probably the circuit court.
	W.B. Haston	Appointed, from 4th district, to serve in the September 1849 term of what was probably the circuit court.
280	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
281	Thomas C. Haston	Thomas C. Haston paid by the court for furnishing Louisa Crealy’s children with bacon and meal.
	David Martin or David N. Haston?	Ordered by the court that this person be overseer on the road from the forks of the road at the graveyard on to the southeast corner of Mulder’s (?) field…
	Joseph C. Haston	Added to Wm. Steakley’s road crew.
282	David Haston’s fence	Road from David Haston’s fence on to the mouth of Cane Creek be reduced to a 3rd class road.
	Road to mouth of Cane Creek	Road from foot of mountain to the mouth of Cane Creek, by way of William Moore’s, reduced to 3rd class road.
284	Road from ford of Cane Creek to Robert Gamble’s	Road from the ford of Cane Creek on to Robert Gamble’s land (2nd class).
285	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
286	Road adjacent to Thomas Stipe’s	3rd class road on east side of Thomas Stipe’s new ground, being the field that Jesse Dodson cleared.
	Road from ford of Cane Creek	2nd class road from ford of Cane Creek near Joseph Moore’s on to the mouth of Robert Gamble’s lane.
287	Joseph C. Haston	Appointed to January 1850 circuit court jury duty for 3rd district.
	Abraham Trogdon	Appointed to January 1850 circuit court jury duty for 4th district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to January 1850 circuit court jury duty for 7th district.
289	Thomas C. Haston James A. Haston	Securities for Willie Steakley, who filled the vacancy in the office of Trustee, created when Joseph Cummings resigned. (two entries on this page for this same action)
290	James A. Haston William C. Haston J.C. Haston M.G. Haston	James A. Haston appointed to be overseer of a 2nd class road from top of mountain near the “2 mile post” to the south side of the branch at Denney’s old still house. Road hands: William C. Haston, J. C. Haston, & M.G. Haston.
291	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be the personal signature of Jas. A. Hastin. He spelled his last name “Hastin.”

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Hastons in Early Van Buren County, TN Court Minutes – 1840-1844

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

Year of 1840

Page	Name	Summary
1	Isham B. Haston	He was one of the original Justices of the Peace (J.P.) for Van Buren County, TN. However, his official commission papers were presented in the June session.
2	I.B. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
3	I.B. Haston	J.P. – county court (April term)
5	3rd Civil District	Beginning at Dungee’s ford on the Caney Fork, thence up the same with the county line to the mouth of Cane Creek, thence up same creek to the mouth of Thomas Stipes spring branch, thence up said branch to the head of the same, thence a straight line to David Walker’s leaving him in fourth district, thence a straight line to where the new road crosses the millstone creek, thence with said road south to Nicholas Gillentine including him, thence back with the brakes of laurel to A.K. Parker’s including him, then to the Pine Mountain to the line of the second district, thence northerly to the beginning.
5	4th Civil District	Beginning at the mouth of Cane Creek, thence southwardly with the county line including William L. Mitchell and continuing with the county line to the corner then a northward direction with a new road to N. Gillentines so as not to include stone and hogshead (?) to the line of the 3rd district to the beginning.
6	7th Civil District	Beginning at Isaac Howard including him, thence a northward direction with the line of the 6th district to the top of the mountain, thence eastward with the road to Uriah York’s on the mountain leaving it out, and on to the new road on line of the 4th district, thence northward with said road to N. Gillentine’s, thence with the line of the 3rd district to Rimons (?), thence with the line of the 5th district to the beginning.
7	W.B. Haston’s house	Reference to a road from his house to Jesse Turley’s.
	David Haston Wiley B. Haston	Appointed to serve on the April 1840 circuit court.
10	David Haston	Appointed as juror to help lay out a road from the county seat to the Caney Fork at N. Gillentine’s.
11	David Haston Isham B. Haston	Commissions turned in to court for these men to become Justices of the Peace.
12	David Haston	He and others on the road jury mentioned above made their report on plans for a road from the county seat to the Caney Fork River.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
13	David Haston	He and John Gillentine were appointed to assign a list of workers for the road from Spencer to the Caney Fork.
	David Haston’s place	Reference to: “…road from the forks of the road at the mouth of Cane Creek to David Haston’s…John Gillentine and David Haston to assign a list of hands” (different road from the one on pages 10, 12, and top of 13).
14	David Haston	Made a motion in court for the county court to meet at the county seat instead of in the home of William Worthington. The motion was voted down 10 to 4.
	Isham B. Haston	Voted for David Haston’s motion.
15	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (July term)
16	Isham B. Haston	Was one of three men elected to be commissioners of Hail’s turnpike road and took the oath.
	Cummings Spring	Voted (April 30, 1840) to become the seat of justice for Van Buren County, TN; was the original name of the area where Spencer was established.
17	Isham B. Haston	Ordered to serve in the August 1840 circuit court.
19	David Haston	J.P. – county court (August term)
20	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (September term)
21	Wiley B. Haston Isham B. Haston	Appointed to a road jury of view to lay off and mark a road of the 2nd class from Spencer to intersect Hail’s turnpike road near the county line.
22	Isaac Haston	Assigned to work on the crew to open a 2nd class road from Burrel Manoard’s to house of John W Riddles.
23	VB-White County line	Joseph Cummings appointed to settle the line between Van Buren and White counties and to report in December session, but there does not seem to be a report made in December.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned October term) – This seems to be a personal signature of David Haston. Next court session was to meet in the town of Spencer (for first time, apparently).
24	VB County courthouse	Approval given to complete the courthouse.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston Robert Gamble	These men and others appointed to lay off a 2nd class road from Spencer passing David Walker’s in the direction to Anderson Mills…to intersect the road from Sparta to Pikeville.
25	Isham B. Haston	Security for Wiley Steakley’s election as entry taker.
27	Isham B. Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned October term)
	Isham B. Haston David Haston	J.P.s – county court (November term)
28	David Haston	He and others to lay off a 2nd class road from Spencer to Burrel Manoards.
29	Road to mouth of Cane Creek	“…road from the cross roads at foot of mountain to the mouth of Cane Creek.” Gillentines, Stipes, & Moore assigned. This may have been the road that ran by Big Fork Church and Cemetery.
	James W. Haston Thomas C. Haston John Haston Joseph Haston David Haston’s place	James W. Haston, Thomas C. Haston, John Haston, Joseph Haston, John Kirklin, Abraham Trogden, and Edward & James Moore appointed to work under Charles P. Shockley. This was the road from the mouth of Cane Creek to David Haston’s place. David Haston and John Gillentine appointed these workers. (see page 13 entry above)
30	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (December term)
31	David Haston Wiley B. Haston’s place	David Haston was one of the jurors for a 2nd class road from Spencer to Burrel Manoards. This road passed at or near Wiley B. Haston’s as it went down the mountain. David signed off on this.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston Robert Gamble	These men and others reported on plans for the road from Spencer to go down the mountain and intersect with the Pikeville-Sparta road. It began NE of Spencer and crossed Cane Creek at the bottom of the mountain and then intersected the Pikeville-Sparta road (which would have been on the north/east side of Cane Creek). David, Isham, Robert & the others signed off on this. See page 24 appointment.
32	Wiley B. Haston David Mc Haston	Wiley B. Haston appointed overseer of road from Spencer to Burrel Manoards. David Mc Haston and others were on this crew.
33	Isaac Haston	Assigned to a road crew to work under James Simmons.
	Isham B. Haston	Appointed to be 4th district revenue commissioner for 1841.

Year of 1841

Page	Name	Description
34	David Haston	J.P. – county court (January term)
	David Haston	Appointed with others as a quorum to do business this year.
34	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned January term) This appears to be his personal signature.
35	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (February term)
	David Haston Arthur Mitchell	They and others were appointed to lay off and mark a 3rd class road from Daniel Hollingsworth’s “round the point of the mountain to the head of the big spring.” This probably ended up at David Haston’s house (“the big spring”). Arthur Mitchell married David Haston’s daughter, Malinda.
36	Wiley B. Haston	Ordered to serve in the April 1841 circuit court, representing the 4th district.
37	Isham B. Haston	J.P. – county court (March term)
	Alfred Haston Isaac Haston John Kirklin Ozias Denton	These men and others were on a jury to lay off and mark a 2nd class road from Thomas Moore’s to Thomas M. Fleming’s. John Kirklin ran a store in the Big Spring area and Ozias Denton preached at the Big Fork Baptist Church, at one point.
	Isham B. Haston	On a road crew to change a road at the upper end of Abijah Crane’s lane so as to pass on the NE side of the knoll and intersect at the end of the turnpike road.
38	Wiley B. Haston’s old place	Reference to a road from forks of road at Robert Gamble’s to Wiley B. Haston’s old place.
39	David Haston I.B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (April term)
40	“the big spring” Arthur Mitchell	Report on road assignment from February term – from head of the big spring to Daniel Hollingsworth’s. Arthur Mitchell was on that jury and was assigned to the road crew. See page 35.
41	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned April term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (May term)
42	Isham B. Haston	Resigned from being a commissioner of Hail’s Turnpike road.
	Lovica Creely	Involved in a bastardy case with William Teeter. Also see some following pages. Was she related to he wife of Joseph Haston, Sarah Creely Haston?
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned May term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
43	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (June term)
44	Wiley B. Haston Isham B. Haston	Ordered to serve in August 1841 circuit court, representing the 4th district.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned June term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (July term)
	David Haston	Appointed to be the chairman of the court pro tempore (for the time being) for the present term.
45	W.B. Haston	On a list of free white males in Van Buren County, TN.
47	James A. Haston Thomas C. Haston David Haston James W. Haston Joseph Haston I. Haston W.B. Haston I.B. Haston D. Mc Haston	On a list of free white males in Van Buren County, TN. Why does W.B. Haston appear on the list twice? His first mention (page 45) is separated, by over a page full of names, from the next mention of a Haston. Were there two adult males in Van Buren County by this name at this time? Or, was this just a replication error?
48	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned July term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned July term, 2nd time) It appears that the court took up one more matter before final adjournment for this term. This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (August term)
50	Isham B. Haston	Entered into a bond to collect taxes for the common (public) schools in 1841.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned August term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (September term)
51	Spencer town plan	Plat of city lots in newly laid out Spencer, TN.
52	Road by Big Fork?	1st class road from x roads near Wm. Denny’s to the mouth of Cane Creek – John Stipes the overseer. Was this the road that ran by the Big Fork Church and Cemetery?
53	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjourned September term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (October term)
54	David Haston Isham B. Haston	Named, along with the other J.P.s present, in some kind of affidavit regarding a court action.
56	Wiley B. Haston	The road supervised by Wiley B. Haston was reduced to a 3rd class road. See page 32 in 1840 records.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (Tuesday of October term)
57	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of October term) This appears to be personal signatures of David & Isham B. Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (November term)
59	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (December term)
	Wilie B. Haston Isham B. Haston	With others, on a jury to lay off and mark a 2nd class road from Jesse Turley’s place on Cane Creek to Daniel Walling’s mills.
60	David Haston Isham B. Haston	To represent the 3rd district as revenue commissioner for the upcoming year (1842) and Isham B. Haston to do the same for the 4th district.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.

Year of 1842

Page	Name	Description
61	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (January term)
	David Haston	Appointed as chairman of this court for this year of 1842. However, on page 68 Uriah York was elected to this position.
64	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (February term) David appears to have functioned as chairman of the court in this term.
65	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of February term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P. – county court (March term) David appears to have functioned as chairman of the court in this term.
66	3rd & 7th districts adjusted	Lines between 7th & 3rd districts were amended, this affected the Trogdons and others.
	David Haston’s lane	The earlier court order to establish a road from Daniel Hollingsworth’s to David Haston’s lane (or the big spring) was rescinded. See page 40 in the 1841 records.
	Isham B. Haston Wilie B. Haston	These men and Christopher Steekley (all in 4th district) were securities for Wilie Steekley as a newly elected constable for their district.
67	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of March term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (April term)
	David Haston James A. Haston Isham B. Haston	David Haston and Isham B. Haston were re-elected as J.P.s for their districts (3rd & 4th). James A. Haston was elected to represent the 3rd District.
68	(David Haston)	Uriah York was appointed as chairman for the present year, a position held by David Haston since January of the same year. No mention is made here of David Haston nor is there an explanation of why he did not finish the year as chairman of the court.
71	Isham B. Haston	Was a security for John Fleming who had been elected as a Ranger for the next two years.
	Isham B. Haston James A. Haston	Appointed as commissioners of Hail’s old turnpike road and paid $1.50 per day. Note: Isham B. Haston had been appointed to that position in 1840, but had resigned in 1841.
72	David Haston James A. Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (May term)
	Wilie B. Haston’s place	Reference to the road from Wiley B. Haston’s to Bird Wheeler’s.
	Wiley B. Haston Thomas C. Haston	These and others appointed to a jury to change the road up Cane Creek, beginning at Nathan Durham’s field. Note: Wiley B. Haston married Nancy Durham after his first wife, Tamsey Austin, died.
73	David Haston	Reference to road from Charles P. Shockley’s to David Haston’s.
	Isham B. Haston	Appointed to circuit court duty for the August 1842 term, representing the 4th district.
74	David Haston James A. Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (June term)
75	Isham B. Haston Wilie B. Haston	These and others appointed to a jury of view to change the road up Cane Creek. How does this relate to the previous order from the May term? See page 72.
	Wilie B. Haston’s place	Reference to a road from Birdin Wheeler’s to Wilie B. Haston’s. See page 72. Note: Birden/Burden Wheeler was the father of Rachel Wheeler, who married Montgomery G. Haston.
	James A. Hastin I.B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of June term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
(76)*	David Haston Isham B. Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (July term)
*Page number seems to read “74” but should be “76.” It may be a numbering error or the “6” may just be poorly written. The page in the book that follows is numbered correctly (“77”).
	Road by Big Fork?	1st class road from foot of the mountain to mouth of Cane Creek; William Moore was the overseer. Was this the road that ran past Big Fork Church and Cemetery?
	Ford at W.L. Mitchell’s	Reference to 2nd class road from the ford of the river at Wm. L. Mitchell’s to Hail’s Turnpike road. Question: Was this the ford known as “Mitchell’s Ford” on Big Bottom?
78	Isham B. Haston	Elected as Entrytaker and took the appropriate oath in court.
	David Haston I.B. Haston James A. Hastin	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of July term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
79	James A. Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (August term)
80	David Haston Isham B. Haston	J.P.s – county court (September term)
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (October term)
	Isham B. Haston	Resigned as a Justice of the Peace and as an Entrytaker. Was this in preparation to move to Hickory County, MO, which occurred sometime in the mid-1840s?
81	Spencer-Cane Creek road	Reference to the road from Spencer to Cane Creek.
	David Haston	Ordered to appoint road hands on Ridle’s road between Solomon Reese, Birden Wheeler, and Wm. Lewis.
	David Haston	Took over Isham B. Haston’s job as commissioner of Hail’s Turnpike road.
83	David Haston	He and others from the Cane Creek-Caney Fork area questioned Cader Measles to verify that he had served in the Revolutionary War as a soldier with the NC army. He said that he was from “Bartee County, NC.” Would that have been Bertie County? This questioning began on page 81.
84	Rev. Abijah Crane Rev. John Yates	David Haston’s Van Buren County neighbor, Abijah Crane, is in this section referred to with a “Rev.” title, as is John Yates. Each was described as “clergyman.” Both men vouched for Cader Measles. John Yates was from White County. From other sources, he is known to have been a Methodist minister. What was Abijah Crane’s affiliation and where was his church located?
	David Haston James A. Hastin	J.P. – county court (adjournment of Monday session of the October term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
	David Haston	Brief court session on Tuesday: David Haston was security to support John Stewart’s election as Entrytaker.
	David Haston J. A. Hastin	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of October term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men. J. A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
85	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (November term)
	David Haston	Appointed chairman protem (pro tempore).
	James A. Haston	Appointed to serve in the December 1842 circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
86	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	James A. Haston David Haston	J.P.s – county court (December term)
	School in Spencer	Liberty was “granted to the citizens of Spencer to have a three months school taught in the courthouse by the teacher taking good care of said house.”
87	James A. Haston	Appointed as a revenue collector.
	David Haston James A. Hastin	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of December term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”

Year of 1843

Page	Name	Description
87	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (January term)
88	David Haston	He and two other men appointed “a cornor (coroner) for the next year.”
89	David Haston	Appointed to April 1843 circuit court duty, representing the 3rd district.
	Wilie B. Haston	Appointed to April 1843 circuit court duty, representing the 4th district.
	David Haston James A. Haston	Resigned their positions as commissioners of Hail’s Turnpike.
	York Academy	35th lot in town of Spencer set apart for York Academy.
90	Courthouse & lot to be sold	Ordered by the county court that the courthouse & lot on which it stood was to be sold.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (February term)
91	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of February term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (March term)
	Road to ford of Cane Creek	Reference to a road from Denny’s old place to the ford of Cane Creek, near Abijah Crane’s – Thomas Stipes appointed overseer.
	James W. Haston David M.C. Haston Joseph Haston David Haston’s lane	James W. Haston appointed to oversee road from sign post near Thomas Moore’s and intersect the Pikeville Road at the end of David Haston’s lane. David M.C. Haston, Joseph Haston and others were appointed as hands.
92	David Haston David M.C. Haston Joseph Haston	These names appear on page 92 as a continuation of the road assignment that began on the bottom of the previous page.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of March term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
93	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (April term)
95	Cader Measles	Follow up on the petition of Cader Measles to receive veterans benefits for Revolutionary War service. See page 83.
96	Arthur Mitchell	He and others on a jury of view to change the road at the river bank at Plumlee’s ferry.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (May term)
	Wiley B. Haston’s old place	Reference to road from Wiley B. Haston’s old place to NE corner of Robert Gamble’s field.
97	Isaac Haston	Ordered to work on Thomas Stipe’s road crew.
	Creeley children	Angeline (age 5) and Isaac T. (age 2 as of last September 23) were bound to Legrand C. Love.
99	James A. Haston	Appointed to serve on August 1843 circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (June term)
100	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (June term) This page continues names of justices for the June term from the previous page.
	Emeline Creeley	Emeline (age 7) was bound to John Stewart to live and work as an apprentice until she arrives at the age of eighteen.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of June term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (July term)
101	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (July term) This page continues names of justices for the July term from the previous page.
	David Haston James A. Haston	Appointed as election judges for the August 1843 election in the 3rd district.
	Wiley B. Haston	Appointed as election judge for the August 1843 election in the 4th district.
104	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (August term)
105	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of August term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (September term)
	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed to serve December 1843 circuit court, representing 3rd district.
106	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of September term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	James A. Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
107	Spencer courthouse	New courthouse ordered to be built in Spencer. Detailed plans given here, but the order was rescinded on page 109, in the November court term.
108	David Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
110	New courthouse plan	A new plan was presented for a new Van Buren County courthouse in Spencer, TN. A very rough drawing of the floor plans was sketched on the bottom of this page.
111	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (December term)
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.

Year of 1844

Page	Name	Description
112	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (January term)
	David Haston	Elected to be chairman of the court for this year.
	David Haston	He and others appointed to be coroners for the present year.
	David Haston	Allowed $5.00 for summoning a jury and holding inquest over the body of Arena Steekley.
113	David Haston	Appointed to a jury of view to lay off and mark a road of 2nd class from Drake’s Mill up the river to intersect the Rocky River road at a convenient point.
	David Haston James A. Haston	Appointed to serve in the April 1844 circuit court, representing the 3rd district.
	Wilie B. Haston	Appointed to serve in the April 1844 circuit court, representing the 4th district.
	James A. Haston	Appointed to be revenue commissioner for the 3rd district.
114	David Haston James A. Haston	Appointed to be election officers for county elections in March 1844, for the 3rd district.
	Thomas C. Haston	Appointed to be election officer for county elections in March 1844, for the 4th district.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of court until the next day, Tuesday morning, in this January term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
115	David Haston	J.P. county court (adjournment of January term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (February term)
116	James A. Haston	Appointed as a coroner.
	Isaac Haston	Appointed as a road crew hand on road from Spencer to Wm. L. Mitchell’s.
	Road to mouth of Cane Creek	Reference to a 2nd class road from the foot of the mountain to the mouth of Cane Creek.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of February term) These appear to be the personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
117	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (March term)
	Wiley B. Haston	Reference to a road from Wiley B. Haston’s to Burden Wheeler’s.
118	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of March term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (April term)
119	David Haston	Was chairman of the court.
	David Haston	Was chairman of the court.
120	David Haston	Was chairman of the court.
121	David Haston	Was chairman of the court.
122	David McHaston David Haston	David Mc Haston produced certificate to prove that he had been elected Constable in 3rd district. His father, David Haston, entered into bond for him.
124	Spencer town lots	List of owners of Spencer town lots.
125	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of April term) These appear to be personal signatures of these men. James A. Hastin spelled his last name with an “i.”
	David Haston’s lane James W. Haston Joseph Haston	James W. Haston, Joseph Haston, and others were appointed to a crew for a 2nd class road from Thomas Moore’s to the Pikeville road at the end of David Haston’s lane.
	Road from Spencer to Cane Creek	Reduced to a 2nd class road.
126	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of May term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (May term)
127	Thomas Crawley	Now deceased, he had been a Revolutionary War soldier in the NC army, from Surrey County, NC.
129	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of May term) These appear to be personal signatures for these men. James A. Hastin spelled his name with an “i.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (June term)
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of June term) These appear to be personal signatures for these men. It seems that James A. Haston spelled his last name with an “o.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (July term)
131	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of July term) This appears to be a personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P.s – county court (August term)
	Wiley B. Haston’s lane	Reference to a 3rd-class road from Spencer to the mouth of Wiley B. Haston’s lane.
132	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of July term) These appear to be personal signatures for these men. James A. Haston spelled his last name with an “o.”
	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (September term)
133	David Haston James A. Haston	J.P.s – county court (adjournment of September term) These appear to be personal signatures for these men. James A. Haston spelled his last name with an “o.”
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (October term)
	James A. Haston	Resigned as Justice of the Peace from the 3rd district.
134	Arthur Mitchell	Appointed election judge for November 1844 election in 3rd district.
	Thomas C. Haston	Appointed election judge for November 1844 election in 4th district.
	David McHaston	Appointed as constable to serve in the December 1844 court session.
136	David Haston	Chairman of the court.
137	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of the Monday session of the October term) This appears to be the personal signature of David Haston.
	James A. Haston	Reference to the resignation of James A. Haston as coroner.
138	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of October term) This appears to be the personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (November term)
	W.B. Haston’s old place	Reference to W.B. Haston’s “old place” to the NE corner of Robin Gambol’s lane, 2nd class road.
	W.B. Haston	Reference to road from W.B. Haston’s to Bird Wheeling (Wheeler).
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of November term) This appears to be the personal signature of David Haston.
	David Haston	J.P. – county court (December term)
139	David Haston	J.P. – county court (adjournment of December term) This appears to be the personal signature of David Haston.

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Big Fork Cemetery – Repairs and Improvements (August 2025)

Honoring the 389 Local Folks Buried in This 200+ Year Old Graveyard

Haston – Cummings – Stipes – Crawley – Shockley – Moore – Madewell – Denney – Whitley – Creely – Huddleston – Others

Thanks to Jean Ann Haston Hall and her Crew – Rickie and Angel Branscum, Jared Stafford, and Jacob Byford.

Please be patient as the video loads.

Click Circular Arrow Above to View Again.

Key Repairs and Improvements

110' x 70' Parking Area Adjacent to Cemetery

Soil cut 6"-8"down and black material placed on the ground and gravel spread to surface level.

Set the Foundation Stones of the Old Church

From a pile of stones in the corner of the cemetery, assumed to be the foundation stones of the early 1800s log church building.

Northwest Side of Driveway - from Parking

With Haston Row on the left of the driveway, as you head down.

South Side of Driveway

The sod taken from the new parking area was dumped, spread, packed, and covered with straw on the southeast corner of the driveway - beyond the curve.

East Side of Driveway

Notice the cleared and now mowable section between the eastern side of the cemetery and the driveway.

Northeast Wooded Area

Stumps removed and weed eating - LOTS of weed eating done all around the cemetery!

Northeast Driveway - Down to the Gate

A thick layer of additional gravel was added to the entire driveway and entrance area.

Metal on the Hill Above the Fence

To Prevent Washouts in the Entrance Area

Metal Under the Fence Along Double Bridges Road

To Prevent Gravel From Washing into the Ditch

6" x 6" Wood Under the Gate

Gate to the Adjacent Field - to Prevent Washouts in Our Entrance Area

Outside the Fence View of Metal

Thank you, Jean Ann, for applying your years of experience planning fences and roads.

All Washouts Repaired in Entrance Area

Oh, and did you notice? Three coats of stain on the wooden fence!

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1894 – Hastons in the News

1894 - Interesting Facts and Stories About Our Earlier Cousins

This ad appeared frequently in 1890s Missouri newspapers. W.C. (William Carroll) Hastin was the son of Samuel Douthard Hastin, son of Isaac Haston/Hastin, son of Daniel Haston. W.C. was probably named after his father's brother who died in 1845, a few years after the family moved from TN to Greene County, MO. W.C. was a popular attorney in and around Cedar County, MO, as well as a well known Republican leader. In 1901, he moved to Bakersfield, California.

1894, January 5

D.J. (Donald Johnson) Hastin

Cedar County (MO) Republican and Stockton Journal: D.J. Hastin (Donald Johnson Hastin) was the son of John Wesley Hastin and grandson of Isaac Haston/Hastin, Sr. His uncle was Samuel Douthard Hastin. Donald Johnson Hastin was a first cousin of Attorney W.C. Hastin.

David J. Haisten, served as a lieutenant in Hunter’s Regiment of Joseph O. Shelby’s Confederate “Iron Brigade.” He was badly wounded in the January 11, 1863, Battle at Hartville, Missouri, but lived until May 2, 1908.[i]

[i] “David J. Haisten,” Confederate Veteran, XVI (1908), (Nashville, TN: S.A. Cunningham), 415.

1894, January 28

Attorney P.D. Hastain

Sedalia (MO) Democrat: Back in his home county of Benton County, MO, Attorney P.D. Hastain (and his brother-in-law, Judge Shirk) represented Bluford Bybee, of Hastain, MO, in a murder case. Even though the jury was out for 36 hours, they acquitted Bybee of murder.

1894, February 1

W.R. (William Riley) Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: These two young men were arrested in December 1893. They each gave a $500 bond and were set free to await the action of the grand jury.

1894, March 16

Mrs. T.J. Haston

Chariton (MO) Courier: The widow of Thomas Jefferson Haston joined the Keytesville Baptist Church by letter, which indicates she had previously been a member of another Baptist Church.

1894, March 31

Mr. P.D. Hastain

The St. Joseph (MO) Herald: Sometime while P.D. Hastain was running for Mayor of Sedalia, MO, Missouri’s Governor Stone proclaimed that P.D. Hastain had said, “Democrats are only fit for the penitentiary or hell.” Stone’s source was State Treasurer Stephens. Mr. Hastain took issue with the claim and made a visit to the Governor to secure a retraction. The newspapers, of course, loved the controversy and many newspaper articles resulted. I will include just a few of those below.

1894, April 13

(Pleasant Dawson) Hastain

The McFall (MO) Mirror: Pleasant Dawson Hastain, Great-Grandson of Daniel Haston, was elected to be mayor of Sedalia, MO by a margin of 625 votes.

1894, April 22

Mayor P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia (MO) Democrat: When Pleasant Dawson Hastain became mayor of Sedalia, MO, there were 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans on the city council. The mayor claimed that he had a mandate from the citizens to make sweeping changes in the city, so all of his political appointments were Republicans.

1894, April 23

Mayor Hastain

Kansas City (MO) Journal: Newly elected P.D. Hastain kept his campaign promise to close the saloons and shut down gambling in Sedalia, MO.

The Jefferson City (MO) Tribune published an article that applauded what Mayor Hastain was doing, but revealed what a scum-bag town Sedalia was known to be. However, we need to understand that Jefferson City, MO, was the capital city of Missouri and that Sedalia vied to become the capital.

1894, May 11

Pearl Haston

Chariton (MO) Courier: Pearl Haston, daughter of deceased Thomas Jefferson Haston (son of Jesse Haston, Sr.), joined the Keytesville Methodist Church on her confession of faith in Christ. She, along with others, was converted in a recent set of protracted meetings.

1894, May 18

D.L. Haston

The Chattanooga Daily Times: This was D.L. (David Lavander) Haston, son of Isaac T. Haston, whose father was David Haston. D.L. was a Great-Grandson of Daniel Haston. In May 1894, D.L. Haston was appointed to be a congressional committeeman in a Democratic convention. Honorable H.C. Snodgrass, an attorney from Sparta, was nominated for congress in Cleveland, TN at 4:58 a.m., after a continuous session that began at 2:30 p.m. the previous day. It took 435 ballots to decide on a nominee. Note: The Chattanooga Daily Times gives the name as B.L. Haston, but the Knoxville Journal and Tribune got it right–D.L. Haston.

1894, June 23

J.W. (James W.) Hastain

The Clinton (MO) Eye: James W. Hastain (son of John Greene Hastain, son of Daniel McComisky Hastain) set out to find his fortune looking for gold in Altman, a mining camp in the Cripple Creek District, Colorado. He intended to join his brother there. I’m sure the mining strike he mentioned in this article was much worse than he imagined, but he was still living there in 1900, with other members of his family, including his mother.

Altman, CO – Very Interesting

Altman, CO had a central role in the Cripple Creek miners’ strike of 1894. The Western Federation of Miners Local 19 was based in Altman during the strike. This resulted in many violent incidents in and around Altman as deputies hired by the mine owners made their camp above the town on Bull Hill. Altman was known as the “Wickedest Town in Colorado’s Cripple Creek District.”

J.W.’s brother, John Greene Hastain, died in Cripple Creek on September 1, 1904 (or 1905). Grave

1894, July 5

Emma Hastain

Henry County (MO) Democrat: Emma Hastain of Clinton, MO, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W.A. Hastain, married Mr. Thomas Wilson in the M.E. Church, South. The bride’s sister, Miss Bertha Hastain, was the maid of honor.

1894, July 12

Rev. J.B. (Jesse Bascom) Haston

The Gallatin (MO) Democrat: At this time, Rev. J.B. Haston was pastoring the Christian Church in Santa Rosa, CA. Jesse Bascom Haston’s father, William Asbury Haston, passed away, and Jesse Bascom was called home. Apparently, Jesse had been visiting in Missouri and was returning to California when he got the news. William Asbury Haston was a member of one of the most heroic units in the Mexican War.

1894, July 27

Rev. and Mrs. J.B. Haston

Ukiah (CA) Daily Journal: Santa Rosa (CA) Christian Church pastor, Rev. Jesse Bascom Haston, was still in Missouri but was called to serve as the church’s pastor for another year. J.B. and his wife had just adopted a little girl from an orphanage in Belaspur, India, in memory of their child Helen, who died the previous year. They planned for the child to remain in India, to be educated, and then to engage in missionary work there.

Mrs. J.B. Haston’s sister, Miss Olivia Baldwin, had just returned from India, where she had been a church worker for the past five years.

1894, July 27

Pearl Haston

Chariton (MO) Courier: Background – see the August 4, 1893 case. Charles Meeks was charged with sexually assaulting his 13-year-old sister in law, Pearl Haston. Now, nearly a year later, his case went to trial in the Carroll County, MO circuit court. After being out about 24 hours, the jury was discharged, unable to agree. Eight jurors were for acquittal and four for conviction. The case ended in a hung jury.

1894, July 31

William (Carl) Haston

Kansas City (MO) Journal: William Haston (Daniel Haston > Isaac Haston/Hastin > William Carroll Hastin > Oliver Hazard Perry Hastin > William Carl Haston) was living in Kansas City, MO. George Rafert accused William of being too intimate with his wife. In a drunken rage, Rafert threatened to kill his wife, as well as William Haston. Rafert pulled a gun on William, who turned and shot George Rafert. Rafert died, and William and the witnesses to the event claimed the shooting was in self defense.

1894, August 1

William (Carl) Haston

Kansas City (MO) Journal: After the Haston-Rafert shooting incident, it was revealed publicly that William Haston had serious family problems.

1894, August 8

P.D. Hastain

The Sedalia Democrat: An African American (negro) house servant, George Cannon, was caught stealing money from the Hastains. Cannon pleaded guilty to the charge of larceny and was fined $20.

1894, August 30

Isaac S. Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: Jeremiah Haston’s son, Isaac S. Haston (grandson of Daniel Haston), attended the 7th annual reunion of his Union Army unit, Company I. 16th Missouri Cavalry.

1894, September 14

Rev. J.B. Haston

Ukiah (CA) Daily Journal: J.B. Haston was granted a leave of absence until January 1, 1895, on account of health issues. He is described as a “gentleman of broad culture and possessed the faculty of rapidly making friends.” He was the grandson of Jesse Haston, Sr. (of Howard County, MO) and son of William Asbury Haston.

1894, September 19

Joel M. Haston

The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal: Joel M. Haston was appointed to be postmaster in Cummingsville, TN. Joel was a son of Montgomery Greeneville Haston and Rachel Wheeler Haston. Joel’s grandmother on his father’s side, was Mary (Polly) Haston Lewis, daughter of David Haston. Joel was born on February 17, 1863, about five years before his father died. Grave

1894, October 25

Jerry (Jeremiah III) Haston

Buffalo (MO) Reflex: Jerry Haston continued the Haston family’s interest in local Dallas County, MO politics. His line back to Daniel Haston: Daniel Haston > Jeremiah (& Esther Riddles) Haston > Jeremiah M.C. (& Nancy Cooper) Haston > Jerry (& Emeline Sydney Danell or McDaniel) Haston.

1894, November 23

Pearl Haston

Chariton (MO) Courier: “Much to the surprise of many Chariton (MO) County people, Chas. W. Meeks was acquitted of the charge of rape.” Meeks was indicted and tried for an alleged criminal (sexual) assault upon Pearl Haston, his own wife’s 13-year-old sister. A July 1894 trial ended in a hung jury. This second (November 1894) trial resulted in a verdict of “not guilty.” “One remarkable feature of the case was the tenacity with which Mrs. Meeks stuck to her husband all through his trouble.”

Pearl “is now living in Keytesville with her widowed mother, Mrs. T.J. (Thomas Jefferson) Haston.” T.J. Haston was the son of Jesse Haston, Sr., and therefore, a grandson of Daniel Haston.

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Claire Aufrance – Historical Achievement

Claire has been a member of the Daniel Haston Family Association Core Leadership Team from the beginning of the association.

One day, 20+ years ago, I received an email from Claire which said something like this, “I am a descendant of Jeremiah Haston, who was the son of Daniel Haston.” And she had documentation to substantiate the claim. Wow, what exciting news! The records Claire had inherited from some of her Haston-line ancestors, plus research-based suspicions by Carol Haston (and later, DNA evidence provided by Howard and Carol Haston’s son, Nate), proved that Daniel had a son named Jeremiah. Eventually the three of us were able to develop a large chapter about Jeremiah Haston and his family, including the identification of all of his children. -Wayne Haston