In 1895 Mr. R.C. Kasten began producing soft mud bricks with the use of mules as his source of power.  Steam power, however, would make its presence felt just a short time later as the chief source of power.  Three years later in 1898, H.R. English made his way to town and started producing bricks via the stiff mud process.  R.C. came to the conclusion that to compete with his new rival he would need to purchase a new brick making machine and start producing dry press brick.  

Ten years later, R.C. joined forces with Mr. J.E. Schmuke to form the Kasten & Schmuke Press Brick Co.  $10,000 in capital stock was issued in this new corporation.  At the beginning of the year in 1920, R.C's four sons, Arthur, Louis, Walter, and John bought out Mr. Schmuke's shares.  However, the company continued to process bricks under the same name for several years following the sale.

Ground was broken in 1926 to erect a new plant.  At the time of its development, it was the most modern of its kind and included one of the first tunnel kilns for firing building bricks west of the Mississippi River.

R.C. Kasten was a major part of the business until his death in 1929.  His four sons continued to run the plant and in 1934 changed the name of the corporation to Kasten Brothers Brick Company.  This would remain the name of the company for the next 25 years until Arthur, Walter, and John sold their interests and a new corporation was founded--Kasten Clay Products, Inc.  Louis Kasten was the head of this corporation.  

Since then the corporation has been divided into three separate entities.  Kasten Clay Products, Inc., continues to produce dry press brick.  The second company, Kasten Concrete Products, Inc., produces concrete blocks and concrete products.  And the third company, Kasten Masonry Sales, Inc., located in Jackson, Missouri, are the leading producers of masonry products in the area.  Kasten Masonry Sales, Inc., has been noted for their wide variety of masonry products sold throughout the nation.