JONATHAN MARION FAST.—One of the enterprising business factors
of Brazil, Indiana, is a native of Ohio, born in Ashland county, May 16,
1839, son of George and Sarah (Brink) Fast, both of whom were born
in Pennsylvania in 1807. The father died in Ashland county, Ohio, in
1889 on July 4. The mother died in the same county and state in 1878,
aged seventy-two years. This worthy couple were the parents of eight
children, five of whom still survive. They are as follows: William, living
in Ohio; Jonathan M., of this memoir; Hannah, wife of Abraham Myers,
residing in Ohio; Dellia, wife of James Tuttle, now a resident of Michi-
gan; George, also resides in Michigan. The paternal grandparents, Chris-
tian and Barbara Fast, were early settlers in Ohio, and George, father of
Jonathan M., spent his life in Ohio, following farming for his livelihood.
He owned a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres. He was fond of
good horses and kept many. He cleared up a farm from out the forest
and became a well-to-do man. Politically, he was an old line Whig and
later upon the formation of the Republican party, supported that, but
neversought or held public office. He was a consistent member of the
Christian church.
    Christian Fast, the grandfather, was taken prisoner by the Indians
when but sixteen years of age, but finally made his escape from them and
while swimming the river and in mid-stream, he saw the Indians on the
opposite shore, so he simply floated down stream—which was the Ohio—
but was finally recaptured by the Indians. He was then adopted into an
Indian family and held for eighteen months, but at the time over five
hundred Indians started out to capture Fort Wheeling, he made good his
escape. Subsequently, he married in Pennsylvania and removed to Ash-
land county, Ohio, where he took up government land upon which tract
he built a log cabin. He was among the early pioneers of Ohio, and many
years later, a son of the Indian who had adopted him, found him in Ohio
and made him an offer of all the land he could walk around in a day, if
he would return to the tribe to which lie belonged, but of course this
seemingly liberal offer, made in good faith upon the Indian’s part, was
not accepted.
    Jonathan M. Fast spent his youthful days in Ohio and in 1872 came
to Indiana, locating at Brazil, where he engaged in the bakery and con-
fectionery business, with William Shannon. This firm carried on an
extensive and profitable business up to the date of the death of Mr. Shan-
non, after which the widow retained her interest up to November 27, 1907,
when Mr. Fast purchased her interest. The subject is now numbered
among the oldest business men of Brazil and bears the good will and
respect of the entire community in which he has traded for so many years.
Politically, he is a staunch Republican. He has served the city as mem-
her of the council for six years and has always been interested in the
welfare of his home city and county.. He is a member of the Brazil
Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 30; also belongs to Lodge No. 762, Benev-
olent and Protective Order of Elks.
In the month of April, 1867 he was united in marriage to Frances
V.  Shannon, in Ashland county, Ohio, in which county she was born in
1845; she died in September, 1905. Her parents were both natives of
Ohio. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fast were: Elza D., and
William.