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 1889 - 1966 (76 years)
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| Name |
Mary Edna Baker |
| Born |
26 Sep 1889 |
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan  |
| Gender |
Female |
| Died |
28 Feb 1966 |
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Person ID |
I05913 |
All |
| Last Modified |
10 Dec 2006 |
| Family 1 |
Adam Luther Hastings, b. 8 Apr 1874, Norland, Ontario , d. 14 Nov 1921, Regina, Saskatchewan (Age 47 years) |
| Married |
17 Feb 1917 |
Balcarres, Saskatchewan |
| Notes |
- Adam Luther Hastings received his primary and grade school education at Norland and Rose Valley, S.D., 191. He was taught the grain trade by his oldest brother, James McDowell Hastings, and from 1895 to 1901 they bought and shipped grain at Indian Head. From 1901 to 1903 he bought grain at Balgonie for the Pioneer Grain Company.
A homestead entry was granted Adam Luther Hastings, January 30, 1902 to NE20-15-21-W2 in the Rouleau district. A patent was granted May 20, 1905. As Adam was otherwise occupied at Balgonie and Loon Creek the homestead was proven by his brothers and it became the “home place” for the family. The quarter was sold to his brother Clarence Beverly, in consideration of $2,500 on May 29, 1907.
In 1903 he formed a partnership with his nephew, John Adam McLaughlin and they opened a general store in the Loon Creek district (NW7-22-16-W2). Loon Creek was a settlement situated about 5 miles south of what would later be the town site of Cupar, Saskatchewan. At the time, it was believed the railroad would go through Loon Creek. The district was described by a mortgage company as being the “second best township in the territory”.
However, in 1905, the Brandon-Bulyea branch of the Grand Trunk Railway was completed and the town site of Cupar established. The store was promptly moved to the town site and became the first general store and post office. Adam Hastings was the first postmaster from 1906 to 1908.
The village of Cupar was incorporated in November 1906 and in the first election, Adam Hastings was elected overseer. In the words of his friend, John Donald, “it was quite an election”. On the day of the election there was an important Liberal meeting in Balcarres which Adam and many of his supporters were obliged to attend. As the train from Balcarres returned to Cupar after the close of the poll they would be unable to cast their ballots. They found, however, the poll closed at 6pm or 20 minutes after the last elector had voted. Accordingly, they organized the polling to make certain an elector would vote every 15 minutes after 6pm thus keeping the poll open until the train arrived from Balcarres at 9pm.
“Be damned if we didn’t beat that Tory, Tom Baker”, John Donald would proudly proclaim. That same Tom Baker, a retired R.C.M.P. officer, would later, unhappily and reluctantly, become Adam’s father-in-law.
The first grain elevator was built in Cupar in 1905 by James Richardson Co. Followed by the Pioneer Grain Co. with Adam Hastings as operator. Albert Scott would later write: “in 1905, I grew 1200 bushels of wheat – I was spared the task of hauling it to Balgonie for by now an elevator had been established (in Cupar). I sold my wheat to Mr. Adam Hastings, the price was 60 cents per bushel”.
The Hastings and McLaughlin General Store was destroyed by fire in March 1911. The partnership dissolved and Adam Hastings continued to operate his general insurance and real estate business which he had established in 1908. McLaughlin was appointed sheriff of the judicial district of Melville where he served until his return to Ontario in 1918.
Adam Hastings was a successful businessman and community leader. A Charter Member of Cupar Lodge No. 147, A.F. & A.M. he served as Master in 1918 and 1920. A supporter and promoter of all sports, including the turf club and the curling club; he invariably presided over the organization meetings of the baseball and hockey clubs. He was a keen hunter as evidenced by pictures of Cupar hunters in the era of the unlimited bag limit.
He was an ardent, dedicated Liberal. James G. Gardiner recalled that he owed much to Adam Hastings who was a major factor in his winning the Liberal nomination and election in the constituency of North Qu’Appelle in 1912. “I had support in the eastern half of the constituency as I lived at Lemberg but little on the west side. Adam Hastings and Jack McLaughlin supported me on the west and they were certainly instrumental in my winning the nomination” he said. Adam Hastings chaired the nomination meeting held in Cupar which chose Gardiner as candidate by one vote. Gardiner, subsequently served 45 continuous years in public life as a provincial premier and federal cabinet minister.
Adam Hastings was a generous, Happy, warm-hearted individual who enjoyed “la joie de vivre”.
His friend, John Donald, described him as a rotund (he weighed over 300 lbs.) man who loved good times, good poker and good liquor. They enjoyed many happy hours together. As a curler he said “he was an awfully good curler but a much better bonspieler. He always played out at bonspiels.”
His good friend, Fred Whiskin glowingly commented editorially in the Cupar Herald on his death:
“He was a devoted husband and kind and indulgent son; to his sisters, a tender brother; to his brothers and friends, the soul of fellowship. In his heart of hearts he carried those he loved and his hand was never weary in caring for and ministering to those who were in any way dependent upon him.
He was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the ways of the pioneer, being ever ready to lend a helping hand to the sick or needy. Though he is gone his record has been made and will remain with us as a lasting treasure.”
In his last will and testament dated November 1, 1921, he bequeathed $5,000 (“promissory notes in my safe in my office at Cupar”) to his sister, Minnie (Mary Ann) to assist in the care of his widowed mother. The remainder of his estate he bequeathed to his wife.
Mary Baker Hastings continued to reside in Cupar after his death. She served many years as a district nurse and nursing supervisor at the Southey Hospital until retirement in about 1950. On July 2, 1956 she married Percy Stewart Clarke.
Adam Hastings is interred in the Cupar Cemetery. Mary Baker Clarke is interred in the Bladworth Cemetery, Bladworth, Saskatchewan.
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| Last Modified |
1 Mar 2008 |
| Family ID |
F1448 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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