WILLIAM P. HASTINGS, proprietor of one of the leading hardware stores in Washington, is of English descent, his paternal grandfather having emigrated from the "Old Country" to America, making a settlement in Washington, this county, where he followed the trade of saddler, and passed the rest of his life. He had children, of whom John C. is deceased; William (now deceased) lived near Brownsville, this county; Samuel died in Indiana; Henderson is deceased; Mary is the wife of Hiram Swart, of Amwell township; and Nancy is deceased. John C. Hastings was born in Washington, this county, in 1818, and received his education at the local schools. He commenced life a poor boy, and when but eight years of age began to work in Jonathan Martin's fulling mill, but later was employed on the National pike under this same Martin, who was one of the contractors. He learned the carpenter's trade with Joshua Martin, a brother of the above-mentioned Martin, and followed the trade until 1848, when he was appointed clerk in the postoffice under Jonathan Leet. In 1850 he opened on his own account a grocery store, where Brady's jewelry store now stands, and in I860 formed a partnership with H. F. Strean, in hardware and agricultural implements. He bought Strean's interest in 1869, and in 1871 he removed the hardware business to the store which his son, William P., now keeps. In 1878 he associated the latter with him, which alliance continued until the father's death April 16, 1888, he being then seventy-seven years old. He was originally a Democrat, but in 1856 became a Republican; in religion he was a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Hastings was twice married, first to a daughter of James Nichol, of Washington county, whose immediate ancestry were agriculturists in the early days of the county. In 1852 Mr. Hastings married Miss Hannah, daughter of Huston Paul, and two children were born to them: William P. and Anna G., wife of W. S. Harrah, of Allegheny. William P. Hastings was born at Washington, Penn., March 22, 1853. He received a liberal education at the common schools of the borough, and in 1870 commenced clerking in his father’s store; in 1878 he was admitted as a partner, as already related. He was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of A. B. Ashbrook, of Buffalo township, in 1875, and two bright boys have come to bless their home: Harry, horn in 1877, and William, born in 1883. Mr. Hastings is one of the well-known and enterprising young business men of Washington, and represents a family whose progressiveness and integrity have never been questioned.

Text taken from page 276 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed August 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project. Published August 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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