From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 675

Allen Fast, Sheriff of Steuben County, Ind., was born in Ashland County, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1845, a son of Christian and Henrietta (Sowle) Fast, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of New York. They went to Ohio in early life and were there married. In 1852 they moved to Steuben County and purchased land in Pleasant Township. The mother died in 1859. They had a family of eight children, six born in Ohio and two in Steuben County-- Joseph, Rosanna, Allen, Eli, Mary, Rachel, John (deceased) and Henrietta. The father afterward married Rhoda Wells, and to them were born three children-- Ira, Orla and Laura. Allen Fast has been a resident of Steuben County since seven years of age. He was educated in this county, attending school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer. He has always taken an interest in the welfare of the county, and in 1878 was elected to the office of Township Trustee and served four years. In 1882 he was elected Sheriff of the county and in 1884 was re-elected. He is a man of superior business ability and transacts the duties of his office on sound business principles. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 239, and has served as Noble Grand several times. He has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of Indiana four times. Mr. Fast was married in 1864 to Julia A. Sowle, who died in 1866, leaving one son, Curtiss. She was a woman of rare intellect, a daughter of Isaac and Ann Marietta Sowle. In 1869 Mr. Fast married Emma, daughter of Asa and Emily Gaskell. They have four children-- Stanley, Frederick, Ethie and May.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com