HASTINGS, Louis Grant 1864 - 1899

HASTINGS, FLETCHER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/14/2024 at 21:58:40

"Jefferson County Republican"
Tuesday, June 6, 1899
Page 4, Column 4

The funeral of Mr. Lewis (sic) HASTINGS, who died at Topeka, Kan., will take place in the Baptist church, Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. The Masons will take charge of the funeral. Mr. HASTINGS was born and raised in Fairfield and is well known here.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, June 7, 1899
Page 3, Column 3

Died by His Own Hand.

A telegram from Topeka, Kan., Monday announced the death of Louis G. HASTINGS. He killed himself shortly before noon at his room in a hotel, firing two pistol shots into his head. It is said that Mr. HASTINGS had been in ill health for several months, and that he would not recover. He left a note to friends in which he said: "I am melancholy and morbid, and I fear I will lose my mind. My accounts are all straight."

Mr. HASTINGS was a son of the late Samuel L. HASTINGS, and was born and reared in this city. He was about thirty-five years of age. After the father's death the family removed from Fairfield, about 1881. He entered the employ of the Rock Island railway company when it was extending its lines west of the Missouri river, and when little more than a boy. He was employed for several years as cashier in the main offices at Topeka, Kan., and was afterward transferred to Ft. Worth, Tex., as secretary and treasurer of the lines in that state. More recently he was returned to Topeka, where he held the important position of assistant treasurer of the Rock Island company. Mr. HASTINGS was a young man of excellent business qualifications and splendid character, enjoyed the confidence of his employers and it seemed as if he had a bright future before him. His death comes as a great shock to old friends in this city.

Mrs. Samuel L. HASTINGS and her daughter, who now reside at Wichita, Kan., are the only surviving members of the family. Hon. D. P. Stubbs received a telegram from the former yesterday stating that the remains of her son would be brought to this city for interment and asking that the Masons take charge of the funeral arrangements. The body arrived at 5 o'clock this morning on the Rock Island. A special car, occupied by members of the family, members of the Topeka Masonic lodges and officials of the railway company was detached from the train here. Services will be held at the Baptist church this afternoon at 3 o'clock.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, June 7, 1899
Page 7, Columns 3 and 4

TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.

L. G. HASTINGS, a Former Fairfield Resident, Dies by His Own Hand and is Brought Here for Burial.

Old friends of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. HASTINGS, who were prominent and highly respected residents of this city many years ago, aided to-day in performing the last sad offices for their son. The news came Tuesday of the death of Mr. L. G. HASTINGS, at Topeka, Kansas, on Monday. The story of his death and something of his life is told in the Topeka "Capital", as follows:

L. G. HASTINGS, assistant treasurer of the Rock Island Railroad company with headquarters is Topeka, committed suicide yesterday morning a few minutes before 11:00 o'clock at his room--No. 70--at the Hotel Throop.

The only cause assigned for the deed is despondency brought on by an attack of malarial fever, all his accounts being perfectly straight so far as known, and no complication in his private affairs justifying such an act.

He used a 38-calibre revolver, firing two shots into the left breast about one-half an inch apart, near the heart. Death was probably instantaneous, life being extinct when his body was found a few minutes later by I. W. Doolittle, manager of the hotel.

On a table in Mr. HASTINGS' room was found a note addressed to W. F. Evans of the Rock Island law department. In this note the only reference he made to the deed was that he feared insanity.

Stretched out on his back on the floor, attired in his underclothing, was the lifeless form of Mr. HASTINGS. His arms were thrown outward and in his left hand he clutched the revolver. In his left breast near the heart were two wounds. His head was inclined toward the left side as though carefully watching to see that the deed was well done. A novel, the upper end powder stained, lay near his form. "Prince Schmayl's Wooing" was its title and the book was written by Richard Henry Savage.

The folded corner of the last leaf seemed to mark this significant passage at the bottom of the page:

"The wild vines have covered the broken bastions of Dargo. There is eternal peace in the sweep of the wild winds and the rush of the river past the crumbling battlements! A palace once! A tomb now!"

The news that L. G. HASTINGS had committed suicide created a profound sensation when it became generally known, especially among the Rock Island officials. He was of a modest, retiring disposition, little given to display of any kind, but nevertheless had many warm friends. He was unmarried and about thirty-five years old. He rarely, if ever, went into society, and his friends say that so far as they know he never paid any woman any special attention.

He was occasionally entertained by the various officials of the road and went to public entertainments in the evening, but aside from this spent most of his time in his office or in his room. He had no bad habits so far as is known, never gambling or drinking or indulging in any other vices.

Mr. HASTINGS has held his present position, that of assistant treasurer of the Rock Island lines west of the Missouri river, only since January 1, 1899, but he has been connected with the Rock Island system since September, 1886.

When but a young boy he lived with his parents at Fairfield, Iowa, where his father is now buried. Afterward he moved to Troy, Kansas, where he was employed by Cyrus Leland in his mercantile business for several years.

During the latter part of September, 1886, he left Troy and went to Atchison, where he became cashier in the treasurer's office of the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska railway, the western extension of the Rock Island. On April 1, 1887, the headquarters were transferred to Topeka, and he came here.

Mr. HASTINGS held the position of cashier in the treasurer's office for five or six years, and was then elected secretary and treasurer of the Chicago, Rock Island & Texas railroad with headquarters at Fort Worth.

On the 1st of last January, when C. F. Jilson went to Chicago as assistant treasurer, Mr. HASTINGS was chosen to fill his place left vacant here.

Mr. HASTINGS was a Knight Templar and also a member of Siloam lodge, No. 225, and Topeka chapter, No. 5, but he never wore a lodge emblem of any kind on account of his dislike for display. The remains will be cared for by members of these lodges while they remain in this city.

It was while in Texas that Mr. HASTINGS' system became impregnated with the germs of the malaria which drove him to commit suicide. Feeling ill when he came to Topeka, he consulted Dr. Mulvane, and has been taking treatment for the fever ever since.

Two weeks ago Dr. Mulvane suggested that he take a vacation. C. F. Jilson, of Chicago, came to take his place temporarily and it was planned that he visit a week at the home of his mother in Wichita, then go north for two weeks more. After visiting at his mother's for a week he came back and went to work again, saying that he was well and would not take a northern trip.

But he was not as well, however, as he thought. Being of a disposition bordering on a state of melancholia, he probably brooded over his condition until he feared that he would go insane.

Mr. HASTINGS was a man of means financially, as he was of a frugal disposition. Most of his money is invested in notes, and he had some insurance, but owing to his reticence his friends are in ignorance of the amount of either his insurance or his property.

The mother of Mr. HASTINGS and his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. FLETCHER, arrived from Wichita last night. The remains will be taken to Fairfield, Iowa, to-day for burial. The Topeka Templars will have charge of the remains to-day and together with Siloam lodge will escort the body to the Rock Island 3:30 P. M. train. A uniformed escort of Topeka Templars will go with the body to Fairfield. The Templars of Fairfield will have charge of the burial services.

The remains were brought here in order to bury them by the side of the father, who died in this city some twenty-two or three years ago. The family is remembered by all our old citizens. Its members took a prominent part in the social and business life of the city. The father was a member of the firm of Rowland & Hastings, grocers, located where George's jewelery store is now situated. Afterwards he was engaged, in the grain business with D. W. Templeton, the firm name being Templeton & Hastings. At one time he was quite well off, but afterwards became involved and lost his means.

After his death, Mrs. HASTINGS and the children moved to the west. The mother still lives and occasionally visits in this city, and is now here at the burial of her son. The unfortunate young man is spoken of in the highest manner by all who knew him, and he had certainly been a devoted son.

The large number of persons accompaning (sic) the remains to this city attests the high standing of the young man where he is best known. Besides the mother, Mrs. S. L. HASTINGS, and Mr and Mrs. C. J. FLETCHER, sister and brother-in-law of the deceased, all of Wichita, there were the following:

Mrs. Geo. House, Williamsburgh, Ia., Mrs. Sarah Hill, Davenport, Ia., Messrs. W. F. Evans, H. S. Omer, Wm. Green, W. C. Chaffee, W. F. Ellison, Geo. W. Painter, H. Weingartner, all of Topeka, Kansas; Fred Mitchell, W. F. Ladd, Kansas city, Mo.; H. F. Shaner, Chicago, Ill.; Arch V. HASTINGS, Williamsburgh, Ia.; and C. P. Sloat, of Fort Worth, Texas.

The funeral was held at the Baptist church at three o'clock this afternoon. A short church service was held by the pastor, after which the Knights Templars had their ceremony. At the grave the Blue Lodge conducted the services.

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"Jefferson County Republican"
Friday, June 9, 1899
Page 4, Column 4

The remains of L. G. HASTINGS arrived from Topeka, Kansas, Wednesday morning, accompanied by his mother, sister and brother-in-law and a guard of the Knights Templars of his home lodge. He had taken his own life with a revolver, in his room at a hotel in Topeka, Kansas. The funeral services were held at the Baptist church, under the direction of the Knights Templars and Masons. Rev. W. C. Shepherd preaching the funeral discourse. Mr. HASTINGS was born in this city and was about 35 years old. He and his mother and sister left here soon after his father's death and went west. At the time of his death he was assistant treasurer of the Rock Island railroad company, and seemed to have been a good, trusty fellow. His mother, sister and brother-in-law and many high officials were here.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot Old.P.316.