Benjamin  Kaster


          Benjamin Kaster, one of the earliest settlers of Shelby County, was born February 17, 1791 and came from Ohio in March, 1819.  He married  Priscilla Brock  while in Ohio.  They were the parents of fifteen children, as follows:  William,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Jackson,  Patsy,  Benjamin,  Nancy,  Polly,  Rebecca,  Cynthia,  Samuel,  John,  James,  Francis,  and  Lewis.  Benjamin was a man of no education, but a sturdy, strong pioneer, a great hunter, and during the first year's residence in this county, killed 100 deer.  He died January 10, 1857.  His wife was born March 16, 1796, and died September 24, 1865.  Of the children there are five yet surviving, four sons and one daughter.  William was born April 16, 1814 in Ohio.  He remained with and assisted his parents, until he attained his majority.  He received no education.  There were no schools for several years after they settled in the county, but the county was a wilderness of woods, and he was compelled to assist in clearing and farming.  May, 1837, his marriage with  Matilda Davis  was solemnized, and their union was blessed with one child:  Hiram, who married  Mary E. Fornian.  He died January 5, 1873.  Their union was of a comparative short duration, she died June 10, 1840.  April 10, 1842, his and  Margaret A. (Hines) Davis' nuptials were celebrated.  Mr. Kaster has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful.  He now owns over 1,100 acres of well improved land.  In politics he has always been a Democrat.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, "Hendricks Sketches", pp. 706-7, Brant & Fuller, Chicago, 1887.
Contributed by Sharon Rensberger 

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