William Hastings, Sr.
Family: son of James
Born: 1820
Died:1876, June 10
buried in Rushes Cemetery
Municipality: Wellesley
Years on local council D Reeve 1860-1864
Years on County Council 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864
Address: Belmont House
Occupation: Farmer
Origin: Scotland
Spouse: Deborah Glaister
Children: Isabel, "Bella"; Joseph; William; John; James; Albert; Robert; Alexander
Landholdings: 1861-concession 4, lot 12 E, as well as land in Crosshill
Religion: C Presbyterian
Notes: c1842 - "Credit is given in the records to William and David Hastings and Hugh Hutchison as being the first settlers in Crosshill," and the naming of Crosshill is credited variously to three people: Hugh Hutchison, John Campbell and William Hastings. The latter three men came from Scotland to Canada and were directed to Crosshill by Absalom Shade (Maple Leaf Journal pp 63, 125)
Notes:
Born: 1820
Died:1876, June 10
buried in Rushes Cemetery
Municipality: Wellesley
Years on local council D Reeve 1860-1864
Years on County Council 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864
Address: Belmont House
Occupation: Farmer
Origin: Scotland
Spouse: Deborah Glaister
Children: Isabel, "Bella"; Joseph; William; John; James; Albert; Robert; Alexander
Landholdings: 1861-concession 4, lot 12 E, as well as land in Crosshill
Religion: C Presbyterian
Notes: c1842 - "Credit is given in the records to William and David Hastings and Hugh Hutchison as being the first settlers in Crosshill," and the naming of Crosshill is credited variously to three people: Hugh Hutchison, John Campbell and William Hastings. The latter three men came from Scotland to Canada and were directed to Crosshill by Absalom Shade (Maple Leaf Journal pp 63, 125)
Notes:
- 1856-signed a petition in support of the Waterloo Saugeen Railway (WHS1961 49:57)
- 1861-built the most imposing stone house in the township which has a sculptured likeness of William decorating the front portico
- Justice of the Peace and known as the "Squire of the Township."
- named the road which divides the eastern section from the western in honor of his friend.
- Hastings family "raised the finest stock-Hampshire hogs, Shorthorn cattle, Clydesdale horses, and introduced Leicester sheep to the area, exhibiting at the world fairs in Chicago and St Louis, and the Canadian National Exhibition, always coming away with top awards" (MLJpl27)
- "In Wellesley, William Hastings Esq. died at 54 years of age after a short illness" (obituary Berliner Journal)
This information is excerpted from: "Waterloo County Councillors: A Collective Biography," researched and complied by Elizabeth Bloomfield and Linda Foster. (c) 1995 Caribou Imprints. It is reproduced by permission of Dr. Bloomfield. The full text of the book can be seen here.