THOMAS BASTIAN, a farmer, stock-raiser, and miner of East Galena Township, owns and lives on a good farm of 100 acres, which is well-improved, and on which there are good buildings, and there he has made his home since 1841, although sometimes absent for months at a time while engaged at his business of mining. He has been a resident of the county since 1840. He is a native of the Parish of Crowan, in Cornwall County, England, born July 21, 1818, of Cornish parentage. His father, John Bastian, was a miner, and he was a son of John Bastian, Sr., who was a native of the same county and lived on a farm there all his life-time; dying when quite an old man. His wife, who was a Miss Eurin, also died in that county at an advanced age.

John Bastian, the father of our subject, early in life became a miner, following that business all his life-time in his native county. He was the eldest of five sons and three daughters, and was married to Jane Halman, likewise a native of the Parish of Crowan, of an old Cornish stock. They began their married life as farmers in their native parish, and there all of their family were born, and eight – four sons and four daughters – grew to maturity. Seven of these are now living, all in this county, and all married.

Our subject, who was the third son and fifth child of his parents, lived at home until he was twenty-two years old, when, with his elder brother Stephen, he came to America, embarking at Falmouth, England, in the sailing-vessel “Royal Adelaide,” and after a voyage of some weeks landed in New York City, going thence to Philadelphia, Pa., and from there across the country, and by canal and lake to the Ohio River, and down that stream to the Mississippi, going up the latter to Galena, where they arrived in May, 1840. When his parents and the rest of the family came to this country they took the same route to Galena. The brothers at once turned their attention to mining, and the following year purchased a claim of 160 acres on section 12, East Galena Township, on a part of which our subject now lives, and which was the abiding-place of the entire family when not engaged in mining. Here the parents both died, the father in 1867, at the age of eighty-four years; the mother died in 1858, when seventy-one years old. Both were pious people and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in a belief in which doctrine they educated their children. They acquired many warm friends in Jo Daviess County, and were highly respected.

Thomas Bastian, the subject of this sketch, had been reared to his father’s calling of miner, and on his arrival in America at once took steps to become an adopted citizen and to make plans to bring over to this country his parents and the rest of the family. As already intimated, this was successfully accomplished; the entire family being reunited in this country. He worked industriously at mining in this county for some time, afterward going to Grant County, Wis., on his own account. In 1847 he went to the copper mines in the Lake Superior region, and worked in the mines there for about a year. In the year 1851, in company with his brother-in-law, John Fiddick, and others, he set out for the Golden State overland across the plains, arriving at Hangtown, now Placerville, Cal., in August of the same year. There he remained for about four months, when he went to the diggings on the Feather River, where he remained for some time, working with some success; later, he went to Nelson Creek, and, having mined in all about a year in California, he returned to his home in this county by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York. Since his return he has been engaged in mining and farming, and has been successful in both, and is known as a good, practical man and a loyal citizen.

Our subject has been twice married. His first wife was Emma Richards, born in Cornwall, England, about 1833, and who came when a young woman to America with her brother-in-law, Richard Ford. She at once found a home in this county, and here lived until her death, which occurred about three years after her marriage. She left two children, one of whom, Mamie, died at the age of six years; the other, Emma, is the wife of Thomas Hughlett. The present wife of Mr. Bastian was Miss Ann Burton, born in East Galena in 1841, and a daughter of Robert and Catherine (Latham) Burton. The father was a native of Derbyshire, England, who came to America when a young man. About the time of his marriage he was mate on a river-boat, and, when at Cincinnati, Ohio, became acquainted with his wife, who was born and reared in that city. After his marriage Robert Burton and wife came to this county, and later removed to Jackson County, Iowa, where the mother died. Robert subsequently returned to East Galena Township, and there he died in 1870. He had been a river man, a smelter and a miner, and was fairly successful in all.

Mrs. Ann Bastian was reared and educated in this county, and here lived until her marriage; she is the mother of nine children – Ernest, Hortense, and an infant unnamed being deceased. The survivors are: Fred, employed in the telegraph office at Indianapolis, and married to Miss Rosa B. Lyons, of that place; Herbert D., a resident of Kansas, traveling in that State in the employ of an electric light company; Thomas, also living in the West; and Della, Agnes A., and Ida M. at home. Mr.and Mrs. Bastian are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are looked upon as excellent members of society. Politically, he is a stanch Republican.

Transcribed & Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889), p. 615