My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS W. BAST. Among the clever and progressive young business men of Sedalia is this gentleman, who is meeting with splendid success as architect and supervisor of the buildings he has planned. His abilities have been recognized by the people of this place and his services are in constant demand. Though his residence here covers less than five years, he has designed over one hundred and fifty buildings within the city limits.

Mr. Bast was born in Wright City, Warren County, Mo., October 16, 1863, and is a son of David A. and Margaret (Williams) Bast. The father, who was born in Kentucky, learned the carpenter’s trade, and in 1857 moved to Wright City, Mo., where he engaged in contracting and building. In 1881 he settled in Fulton, this state, where he continued in the same pursuits until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1893, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife was born in Warren County, Mo., and died in 1865, leaving a son and two daughters.

Until he was eighteen years of age, our subject lived in the city of his birth, and was educated in its public schools. Under his father’s instruction he learned the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for nine years steadily. In 1881 he went to Texas for one year, being employed in Dallas, and also assisted in the building of the court house at Graham. Becoming desirous of further qualifying himself, he went to St. Louis, where he studied architecture in a night school, in the mean time working at his trade during the day in order to meet his expenses. On becoming master of the art of architecture, he wisely selected Sedalia as his first field of employment in this direction, and the success which has attended him is well merited.

January 23, 1889, Mr. Bast was married, in Warsaw, Mo., to Katie, daughter of Rev. James D. Steele, late of Warrensburg, and a minister in the United Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Bast was born in Galesburg, Ill., and by her marriage has become the mother of three children: Steele, Mary and T. W., Jr. Mr. Bast is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is a Steward in the congregation.

Socially our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, being Past Prelate of that order. He is also connected with Sedalia Lodge No. 1, R. T. of J., and is a Modern Woodman of America. In his political convictions he is a believer in the principles advocated by the Democratic party.