Charles & Sarah Bastian – Fairmount Cemetery, Hodgeman, Kansas

Charles “Charley” Bastian was born in1862 in Illinois. He was the 4th of five children born to Charles and Catherine Bechler Bastian. Both of his parents were born in France and emigrated to America. After their marriage in 1854, the family settled in Illinois.

Charley came to Kansas in 1883 and purchased a quarter section of land on the north edge of Offerle. He made the move by train, bringing with him in a boxcar his livestock, farm machinery, and household furnishings. A short time later his sister, Minnie, joined him.

Charley met his future wife, Sarah Clore while living in Offerle. She was born in Illinois in 1865 and had come west with her family. Their wedding day was December 6, 1886 in Offerle. Shortly after their marriage, Charley received a homestead permit in Benton Twp., Hodgeman County.

Their first home was part dugout and part soddy. The first three children, Ida, Charles, and Cecil were born there. In 1896, the family moved into a frame house. Part of their new home was moved from old Kalvesta which was being abandoned because the railroad did not come through the area. The remaining four children were born in Hodgeman County.

With Sarah being in poor health, she and Charley moved to Dodge City in 1917. Sarah passed away on March 31, 1920. She is buried in Fairmount Cemetery. According to a family story, Charley enjoyed sitting on the ledge of the Carnegie Center and pass the time. He died on the 4th of November 1950 and is buried next to this wife.

Note: The book Dodge City & Ford County, KS 1870-1920 Pioneer Histories & Stories – Ford County Historical Society – 1997 was instrumental in telling this story.