St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-05-03
In Mem0riam.
Mrs. Bella Hastings.

than appeared at the time OF her death,
h;ct occurred suddenly on March Is at
". home of her daughter in Matappan,
Moss Although residing in Massachu-
se+ts the last of her life, Mrs. Hastings
zoe well known here, where she lived
o,v wears and was prominent in social
nc. and an active member of the Univer-
solst church, especially during the past.
o+s If the late Rev. B. M. Tillotson.
4iwavs busy woman she took time to
Left her friends and always received a
cordial welcome.
~ 4-nelia c. Hastings was born in Burke
unllov. Ian. 26, 1884, the daughter of
1ason and Delight Babcock, and was one
ofsoht children, Leander, Amelia, Lydia,
ivn,an Freton, William, Alice, Albert,
xiv one OF whom now remains, A. W.
pabcock. of St. Johnsbury, who has the
srronathv of all. Mrs. Hastings girlhood
Tyas snent mostly in Burke and in 1852,
at the age of IS, she married Harrison
Ricelow, of Hlllsboro, N. H., one of the
first engineers on the Passumpsic railroad.
Her mother, dying soon after, left her,
the Oldest daughter in the family, the
resnonsibiIities which she fully realized
and met to the best of her ability. She
lived with Mr.. Bigelow at Springfield,
Mass. Bratteboro, VT, and Concord,
Nh, returning to St. Johnsbury about
1885. soon after the death at her father,
Who was instantly killed at the car shops.
The fall of &c Mr.. Bigelow accepted a
fine position in Illinois and reluctantly
left bis family behind to join him in the
snring, but be died there of pneumonia in
Ian. 81. Three children were born of
This marriage, Eddie, dying in infancy,
Frank, who married Flora Ladd, of
Island Pond, and Will, who married
Sarah Stevens, of Lyndon. Deprived of
husband, father, and mother, with two
children to provide for, the same courage
which characterized Mrs. Hastings, whole
life, helped her then. In 80 she married
Bella Hastings, of St. Johnsbury, propri-
etor OF the Passumpsic House, but better
known as a drover for years on the
passumpsc railroad and on the old stage
route to Boston before the railroad was
running. They kept the hotel about 4
Years, Mrs. Hastings changing the name
to the Avenue House by which it is still
Known.
They lived in town till 'S4 when they
moved to Chelsea, Mass, opening a
boarding house, later on buying the
Richardson estate on Washington avenue
to the horror of some OF the residents
Who after ward, gladly awaited them
selves OF her hospitality. She was a
natural cook and home maker, not lack
ing in executive ability, and with the
assistance OF their daughters, her house
was soon known as the best in the city.
1t was frst-class in every particular; not
simply shelter, providing for the inner
man, but home where all wants were
anticipated, all desires satisfied. Always
cheerful and cordial, she made many
friends who admired and loved her to
the end.
During 1892 Mr.. Hastings failed in
health and died the next year in ST.
Jobnsbury at bis sons, B. L. Hastings,
where he had hoped the change would be
Of benefit. One daughter was born OF
this marriage, Bertha, who married DR..
WVe of Chelsea, Mass.
In the death of her son, Will, Mrs.
Hastings met with serious loss. Light
hearted and OF good judgment, he had
been her conhdant from his earliest years
aud ner comforter always. -Four days
after the funeral OF Mr.. Hastings, tele-
gram announced his death, from pneu-
nOnia, in Chicago, where he had a posi-
ton during the Worlds fair. Those who
knew her best realized something of the
crushing blow under which she struggled,
not allowing her trouble to darken the
world.
After the marriage of her daughters lin
1897 Mrs. Hastings sold her business,
making her home with Mrs. Wylie with
frequent visits to her other children and
trends. She was most attractive, in
teresting woman, "tair to look upon"
Underestima ting her own good qualities
she admired those OF others. She pos
Sessed loving nature which made new
friends and kept the old. Believing in
the "Fatherhood of God and the Brother.
and hope in eternal happiness. Her daily
life was filled with good deeds, sympathy
for the distressed and help for the needy.
Mrs. Hastings suffered much from
heart trouble, causing sinking spells
which of late had been more frequent |
and without warning. She had not |
been in quite her usual health ali winter,
expressing it in letters to her friends. but
no decided change could be detected.
Monday before her death she went for a
drive but did not rest well that night.
Tuesday morning she wanted to assist
in the household duties but her work
was not finished and she had an i'll turn
from which she did not fully recover,
complaining of pain in her side and arm.
She expressed some wishes in case she
might die, although still planning on at
tending the golden wedding of a friend in
Boston on Saturday. Everything was
done for her and on retiring, with her
bottle of heart tonic in her hand, from
which she was not separated day or
night, she said she should have nice
sleep. She was found early in the morn
ing without even the coverings disturbed,
the tablets had slipped from her fingers,
Tor them she had no need, but the mice
Sleep had been realized.
Besides her son and daughter, both
living at Mattapan, and her brother at
st, Johnsbury, she leaves one daughter,
.Iylda (Hastings) Knapp, daughter.in-
law, Sarah (Bigelow) Chase, and four
grandchildren, Earl and Ethel Bigelow,
charlie Hastings, Bella Sias.
The funeral was held at DR.. Wylie's,
Friday afternoon, March II, and was
attended by a large number. The Rev.