Week 8 "Family Photo"

Conrad & Sarah Jane (Castleman) Kaster
Conrad Kaster: Born 1827 Kentucky Died 1900 Missouri
Sarah Jane Castleman: Born 1832 Kentucky Died 1917 Missouri
Married 30 October 1851 in Kentucky

A few years ago my cousin on my dad's side made contact with some distant cousins doing family research and they became fast friends. In the summer of 2016 my mom and I made a trip to east Missouri to meet up with these new cousins. We too became fast friends!! While we were on this trip we all wanted to go to the Schuyler Co. Historical society to do some digging on some relatives. I had never been to the museum but had been to the town many many times. It's a fabulous museum for the small size of the town and county it resides in. The historical society does an amazing job of keeping it up and helping out anyone who's doing research. 

While doing some digging we came across this article donated to the Museum by Mrs. Edith Alexander Dufur describing my 4x great grandfathers house in Schuyler Co.

"An Ancient Landmark Has Passed into Oblivion."

The Kaster house, known by almost everyone in Schuyler County at least. It was the home of Conrad and Sarah Jane Castleman Kaster and their family of 16 children. Conrad was born in Hardin, Co, Kentucky on January 26, 1827 and died May 7, 1900. 

When a young man, with 2 or 3 others, rode horses west from Kentucky seeking good farming land. When they reached the land what is east of what is now Queen City (Missouri), they rode through the bluegrass almost as high as the horses backs and prairie chickens and quail were everywhere; also pheasants. Mr Kaster said, "This is God's country, let us look no farther." So they entered land from the US government and began plans for a settlement. 

Conrad returned to Kentucky, married his childhood sweetheart and came to what is now Schuyler Co. to begin a life in a virgin land. A log cabin sufficed at first. The lumber was brought from as far as Quincy, Illinois, by horse and wagon to build the large 2 story, 8 room house, much like a Kentucky mansion in design. 

Mr Kaster became a race horse breeder and farmed extensively. He built a race track on his own farm which was the focal gathering point for the young men on Sunday afternoons. 

In this family were born 4 sets of twins. The first issue were still-born twins. One smaller Florence died at about 2 and a half years of age. The parents were survived by 35 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren. They lived on the same farm continuously for 45 years and at present (no date give) is owned by a relative. 

By religious belief they were Baptist, being members of the South Prairie Baptist Church, located on their farm and which they helped build. Memorial services for Conrad Kaster were conducted by J. A. Minter and services for "Granny" Kaster were conducted by Rev. TB Ritzinger on March 29, 1917. The Meyers Cemetery was chosen for their last resting place. 

The fine old Kaster House was unoccupied for several years and was obliterated in 1981 by a planned fire.

After reading that article we had so hoped we could have seen a photo of the house. It apparently was known by many around. But we left empty handed.

Fast forward to the next year about the same time. Myself and the same cousins all met up again for a special celebration the museum was having. They were doing different demonstrations and giving talks and we wanted to do more research. The lady in charge of the museum happened to over hear one of the family names we were discussing, Kaster, and she said "Oh I think there's a Kaster photo somewhere around here hanging on the wall." My cousin and I got all excited and set out looking for this photo. 

SURE ENOUGH!!!! Hanging on the wall as your going up the staircase was the photo above with a note by it saying "Conrad Kaster family in front of the family home". My cousin and I were, to say the least, THRILLED!!!! We asked if we could take the photo down and make copies and take photos of it. Luckily we were able too!!

It was so amazing to come back and actually find a photo of not only the house but of the WHOLE FAMILY!!!! Talk about a wonderful surprise. It was so nice to have the photo and the article to go with it and it's one of my favorite "Family Photos" that I have of my ancestors. 

Conrad and Sarah Jane Kaster are my 4x Great grandparents on my dad's mom's dad's side of the family. 

Here is a photo of Conrad and Sarah Jane with their child Elizabeth. 

Another family photo of the Kasters 

A land grant record of purchasing his land 

Conrad & Sarah Jane's grave in Meyer's Cemetery 

My Connection:

Conrad & Sarah Jane Kaster

Philip Kaster 3x Great grandfather

Maude Kaster Ertel 2x Great grandmother

William Ertel Great Grandfather

My Grandma

My Dad

Me

"Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. We make discoveries about ourselves."  ~Gail Lumet Buckley