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1907 Past and Present Biographies

A. W. Hastings Cllick photo to enlarge A. W. Hastings, who is enjoying a well earned retirement from active agricultural pursuits and who is living in Grant township, was born at Jamaica, Windham county, Vermont, thirty miles north of Brattleboro, January 22, 1839. He was a son of William and Susan (Goddard) Hastings, both natives of Vermont. The elder Mr. Hastings was on old time whig and a well known agriculturist in his native state, where he passed away in 1896, his wife surviving him but two years. This worthy couple were the parents of three children, of which A. W., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. The other two are now living in their native state. Mr. Hastings received a common school education in Vermont and devoted most of his time to agricultural interests upon his father’s farm. In this way he acquired a practical training, which has been of inestimable value to him during his entire life. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he set out as an independent farmer, conducting large agricultural interests for seven years in Vermont. He subsequently removed to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the same enterprise until 1872, when he removed to Greene county, Iowa, and located in Harding township. Here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land, which he still owns. It was his pride to bring this land to a well improved condition and for this purpose he worked hard and industriously. He erected all the necessary buildings and so successfully conducted his farm that he was able to add one hundred and ten acres in Grant township, section 3, to his original purchase. It is on this piece of land that he now resides in the comfortable home which he erected. Click photo to enlarge Mr. Hastings was united in wedlock January 1, 1862, to Mariette E. Person, a native of Vermont. This union has been blessed with four children: Nellie M., the wife of George E. Smith, of Farlin, Iowa; Charles R/, an agriculturist of Scott county, Kansas; Henry A., who is in the real-estate business in Blaine county, Oklahoma; and Elmer W., an agriculturist in Hardin township. Mr. Hastings has always been active in political affairs and has given his support to the men and measures of the republican party. He and his wife have always been members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are stalwart advocates of its religious principles and the work which it is doing. Mr. Hastings is a man of strong domestic tastes and has always been deeply interested in everything pertaining to the home, for it is here that he has found his greatest happiness. He has cared little for success in business except that success gave him the opportunity to do something toward the comfort and happiness of others, for his greatest pleasure has been in helping and in giving. He still enjoys life to the greatest extent and is one of Greene county’s most valued citizens, who has played a strong man’s part and played it bravely, tenderly and-well.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907. Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer