Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-09-06

6
Daniel Hartman Hastings comes of
Scotch Irish ancestry and his father was
q small farmer in Clinton county, where
the son was born on February 20, 1S49.
In the winter of 1863, when he was but
IA years of age, school in Wayne town
ship became vacant. The boy borrowed
one dollar, trudged through the snow and
secured the appointment, conditioned up
on his passing an examination. He walk
ed back to Lock Haven the same day, was
examined and received his certificate re-
turning on foot in time to open the school
the next morning. Meanwhile the dollar
was spent and bis first days experience
as o school teacher was passed without
anything to eat The following four years
were spent in teaching the neighboring
schools in the winter and assisting his
father N the farm in the summer. He
studied diligently through the winter
evenings the better to quality himself for
teaching, and in 1866 his exertions were
rewarded by being elected principal of
the High School at Bellefcnte. This po-
sition he filed for eight years.
In 1875 he was admitted to the practice
of law, and in short time became q
le ader at the bar and in politics. In the
campaign OF 1882 General Hastings was
the personal friend and enthusiastic sup
porter of General Beaver for Governor.
Defeated but not disheartented, in 1886
General Hastings presented the name OF
Governor Beaver to the Republican Con
yention and asked and secured his renom-
nation. As delegate at large TO the
Republican National Convention in 1888,
he placed Senator Sherman in nomination
for President. He was equal to the occa-
sion, and in single half hour attained d
national reputation as an orator. Mean
while he had served as q member of the
school board and as Burgess of Bellefonte.
General Hastings became connected
with the National Guard in 1887, in July
of which year he was made paymaster OF
the Fifth Regiment, with the rank OF
captain. He served on the staff of General
Beaver, then q division commander, dur
ing the ricts Of July, 1887, accompanying
he command to Altoona In March, 1878,
he was elected and commissioned lieu
tenant colonel of the Fifth Regiment; in
June, 1883, be was appointed assistant
adiutant general Of the Second Brigade
and in March, 1884, he was elected colonel
of the Fifth Regiment, anl at the annual
inspection of 1886 his regiment achieved
the highest standing of any in the State.
After serving nearly three years in that
rank, in January, 1887, Colonel Hastings
resigned his commission and accepted
the appointment Of Adjutant General OF
Pennsylvania. AS member Of the Mill
tary Commission created to revise the
military code of the commonwealth, Gen.
eral Hastings, in connection with General
Hartranft and other able officers of that
board, rendered excellent service in the
preparation and passage Of the present
military bill, which places the military of
the State on its present basis Of efficiency
the National Guard openly acknowledges
General Hastings ability, zeal and efici-
ency. 1t recalls the success of the Divi-
sion Encampment of 1887 at Mount Gretna
where General Sheridan reviewed the
5000 guardsmen, all fully equipped for
war, all due chiefly to the united energy
and vigilance of Generals Hartranfr and
Hastings.
On June l, 1889, he was at small town
in Cambria county. When he heard the
awful reports from Johnstown he at once
hired team and started for the ill-fated
city, driving the whole day long over
flooded roads and broken bridges, arriving
at Johnstown at p. m. Taking in tie
situation Of affairs, he Immediately tele-
graphed to Governor Beaver to send up
some tents and other necessaries, then
took off his coat and went to work as a
private citizen to help and succor the dis
tressed. Promptly recognized by the sur
vivors OF the disaster a. the man for the
place, by general consent he assumed the
charge and responsibility of feeding and
relieving the people, subsequently man
aged the operations ordered by the State
authorities, demonstrating his great abil-
ity and making himself popular hero
General Hastings conduct Of affairs at
Johnstown brought him more prominently
than ever before the people of the State,
and in 1890 he aspired to the highest hon
or, within the gift OF his party-the nom-
ination for Governor. He catered the
convention Of that year with strong
support, receiving sixty four votes on the
first ballot, to eighty-four for Delamater
and fifty-six scattered among four other
candidates. He received sixty votes on
the second ballot, to ninety for Delamater,
but the latter's position was too strong
and few changes gave him l05 votes
two more than was necessary for the
nomination, leaving Hastings with fifty
eight.
General Hastings was offered the chair
manship OF the State Committee for the
ensuing year, but declined the position.
On the organization OF the Columbian
Worlds Fair Commission, in Sept. 1890,
he was defeated for the position of direct
or-general by Colonel George r. Davis, Of
Chicago. by a vote Of fifty-four to fifty.
In 1877 General Hastings was united in
marriage with Miss Jane Armstrong Rank
in, daughter Of James II. Rankin, the
present senior member Of the Centre Co
bar. He is member of the Methodist
church and holds the position Of trustee
OF the Of Bellefonte.