From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and  
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 
 
Typed by E. J. Heinemann 
 
p. 649 
 
JAMES D. HASTINGS, an eminent farmer and dairyman near Greggs, Ohio  
county, West Virginia, is also extensively engaged in stock raising.  
He is a native of Jefferson county, where he was born July 3, 1840,  
and is son of Joseph and Ruth (Brown) Hastings, natives, respectively,  
of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Jefferson county, Ohio. 
     Joseph Hastings, who was born November 20, 1807, was engaged in
General farming and stock raising in Ohio and excelled in fine blooded 
cattle.  
He married Ruth Brown, who was born in 1812; her father went with his  
parents to Jefferson county, Ohio, at the early age of seven years, and  
died January, 1894, when eighty-two years old.  This worthy couple had  
10 children, of whom James D. was the fourth.  They were as follows:  
Stephen B.; Mary A.; John W.; James D.; Martha E.; George W.; Ruth A.;  
Albert J.; William B.; and Bascom M. Stephen B. was born in May, 1831,  
and died in July, 1864.  He enlisted in the time of the Civil War,  
among the 100-day men, but when he had served three months, he caught  
the measles, and died.  He left his widow, Isabella Hastings, to mourn  
his death.  Mary A. married Henry P. Martin, but is now a widow and a  
resident of Jefferson county.  John W., deceased, was united in  
marriage with Margaret Barkhurst: he enlisted in 1862, in Company B.  
32nd Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., in the Western army.  He accompanied Sherman  
in his famous march to the sea, and served his county valiantly for  
three years, being neither wounded nor taken prisoner during the  
conflict.  Martha E., was taken away at the early age of eighteen  
months.  George W. died in 1864, at the early age of twenty-two years.  
He came home from Mount Union College to enlist in the service of his  
country, together with James D. and Stephen B., but before he reached  
his destination typhoid fever claimed him.  Instead of enlisting in the  
Union army he answered to the roll call in the Great Beyond.  He was a  
good boy, and of him it may well be said.
 
               "No vision of the morrow's strife 
               The warrior's dream alarms, 
                No braying horn or screeching fife 
                At dawn shall call to arms."
 
     Ruth A. is still enjoying single life.  Albert J. is a traveling  
salesman; he married Cynthia Michaels, and resides at Columbus Ohio.  
William B. married Helen Porter, and resides in New York; he was a  
teacher for some time, but is now a salesman.  Bascom M. is a  
prosperous merchant, living in Adena, Jefferson county, Ohio. 
     Joseph Hastings and his wife were both members of the M. E. church, in  
which the former was prominent from his boyhood days, and served as an  
official most of the time.  His wife is a deeply spiritual woman, and  
has been devoted to the church all her life.  In politics Mr. Hastings  
was always interested, but held no office except that of township  
trustee.  He was known all over the county as one of the most  
substantial farmers, and many mourned his loss.  His death occurred in  
May, 1889. 
     James D. Hastings obtained his early mental training in the public  
schools, after which he assisted his father on the farm.  He enlisted  
in the army during the war and served four months in the 100-day  
service, doing garrison duty.  For a time he was engaged in the livery  
business, and afterward embarked in mercantile affairs, but returned to  
farming, and has remained in that occupation ever since.  His wife owns  
120 acres of land which, it is presumed, is underlaid by coal.  He  
raises mostly hay and grain, and is doing a profitable business.  In  
politics, he is an ardent Republican, but has never cared for office. 
     Mr. Hastings has been twice married.  His first union was with Martha  
Winters, in 1865.  She was a native of Jefferson county, and a daughter  
of John and Jane Winters, of Wintersville, Ohio.  They had three  
children, namely: Alva T., who married Carrie Leggett and resides in  
Spokane, Washington; Ora B., who is still at home; and Freddie B., who  
died at the early age of three months.  The mother of these children  
departed this life at the age of forty years, October 24, 1882. She was  
always a good, religious woman, and member of the M. E. church. 
     March 15, 1888, Mr. Hastings was united with Susan E. Nichols, sketches  
of whose lives may be found elsewhere in this volume.  This couple had  
one child, Edward W., who was born July 16, 1890, and died July 24,  
1891.  The parents are members of the M. E. church.  In politics, Mr.  
Hastings is a Republican, working for the good of his party. 
     James D. Hastings and his wife are descended from old and well-known  
families, and both bear an excellent character; they will long be  
remembered for their genial, courteous and pleasant ways and the good  
they do in all their walks of life.  The subject of this sketch is  
numbered among the influential men of his county.