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         HERMAN GAST, a miller of Grand View, Louisa Co., Iowa, was born in Germany, in 1844, and is a son of Frederick and Emelia Gast, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. When but a lad he emigrated to America with his parents, who first settled in New York, but came to Iowa in 1855. On the 18th of January, 1870, the marriage of Herman Gast and Miss Sarah E. Steinman, of Grand View, was celebrated. The lady was born in Berlin, Erie Co., Ohio, in 1845, and is a daughter of Philip and Margaret (Buster) Steinman, both of whom were natives of Germany, but in early life emigrated to America, settling in Ohio, where they remained until they moved to Iowa. Mr. Steinman engaged in farming for some time, but afterward became a miller. They had a family of ten children, four boys and six girls.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gast have been born an interesting family of four children: Farrie, Margaret, Rush and Ora, all of whom are at home. Mrs. Gast is a member of the Evangelical Church, of Grand View. Socially, Mr. G. is a member of the G. A. R. When the late war broke out he responded to his country’s call for troops, enlisting in August, 1862, as a member of the 19th Iowa Infantry. He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, where he . . .

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. . . was wounded in the left shoulder and also in the right hip, was under fire for many days at the siege of Vicksburg, took part in the capture of Spanish Fort, and was also engaged in numerous minor skirmishes. After three years’ hard fighting upon the Southern battle-fields, he received his discharge at Mobile, Ala., and was mustered out of service at Davenport in August, 1865. Mr. Gast has served as Justice of the Peace for four years, and has also held the office of President of the School Board. He casts his vote with the Republican party, and to all worthy enterprises he gives his earnest support.