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 1881 - 1968 (86 years)
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| Name |
Hugh Alexander Hastings |
| Born |
24 Aug 1881 |
Elliots Falls, Laxton Township, Victoria County, Ontario  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
13 Jan 1968 |
Regina, Saskatchewan |
| Buried |
17 Jan 1968 |
Regina Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Person ID |
I05712 |
All |
| Last Modified |
16 Jun 2008 |
| Father |
Adam Hastings, b. 17 Nov 1827, near Belfast, Ireland , d. 9 May 1910, Rouleau, Saskatchewan (Age 82 years) |
| Mother |
Alice McDowell, b. 12 Jan 1844, Upper Canada , d. 25 Dec 1928, Regina, Saskatchewan (Age 84 years) |
| Married |
10 Apr 1860 |
Dundalk, Grey County, Ontario |
| Notes |
- Adam Hastings was raised on his father’s homestead in Whitchurch Township. His meagre education would have been in the village school at Lemonville, and would have comprised reading, writing and arithmetic. He followed his father as a yeoman or farmer and remained with the father until the latter’s death. While he had purchased the homestead (west half of Lot 12, Concession 6) in 1851 and 1854, his father bequeathed it to him in his will. In addition Adam purchased the west half of Lot 15, Concession 6 November 22, 1854 from John Stickley.
It is said his marriage was “arranged” by his twin sister Mary Anne who married John McDowell of Dundalk. The bride to be was Jane McDowell, John’s sister; however, on meeting Adam, she declined the offer. Adam, not to be deterred and, in view of the long expensive trip from Lemonville to Dundalk, simply turned his affection to her younger sister Alice who consented. The marriage would last 50 years and be blessed with 15 offspring. The young bride was never accepted by his mother, which led to unhappy times since the home had to be shared. The mother regarded the bride as a “mere child”.
He sold his land holdings in 1870 and became a merchant operating a general store in the village of Lemonville. He was postmaster of Lemonville from 1870 to 1873. The “Old Lemonville Store” still stands as a private residence on the 6th Concession, Whitchurch Township.
He turned his efforts to lumbering in 1874 in Laxton Township, Victoria County at Elliott’s Falls on the Ghost River two miles north of Norland. By crown grant he acquired 21 acres on the west side of the Ghost River and 102 acres on the east side and established a sawmill and shingle mill, both power operated by the falls. The sawmill represented an investment of over $4,000, a considerable amount at this date. In November 1886, he retired to Norland and rented the mills to Jos. McLaughlin. The Victoria Recorder dutifully reported: “Mr. Hastings is to become a citizen of Norland. Happy to have Mr. Hastings and family amongst us”.
While residing in Elliott’s Falls and Norland he played an active part in local and public affairs. In 1874 he was elected councillor, Laxton Township Council. The same year the swamps were corduroyed on the tenth line north of the Cameron Road with Adam Hastings in charge of the work. He assisted in establishing S.S. No. 2 Beech Lake School which his children attended. In 1880 he contested the government’s right to lengthen a timber slide on the west side of the river and forced construction on the east side. On October 10, 1876 we won first prize for “sawn shingles” in the manufacturer’s section, Laxton and Digby Fall Show. Town records indicate Adam Hastings supplied 100 4x12 13R. maple planks for deck on bridge at Norland for $36 or $7/m.
He believed in total abstinence from alcohol. It is interesting to note that he, Charlie, James, Jennie and Samuel were all members of Crystal Fountain Lodge No. 215, British American Order of Good Templars, a fraternal order advocating temperance. It held regular meetings with regalia at which spelling matches, debates, religion and prayer were the order. A true Ulsterman, he was a member of the Loyal Orange Lodge, playing dues of .10 cents per month. A devout Methodist, Sunday evenings were occupied with the traditional family hymn-sing around the organ.
A strict disciplinarian, he was at the same time a kind, considerate father and husband, but he did demand instant obedience and respect. He was always respectfully referred to as “father” by family members. From his wedding picture of 1860 one is immediately impressed by his most notable feature; his determined cold eyes – slightly crossed. Combined with his height, moustache which droops downward and goatee, he seems to portray a pragmatic man not easy to know nor easy to cross.
In September 1888 a fire roared out of control north of Norland resulting in the complete destruction of the mill, leaving the family without income. It was quickly decided that the West offered the best prospect with available land “for the boys”. On October 1, 1888 he bid farewell to the family and departed for the great North West to seek the fortune that awaited all who would face the ordeal of homesteading on the prairies. He would send for the family when he was established.
He would have taken the narrow-gauge Toronto & Nippissing Railway for the 87 mile – 10 hour trip to Toronto from Coboconk. In Toronto he transferred to the C.P.R.’s “Pacific Limited” for the three day journey to Troy. On the trip westward he joined other eager settlers making their way to the “promised land” all crowded into the famous colonial cars with their uncomfortable wooden seats and wooden berths. Designed specially by CPR president Van Horne, these cars would transport thousands to the North West along with their meagre belongings.
The mill was never reconstructed. The land was abandoned and seized for non tax payment in 1899 by the county. A power plant was later constructed at the Falls but is now abandoned. Today, there is a provincial government campground on the 20 acre site which offers a place to rest beside the river and Falls for highway travellers.
In 1888 the prairies of Western Canada were known as a great lone land. Alberta and Saskatchewan had not been established and settlers were slowly commencing to move westward from the newly organized province of Manitoba. The Canadian Pacific Railway had been completed in 1885. It triggered the greatest wheat rush ever known. Land, land without end, to be had for the asking – rich land that would grow forty bushels to the acre. The Adam Hastings family would be one of those families that flooded the prairies from Eastern Canada, the U.S.A. and Europe.
Adam Hastings arrived in Troy (Qu’Appelle) in October 1888 to be met by his nephew George Senze Davidson who owned and operated the Queens Hotel. He would stay with him while searching for a homestead. He walked the Regina plains but was unimpressed by the area, flat as a table with its rich black earth, because he observed “it took one extra ox to pull a plow”. Fourteen years later he would realize his error and eagerly accept homesteads on the plain.
He filed an application for homestead on NE 24-18-12-W2 on October 11, 1888 and immediately sent for his son Samuel Thomas to join him. During the winter of 1888-89 they constructed a house on the land. On May 9, 1889 he wrote: “My dear alice spring has finally arrived in the North West, the crocuses are in bloom the house is __ so please make haste Sam and i are fine love Adam” (sic). “Make haste” she did for on June 9, 1889 the family left Norland to join him.
The homestead was located in the Rose Valley district about seven miles north east of Indian Head just above the Qu’Appelle Valley. A small coulee and creek cross the land so he maintained the objective of always seeking land with water.
Rose Valley was described by the Winnipeg Free Press on October 25, 1901 as being “one of the best in the Territories for farming purposes” and listed Adam Hastings as “following that pursuit in the region”.
Adam Hastings established Rose Valley Protestant Public School No. 191 on an acre of his land for the benefit of his children and in 1901 his son Hugh A. Hastings is recorded as being secretary.
He and the family proved the homestead by construction of a 12’ x 18’ house with a 14’ x 18’ kitchen valued at $400, along with a pole straw stable and a log granary. He cleared over 50 acres. In 1892 he owned four cows and three horses. On February 27, 1892 Patent was issued. The land was sold and transferred to William John Orchard on March 21, 1902 in consideration of $2,000.
Early in 1902 with some interesting help from his friend William J. Bulyea, Liberal member of the N.W.T. Legislative Council, Adam Hastings was successful in obtaining five homesteads on the Regina Plains for his five sons: Samuel Thomas, Adam Luther, Clarence Beverly, Hugh Alexander and Robert William Gordon.
The family moved to the homesteads located north of the town of Rouleau in April, 1902 and established the family home on the NE 20-15-21-W2, being the homestead of Adam Luther who was otherwise occupied as a grain buyer at Balgonie.
Politically, Adam Hastings was a Liberal; of this there is not the slightest doubt. As a young man he was nurtured in the Clear Grit Methodist tradition of Ontario. A reform movement advocating simple, responsible government and fervently opposed to political or religious privilege. In the North West he revered Sir Wilfrid Laurier with the chieftain’s picture occupying a place of honour in the living room.
He and his sons were “Clifford Sifton Men” and later “Jimmy Gardiner Men” and were organizers for both. So strongly did he inculcate his political Liberal beliefs in his children that every son, many grandsons and grandchildren actively organized and supported the part in Western Canada.
Clarence, his son, travelled by horse and buggy throughout South Saskatchewan in 1905 spreading the message. Clarence would summarily discharge a deputy returning officer who was doubtful about his wife’s vote with the comment “any man who cannot control his wife’s vote is unqualified to be a DRO”.
In 1935 his daughter, Mary Ann, in congratulating her nephew, Gordon Hastings, on his marriage “hoped his bride was a Liberal and not Roman Catholic”. His son, Adam, would “deliver” a Liberal nomination to James G. Gardiner in Cupar, Saskatchewan in 1912 and his youngest son, Hugh, in his retiring years would faithfully and regularly canvass Regina city on behalf of the party.
His granddaughter, Marjorie Pearl Hastings Guy was secretary of the Saskatchewan Liberal Association and served as executive assistant to the part leader and late premier, W. Ross Thatcher.
Adam and Alice Hastings celebrated their golden wedding anniversary April 10, 1910. The family presented father with a gold-headed walking cane from Ireland on the occasion.
He executed his last will and testament on April 23, 1910 in which he bequeathed his personal estate to his beloved wife of 50 years.
Adam Hastings died at Rouleau, Saskatchewan May 9, 1910. His funeral was held in the family residence with five sons and son-in-law Thomas Matchett acting as pallbearers. Because of his build – 6’4”, 250 lbs. – an oversized coffin had to be used which would not go through the doorway. The bay windows had to be removed from the house to permit the coffin to be taken in and out. The undertaker attempted to collect interest on the price of the coffin. He had specially ordered it three years in advance of Adam’s death. The interest was not paid.
On his demise, his wife Alice moved to Sintaluta to live with her daughter, Mary Ann, who was employed as an accountant by her older brother James McDowell Hastings. Mother and daughter later moved to Regina and resided at 2130 Broad Street, 2277 Hamilton Street and 19 Crescent Annex Apartments.
Alice McDowell Hastings died December 25, 1928 at Regina and was buried December 27, 1928 beside her husband Adam and their son Robert Andrew Gordon in the Rouleau Cemetery.
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| Family ID |
F1159 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Elenora Reichert, b. 24 Feb 1878, Bridgeport, Ontario , d. 1931 (Age 52 years) |
| Married |
26 Mar 1906 |
Whitewood, Saskatchewan |
| Notes |
- Hugh Alexander Hastings was educated at Rose Valley S.D. 191 on his father’s homestead near Indian Head, Saskatchewan. He would have worked on the family farm and on April 2, 1902 the family made the move to the Rouleau district. He was granted homestead entry SE20-15-21-W2 with a patent issued June 27, 1905. The quarter was sold November 14, 1905 to Ernest Kissack in consideration of $2,880.
In 1903, with the same Ernest Kissack as partner he established the Rouleau Supply Company Ltd. dealing in “implements, hardware, crockery, stoves, furnaces, groceries, coal with tinsmithing a specialty”. In 1908 the business was sold to his brother Clarence Beverly Hastings who continued to operate it on a smaller scale as “C.B. Hastings Implements”.
In 1909 he re-entered a partnership with his brother Clarence and together they operated the implement and blacksmith business until 1915 when it went into bankruptcy. Thereafter Hugh continued alone n the implement business and farming operations until 1931 when he moved to Rapid View near Meadow Lake in North Saskatchewan.
Hugh Hastings took an active part in the community life of Rouleau serving many terms on the village council. On June 20, 1906 he was one of the 25 charter members of Prince Rupert Lodge 24, IOOF and would serve as recording secretary in 1907, vice grand in 1910 and noble grand in 1911. Later as a member of Regina Lodge 6 he was treasurer of the grand encampment of Saskatchewan. He played an important role in the Rouleau Methodist Church. He served as secretary-treasurer of the Rouleau Agricultural Society “and was a force in its councils”. It was his idea that Rouleau should celebrate July 1st: “because that is the day the hired man has off and everybody goes somewhere”. He served for a time as president of the Rouleau Cemetery Company.
By 1930 the residents of Rouleau, as in all western Canada, were suffering through the world economic depression combined with the added problem of drought and resultant consecutive crop failures. Rouleau was in the heart of the dried-out dust bowl of south Saskatchewan. At this time Hugh Hastings participated in a government sponsored program of resettlement of farmers from south Saskatchewan to the northern part of the province. On July 12, 1930 a homestead entry was granted to NW5-60-19-W3. Patent issued February 25, 1938 as Grant No. 13612. In the subsequent years he worked for the provincial government on resettlement programs in the region in addition to his farming operations.
In October 1936 they had a family reunion at Hugh’s homestead near Rapid View. Minnie came from Toronto, Clary and Sadie from Regina, Sam from Meadow Lake. Jim was the only one missing. They spent four happy days together. It would be the last time the family would meet.
He sold the land in 1946 and returned to Regina where he lived out his retirement, taking casual employment with the Wascana Hotel.
Hugh Alexander Hastings is interred in Riverside Memorial Cemetery, Regina while Elenora Reichert Hastings is interred in Rouleau Cemetery.
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| Children |
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| Last Modified |
1 Mar 2008 |
| Family ID |
F1398 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Photos
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 | Family of Adam Hastings and Alice McDowell, Rouleau, Saskatchewan 1906
Standing: Adam Hastings & Wife Alice (McDowell) Hastings
Left to Right: Clarence Hastings & Eva P. Winter, R.A. Gordon Hastings & Mary A. Hastings, Sarah E. Hastings, Hugh Hastings & Elenore Reichert at Rouleau, Saskatchewan in 1906
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 | Indian Head Homestead
Adam L. Hastings, Mary A. Hastings, R. A. Gordon Hastings, Sarah E. Hastings, Hugh A. Hastings, Clarence B. Hastings holding William Earl Hastings |
 | Hugh Alexander Hastings
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 | Hugh Alexander Hastings and Eleanor Reichert - Wedding Photo 26 Mar 1906
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| Documents |
 | Obituary of Hugh Alexander Hastings
Ex-Rouleau man dies
Funeral service for Hugh Alexander Hastings, 83, of Mutchmor Lodge, was held Wednesday in Speers Funeral Chapel with Rev. W. J. Moore officiating. Burial was in Riverside Memorial Park.
Mr. Hastings died Saturday.
He was born at Lindsay, Ont. and came to Indian Head with his parents in 1885. In 1900, he opened a farm implement business at Rouleau which he operated for 30 years before homesteading as a mixed farmer at Meadow Lake in 1930.
He retired and moved to Regina in 1946.
Mr. Hastings was one of two remaining charter members of the IOOF Prince Rupert Lodge No. 24 and later a member of Regina Lodge No. 6 and of the Regina Encampment No. 1. For many years he was grand treasurer of the Grand Encampment of Saskatchewan. He was also a member of the Veterans Odd Fellow Association of Saskatchewan.
He was predeceased by his wife in 1931 and a son in 1943.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. H. V. Kidd of Brandon, three grandchildren and three great-greandchildren. |
 | Death record of Hugh Alexander Hastings
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| Notes |
- At the time of the 1911 census, the family of Hugh and Elenora Hastings were residing on Ansley Street in Rouleau, Regina, Saskatchewan. H.A. Hastings was the census taker.
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