Born: ?
Died: ?
Was of Holland descent and a native of New York State. He received a liberal education, and throughout his life was esteemed both for his learning and culture.
He became a member of the M. E. Church in early life, and shortly thereafter entered the Christian ministry. In 1843 this church wished to send a missionary to one of the districts of the West African coast. Mr. Bastian was asked to go. After consideration, he answered: "Christ died for me. I will go." His first child was born there. The native chiefs came from far to see a white baby and make it a present. The child lived only a few months.
After a time, Mr. Bastian was sent to Europe on business connected with the African mission. He left his wife there and set sail. On his voyage, one evening just after he had retired to bed and before he had closed his eyes, apparently his wife stood before him. Ere he could address her, she vanished. When he landed in Europe he met orders from his Mission Board to return to America. Landing in New York, he was met by a member of the Board, to whom he said, "Have you heard from Africa?" The reply was, "Yes. And Sarah is dead." This was Mr. Bastian's wife. On comparing the day and the hour, he found that his wife had gone to be at home with her Lord at the moment when he saw her appearance to him on shipboard.
Mr. Bastian's studies of the New Testament had unsettled his thoughts on the subject of Christian baptism. Finding himself more in harmony with the Baptist than with the Methodist Church, he peaceably changed his ecclesiastical affiliation. Coming West, he soon fell in with the Disciples. He was at once attracted and charmed by the Scripturalness of their preaching and the simplicity of their plea; hence, he was not long in casting in his lot with the people whose teaching and practice were so fully in accord with his own conclusions. Some of his Methodist brethren said that the fact of his "joining the Campbellites" was proof that "he was rattled;" whereas, his thoughts and aims were only moving in wider orbits.
His sacred dust and that of his second wife--a Christian woman of the highest type--repose in unmarked graves at Sullivan, Illinois. Nor is a memorial window there in the house of God for these, his faithful servants.