52 Ancestors 2021: Week 18: Crime & Punishment

I, like everyone else, probably have more than one ancestor I could write about for "crime and punishment." My paternal Grandmother went to jail a time or two, but, I don't like to muddy her name more than its already been muddy. Even my parents have been to jail for a weekend in their younger years for this and that. 

One interesting story I stumbled upon back when I first was playing with newspapers.com back in 2018...

This appeared in the Mt. Sterling Advocate newspaper on September 29th, 1891. Frank Bastin, or rather, Franklin Payton Bastin, was my Great-Great-Grandfather. 

Frank was born on August 5th, 1878, in Lincoln County, Kentucky, to Martin Stimmons Bastin and Sarah Jane Brown. The post says Frank Bastin was twelve years old -- but he had actually already had his thirteenth birthday by September 29th. 

I believe Frank left Lincoln County and never looked back. By October 17th, 1895, he married in Campbell County, TN, to Miss Ilena "Lena" Singleton. In the 1900 census, they're living in Laurel County, KY. Then they make the move in about 1905 or 1906 to Muhlenberg County, KY, where my Great-Grandmother, Edith, was born in 1908. 

I'm not sure if Frank Bastin left Lincoln County before he could ever go to court -- or perhaps because Joe Henry lived, they told him to just "get the hell out of dodge," if you will. Joe Henry, according to death certificates, lived to be 69 years old -- dying in 1941. Cause of death appears to be diabetes. 

Regardless, had Frank not left Lincoln County, KY... I may not be here today had this incident not occurred. Surely this incident and his leaving Lincoln County is how he met Ilena Singleton -- as she hailed from Rockcastle County, KY. Perhaps Rockcastle County is where Frank ended up after leaving Lincoln.. Then they married in TN and set up their first house in Laurel County.. but then continued heading west to Muhlenberg. 

Frank and Lena had eleven children together -- four that died as young infants. Frank was the first to pass away on January 15th, 1954, in Central City, KY. He was 75 years old and succumbed to diabetes. Lena followed him in death on May 18th, 1958, in Central City. She was 78 years old and succumbed to pancreatic cancer (or rather, on the death cert. "probable carcinoma of the head of pancreas.")

One thing is for sure.. Frank Bastin lived an exciting life; one that I wish I could hear more stories about, but unfortunately it seems, he took most of his stories to his grave with him. My Granddad (his grandson) didn't even know about him stabbing someone at thirteen years old, so it's obviously something Frank didn't like to talk about. Aren't those always the best stories for us genealogists? The juicy gossip kind. 

If you ever get down to Central City, KY; stop by Rose Hill Cemetery and pay him and Ilena a visit, will you? Maybe he'll be willing to share a story or two from his childhood or early teen years with you.