Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
JOHN H. HASTEN. Everyone, in addition to his ordinary workaday life, whether it be professional, political, commercial, or one of manual labor, by which he earns his daily bread, needs to have something aside from his material existence to which he can turn for relaxation. If he is to escape the limitations of a humdrum, commonplace, provincial, and narrow existence, he must build for himself a home in the realm of the ideal. Thus he will be able to escape when he wishes from the ordinary environment of business or professional life and become a citizen of the world, living in a sense a life as wide as that of humanity. John H. Hasten, president of the Springfield Bakery Company and for many years a well known business man of this city, is one who knows the value of good ideals--an intellectual abode, and thus he is not only a successful man of affairs but is a citizen who is highly appreciated by those who know him.
Mr. Hasten is a worthy representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of Greene county, and his birth occurred in Cass township, in the northern part of this county, on August 27, 1869. He is a son of Isaac N. Hasten, also a native of that vicinity, where he grew to manhood, attended the district schools and engaged successfully in farming many years, later in life locating in the village of Cave Spring, not far from the Hasten homestead and there he engaged in general mercantile pursuits for a period of twelve or fifteen years, enjoying a large trade with the surrounding locality, dealing honestly and courteous with his many customers and carrying a large and well selected general stock of goods at all seasons. Finally he removed to Springfield and engaged in the retail grocery business on West Commercial street with his usual success until his death about five years later, in July, 1897, at the age of fifty-seven years. He was not only a capable business man but an influential citizen and active in public affairs. For a period of nearly twenty years he served Cass township as justice of the peace in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of the people, his decisions being characterized by a uniform fairness and sound principles of jurisprudence. He was also a member of the school board in his district and was a great advocate of good education, doing much to encourage better schools in his part of the county. Politically, he was a Republican. During the Civil war he enlisted in this county in the Forty-sixth Missouri Cavalry and saw three and one-half years of faithful and commendable service for the Union, proving a gallant and intelligent soldier.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was known in her maidenhood as Mary Jennings, who was born on August 22, 1850, in Neosho, Missouri.
Mrs. Mary Hasten, our subject's mother, is still living, now at an advanced age, and makes her home with her son, John H., of this sketch, who is the youngest of her three children, her daughter being Docia, who married Joseph B. Wilson, a farmer and stock raiser of Cass township; the eldest child, William, died in infancy.
John H. Hasten grew to manhood on the home farm in Cass township and there he worked when a boy. He received his education in the district schools of his community and in Morrisville College in Polk county, later attending Drury College, Springfield, and finally took a business course in this city. When nineteen years of age he went into business with his father and helped manage the grocery store on Commercial street which was a success from the start. He was in partnership with his father and upon the latter's death he bought out the heirs and continued to conduct the store until 1901 when he sold out to South Brothers, and engaged in the grocery and seed business on East Commercial street, in partnership with R. A. Fisher under the firm name of Hasten & Fisher. They continued successfully until 1907 when our subject sold out, having other business interests which took the major portion of his time. In 1905, with others, he organized the Springfield Bakery Company, of which he has since been president and he has been the principal spirit in building up one of the largest, best equipped and popular bakeries in the Southwest. Further mention of this industry is made on another page.
Mr. Hasten was married on August 28, 1891, to Josie N. Lee, a daughter of Robert and Ruth (Watson) Lee. Mr. Lee was a successful farmer of Cass township, Greene county, where Mrs. Hasten was born, grew to womanhood and educated. Later Mr. Lee moved to California and engaged in the vineyard and fruit raising business.
Fraternally, Mr. Hasten is a member of the Masonic order, including all branches, such as the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Order of Eastern Star; he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Court of Honor. He was a member of the school board of Cass township for two years. Religiously he belongs to the Baptist church, to which his wife also belongs, and in which he was formerly trustee and is now deacon. He is active in church work.
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