Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Obituaries: Ba

John William Bastin, 1938

J.W. Bastin dies at home Sunday of complications

Funeral services at Central City Christian Church; Burial at Stanford, Ky.

John William Bastin died at 11:20 o'clock Sunday night folloiwng two months illness of complications, at his home on Center Street, this city.

John William Bastin was the son of James Dickinson and Mary Hill Bastin, and was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, on September 18, 1862. He attended the Lincoln county public schools and Transylvania College in Lexington, where he took a business course. Returning to Lincoln County Mr. Bastin accepted employment as clerk in Bruce-Warren's store for a short while, leaving January 22, 1883, for the newly opened coal fields at Pittsburg, in Laurel County, to enter the employ of the Laurel Coal Company. He advanced quickly, becoming general manager and a principal stockholder in the company, which was one of the biggest operations in Pittsburg at the time. As the company's coal was beginning to be worked out, Mr. Bastin shifted his interest to Muhlenberg county, establishing the Nelson Creek Coal Company there in 1907. He retained his interest in the Laural Coal Company, however, until it was worked out and made periodical trips there where his family remained until 1914. They moved to Lexington for a year, and to Central City in 1915, where they have since made their home.

Mr. Bastin, in addition to being the principal stockholder and general manager of the Nelson Creek Coal Company had many other business interests in Western Kentucky, being president of the Charleston Collier at Dawson Springs. At the time of his death he was vice president of the First National Bank of Central City. He had been a coal operator, actively looking after the business, over a period of fifty-five years, being present at the Nelson mine of September 13, 1938.

Early in life Mr. Bastin had joined the Christian Church and when he decided to consider Central City his home he organized his church members and impressed upon them the necessity for a better house of worship, the result of which is the handsome church building located on Broad Street, which, but for his efforst would never have been built. Of this First Christian Church he was a most faithful member; when its doors opened for services of any kind, Mr. Bastin was present, and for a half block his voice could be heard in the choir singing the hymns he loved so well. When the funds in the church treasury would run low and be insufficient to meet any kind of expense, it was his check that made up the deficit.

Mr. Bastin was married January 12, 1886, to Miss Jennie Napier of Lincoln County, and to this union two children were born, Arthur, who died in infancy, and Kate, who is now Mrs. E.C. Purvis of Central City.

He is also survived by his three grandsons, Messrs. John Bastin Harvey, Lee Givens Harvey and Edwin Harvey, and by one brother, S. L. Bastin of Lexington, Ky., and by seven sisters: Mrs. Lillian Baer, of Baraboo, Wis.; Mesdames Margaret Boone, Maude Dawes and James Hiatt, of Highland; Mrs. Etta Dunavent, of Muncie, Ind.; Mrs. Walter Hall, of Omaha, Neb., and Mrs. Bessie Williams, of Muncie, Ind. All of his grandchildren are located in Central City, and were associated with him in the coal business.

Mr. Bastin's passing has indeed left a vacancy that is difficult at this time to fill. First, a good citizen, much interested in the progress of his home town; a kind, just and devoted employer to his men; a good Christian who lived his religion seven days in the week, a good financier who gave graciously and generously to those not so well off as he was in the goods of this world, and last, the greatest perfect husband, father and grandfather. Central City bowed its head and mourned as John William Bastin was carried away to the last resting place beside his father and mother.

His funeral was held at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning from the First Christian Church, Central City, preached by his pastor, Rev. C.C. England, assisted by Rev. Elbert Winkler. The remains were taken to Stanford and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon were buried in the family lot in Buffalo Springs cemetery, followed short services at the grave.

Active pallbearers: Deacons of the First Christian Church: Roy Wright, Ashton Wright; Granger Simpson; S.O. Maples, Parker Browning and Garland Geary. Honorary pallbearers: All coal operators of Muhlenberg county: E.W. Holt, B.B. Holt, J.A. Smith, J.E. Moore, F.T. Wallace, Ed Hoodenpyle, George Taylor, W.W. Bridges, E.G. Benson, J.A. Crabtree.

Source: Times-Argus [Central City, KY], 2 Dec 1938.

Updated April 5, 2024.

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