James Elbert 'Jimmy' Bastin was born in Stanford, KY, a son of James Monroe and Laura Jane (Young) Bastin. Upon reaching adulthood, he married Myrtle Mae Gabbert, and they had six children. Jimmy supported his family by working as a traveling photographer. In the early 1900's, he had a trailer that he took from town to town and used to process black and white photographs of people. Later he also had a game trailer (where the little ducks went 'round and round') that he took from county fair to county fair.
Jimmy and Myrtle lost one child when but a few days old. The others all lived to reach adulthood. When their youngest child, Dale Edward Bastin, was only four months old, however, Myrtle died in Connersville, IN. This was during the early days of the Great Depression, and times were tough. Their five surviving children were raised among relatives until Jimmy married his second wife, Dora Mae Griffith.
Jimmy died in Shelbyville, IN, at the early age of only 59, from complications from diabetes. His grave is in the Forest Hill cemetery in Shelbyville, Indiana (section 15 lot 181). His tombstone is marked 'In Loving Memory'.
(Photo and biographical information are courtesy of Jimmy's grand-daughter, Kathy (Bastin) Kelley; thanks, Cousin Kathy!)
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