Biography of Samuel Irvin Bast

SAMUEL IRVIN BAST

Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 159.

Surnames: Bast, Boyer, Levan, Focht, Krommes, Reber, Reed, Coldren, Dewes

Samuel Irvin Bast – One of the leading figures in the development of
the prosperity of the county through the growth and progress of his
business concern, Samuel Irvin Bast, as president of the firm of J. F.
Bast & Sons, Inc., is a prominent figure in the business world of this
section. But he is more than a business man, and has done service to
his community in various lines of advance, being an active worker in
the civic life, as well as in various fraternal organizations and in
church activities. Mr. Bast comes of an old American family who have
been established in Pennsylvania since Colonial days, his
great-great-grandfather having been a pioneer settler in Maxatawny
Township, Berks County, where he lived and died. He was of Jewish
origin. His family consisted of twelve sons and one daughter, and one
of his sons, Gideon, became a resident of Schuylkill Haven, where he
became a well known citizen. Another son was Jacob Bast, of whom
further.

Jacob Bast, the great-grandfather of Mr. Bast, was born in Maxatawny
Township and was a farmer by occupation. Both he and his wife, whose
maiden name was Boyer, died at Hamburg, Berks County. Their children
were: William; Henry, of whom further; and Isabella, who married John
Levan.

Henry Bast, grandfather of Mr. Bast, was born September 24, 1820, at
Macedonia, Berks County, and died May 18, 1892, at Pottsville,
Pennsylvania. He learned the trade of carpenter, and lived for some
time at Hamburg, Berks County, where he built the present station of
the Philadelphia & Reading Company, at West Hamburg. In 1851 he came
to Schuylkill County, and lived in different locations in the southern
section for a number of years, part of this time on a farm near
Schuylkill Haven. There he remained until 1879, following his trade of
carpentry, and contractor also, and then removed to Pottsville. As the
years advanced and he found the work of his trade becoming too arduous,
he opened a notion and grocery store on Laurel Street, in Pottsville,
and carried this on until his death. He is buried in the Union
Cemetery at Schuylkill Haven. He served throughout the Civil War in
the Union Army, and in his politics he was for many years a Democrat,
but his sympathy with the objects of the Prohibition Party led him to
affiliate himself with this party in later years. He was a consistent
member of the Evangelical Church. He married Esther Focht, who was
born July 22, 1822, and died January 31, 1890, and they were the
parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, among the
former being Jeremiah F., of whom further.

Jeremiah F. Bast, father of Samuel Irvin Bast, was born October 13,
1841, at Rockland, Berks County, Pennsylvania. His education was
obtained in the subscription schools that existed in his day, and when
he reached the age of seventeen years, he began to learn the trade of
carpenter with his father, and continued in that calling for a period
of twenty-eight years. During part of this time he was foreman in the
employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company. In the meantime he also
had started a dairy business, to provide occupation for his growing
sons, and helped in carrying it on for a period of eleven years,
successfully. In 1889 he commenced the business that has since been
the chief interest of his family: he built a small mill in that year at
Schuylkill Haven, equipping it with the most up-to-date machinery for
the manufacture of cotton, woolen, worsted and silk goods; but the
business gradually resolved itself into the manufacture of knit goods
only, the product being ladies’ cotton underwear. As the establishment
began to prosper, Mr. Bast used the profits to add to its equipment and
to enlarge the accommodations and facilities, and the business had a
natural development, expanding as the trade demanded, until it has
become one of the most important in the county. Mr. Bast wisely
trained his sons to assist him in the business, and in 1911, at its
incorporation, his son, Samuel Irvin Bast, was made its president,
having for five years previously had charge of the concern. Great
credit belongs to Mr. Bast for the substantial basis on which he
founded this business, for his courage in undertaking it, and his faith
in the possibilities of it, and his foresight was well rewarded, as is
demonstrated by the fact that he was the first knitting-mill owner in
Schuylkill County, and the second between this location and
Philadelphia, the first having been at Kutztown, in Berks County. The
ability that Mr. Bast displayed from the beginning in the conduct of
his mill has been recognized in business circles, and he has the
confidence of all with whom he was in any way associated. As his
interests widened he took on new responsibilities, and he became one of
the organizers of the First National Bank of Schuylkill Haven, of which
he was one of the original directors, and served for many years on that
board. He also helped in various local organizations that stood for
the progress of the section, contributing towards the erection of
several churches; he was a prominent member of the Evangelical Church
at Schuylkill Haven, and gave generously to its support, serving the
congregation also in many capacities, having held the offices of
steward, trustee and treasurer. He was deeply interested in the public
schools, and served efficiently as one of the school directors. He
also was a member of the Borough Council. In his politics, he was a
Republican. He was deeply interested in all matters that were for the
general good and welfare, and he had well earned the title of one of
the most valuable citizens of the borough. He died in December, 1918,
having lived well beyond the allotted “three score years and ten,” and
the heritage that he left in his honorable name, that is held in the
esteemed memory of his fellows, was not the least of his bestowals.

Jeremiah F. Bast married (first) January 1, 1863, Susanna Krommes,
daughter of David and Lovina Krommes, who died with her daughter in
1864. He married (second) June 6, 1865, Sarah Reber, daughter of
Samuel and Elizabeth (Reed) Reber, and they were the parents of seven
sons, of whom the third was Samuel Irvin, of whom further.

Samuel Irvin Bast, son of Jeremiah F. and Sarah (Reber) Bast, was
born February 21, 1871, at Schuylkill Haven, and received his education
in the public schools of his native town. In 1888 he entered the
business of his father, and learned the industry from the bottom up,
working his way through various departments until he knew the workings
of the entire plant. He was in charge of the business for five years
before he became a member of the firm, in 1911, when it was
incorporated as J. F. Bast & Sons, Inc., and he became the president of
the organization, which office he continues to hold today (1925). The
business was incorporated by four of the brothers and their father, on
May 12, 1911, the officers being: Samuel Irvin Bast, president; W. M.
Bast, vice-president; T. F. Bast, secretary; and the father, J. F.
Bast, treasurer. For a number of years the establishment had been
known as the Royal Knitting Mills, but since this organization was
effected, it has been known as above designated. Under this able and
capable guidance, the business has grown to be among the largest in the
county, Samuel Irvin Bast retaining his presidency throughout, as well
as being general director, and practically in entire charge of the
policy and management of the establishment. On the death of the father
in 1918, the treasurership passed to the son, Homer J. Bast. The
concern manufactures today all kinds of cotton and silk underwear for
women and children, and they employ a force of over a hundred people,
steadily at work in the various branches of the industry. They employ
but two traveling salesmen, however, who have been with the firm ever
since it was established in 1888, but so well known has this industry
become, that its goods are in demand over a large market and area.

Mr. Bast has proved himself a splendid executive, and has not
confined his energy alone to his business, but takes active part in the
public life of his community. He is a director of the Schuylkill Haven
State Bank, and has served on the Schuylkill Haven Board of Education
since 1898, and is today its treasurer. He is a prominent member of
the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a trustee,
and served also for a number of years as treasurer of the Sunday
School. He has been chief of Liberty Hose Company, No. 4, of
Schuylkill Haven, and in his fraternal affiliation he is a member of
the Junior Order United American Mechanics; of the Royal Arcanum; the
Knights of Malta; and others. In his political faith, Mr. Bast is a
Republican. It was owing to the activities of the Bast Brothers in
connection with Harry Shoemaker, and through their devoted efforts,
that Liberty Hose Company No. 4 acquired its fine quarters, the
building having been erected at the cost of $4,000, the company having
been organized in 1909, and having today a membership of about
sixty-five. Mr. Bast is indefatigable in his service for the progress
and welfare of the locality, and he is one of the prominent citizens of
his district who is held in the highest esteem by his fellows.

Samuel Irvin Bast married, February 21, 1893, at Schuylkill Haven,
Jennie Coldren, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dewes) Coldren, and
they are the parents of six children: Lester Samuel; Hazel Elizabeth;
May Dewes; Harold Jeremiah; Ethel Coldren; and Christine Coldren.