Born at Ashland, Ohio, about 1842. Selecting law as his vocation, he attended college, after completing the course in the grammar school in his native town in Oberlin, Ohio, and also in England. In 1872 he located in Eddyville and practiced law for a time being associated with Attorney D. M. Conley, under the firm name of Fast & Conley. For a period of about three years during the 70's he was connected with one of Eddyville's early newspapers, The Advance. Mr. Fast was identified with politics serving in the Seventeenth general assembly of the legislature, 1878, but was beaten in the race for the second term in 1879. In 1874 he was married to Maggie Cooper, daughter of Robert Cooper and Mrs. Catherine Cooper. In 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Fast moved to Ottumwa and not long after to Sedalia, Missouri, where he practiced law. He was also pension agent for the old soldiers in Sedalia and surrounding country. He was past commander and adjutant general of Post No. 53 of the G. A. R., and was frequently an interested visitor and delegate to state and national encampments of that organization. He was a stalwart worker in the Republican Party.