WILLIAM KASTER was born in Hickory township, Mercer county, Pa., November 12, 1840, and is a son of Sealey and Mary (Shilling) Kaster, being the third of a family of five children born to his parents. He was raised on his father's farm in his native county to fourteen years of age and them came to Delaware county, Iowa, with his father, and remained with him until he was twenty-one years old. He received a common school education, and for a livelihood has followed farming all his life. He settled where he now resides in 1866 and owns one hundred and eighty acres in section 11, township 88, range 5, Delaware county, where he now resides. Besides general farming he is doing considerable dairy business, keeping about twenty-five cows. In 1885 he built his present residence, a two story frame, nicely located on high ground, and is here enjoying every domestic felicity, having married November 18, 1865, Miss Arvilla A. Orvis, of Prairie township, this county. She was born in DeKalb county, Ill., October 15, 1848, and is a daughter of Emrie P. and Caroline (Putnam) Orvis. Mr. Kaster and wife have had born to them four children, viz.:  Caroline M., now the wife of Benjamin F. Cramer, a farmer in Delhi township, to whom has been born one daughter, Ada N.; Levi G.; single and at home; Mabel L., also single and at home; Iola V., likewise living with her, parents and still unmarried.

     Personally, Mr. Kaster is kind and accommodating and has the good will of all who know him.