Hastons from across the USA to gather in White County

Wayne Haston

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The Daniel Haston Family Association will host an All-Hastons Reunion at the Hickory Valley Baptist Church on July 26-27. In the previous such reunion, 150 registrants from 17 states gathered to learn more about their Haston history and heritage, as well as connect with cousins, most of whom they had never met. The July 2024 reunion is the second-ever All-Hastons event.

At the time White County, Tennessee was established on September 11,1806, Daniel Haston had already been living for more than two years south of the Caney Fork River in what is now the Cummingsville community. Yes, he and his family were squatters on Cherokee Indian land during that time.

And, yes, that area, now in Van Buren County, was originally part of White County. On July 22, 1806, Daniel Haston was one of 155 signatories on the petition to create White County. Members of his family played important roles in early White and Van Buren Counties.

Daniel, a simple frontier man with a compulsive pioneering spirit, became the progenitor of a massive family that spread throughout Middle Tennessee and far beyond to most, if not all, states of our country. A visit to White and Van Buren Counties is a kind of a homeward pilgrimage for Hastons all across the USA. We call this area our “Haston Homeland.”

On Friday morning, July 26, the reunion group will enjoy a tour of sites ofhistorical interest to Haston and related families. Thanks to the WhitCounty Schools Transportation Department, we will travel on the tour route in air-conditioned, handicap accessible buses. That afternoon, the group will spread out to enjoy lunch at some of the restaurants around the courthouse square in Sparta, visit the White County Archives on the third floor of the courthouse, and explore the many fascinating historical curios and displays in the White County Heritage Museum. Participants will assemble in the Fellowship Hall of the Hickory Baptist Church on Friday evening for an informal and fun time of meeting cousins and enjoying dessert treats.

Saturday, July 27, activities will take place at Hickory Valley Baptist Church. The day will feature a couple of presentations, one on the history of the Daniel Haston family, beginning in 1401 in Switzerland, and another presentation fleshing out the main branches of the Daniel Haston Family Tree. In addition to the family history presentations, the day will include some exciting news regarding recent developments at the Big Fork Historic Cemetery where Daniel and other early Hastons are buried, elective workshops, interest centers, a photography nook for free portraits, a delicious catered meal, and a fun activity to review all that has been learned throughout the day.

Wayne Haston, historian for the Daniel Haston Family Association, willrelease his second major historical book on the history of the family. This new book covers the early history of the family, from 1401 in ZürichSwitzerland to 1783 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The book contains 398 colorful pages, 350+ pictures, maps, and other images, 850+ footnotes, and an extensive index. Wayne’s first Haston history book, The Story of the Daniel Haston Family, will also be available for purchase. We do request that you register prior to attending. More information about the reunion, as well as access to registration, is available online: https://danielhaston.blog/2024-Reunion

You can also call 931.675.0707 for information or assistance with registration.