HASTINGS, Jacob P.
(Milton Eagle April 2, 1909)

JACOB P. HASTINGS DIES AT AGE OF EIGHTY-THREE WAS PIONEER MINISTER OF WALLA VALLEY, HAVING SETTLED NEAR VALLEY CHAPELIN 1862

Having reached the ripe old age of 83 years, Rev. Jacob P. Hastings,another of the early pioneers of the Walla Walla valley and one of thefirst men to preach in this part of the northeast, passed to his eternalrest at the home of his daughter, Mrs Rebecca Arthur, in Starbuck, Washington on last Tuesday.

No lingering illness marked the last days ofthis pioneer, for death by senile decay came as a sweet relief from the cares of a life full of self sacrifice and devotion to the cause of doinggood for others.

For more than half a century the deceased was a minister in the Christian church, and although never occurring the Milton church as aregular appointee, he frequently spoke in this city, where he was always greeted by a large audience of sympathetic and interested hearers.

The Rev. Hastings was born in Lancaster county, PA, February 1826,where he spent the first few years of his life. When a young man he moved with his parents to Ohio, but after a few years residence in thestate the family again moved, this time to Iowa. Here both the parents died and ere buried, while their son was yet a mere youth.

When 25 years old Mr. Hastings was married to Martha N. Graham, the couple moving shortly after their union from Iowa to Missouri. Here they lived until the year 1862 when they moved to the Walla Walla valley and settled near Valley Chapel, near the state line. On the trip across the plains they encountered the usual hardships and difficulties which so inevitably followed the steps of the early pioneer.

After residing at Valley Chapel for 10 years, during which time Rev.Hastings often preached to the few settlers who then resided in this vicinity, the family moved to Garfield county, Washington, where the head of the family homestead a piece of government land. In the year 1890 the Hastings family came to Milton and settled on the property in South Milton which now bears his name.

In 1900 Mrs. Hastings died and was buried in the city cemetery overlooking the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Hastings were born 12 children, all of whom, with the exception of four who died in infancy and one daughter, Mrs W.W. Morse, who died in 1894, are now living. They are Enoch G. Hastings of Central Ferry, WA; Ephriam D. Hastings of Milton; and Mrs. A. Mores, of Milton; Mrs. Martha Hudson, also of Milton; Mrs. Emma Hudson, ofEnterprise; Mrs. Artie Willson, of Enterprise; and Mrs. Rebecca Arthur,of Starbuck, WA. Beside these there are 39 grandchildren and severalgreat grandchildren.

The remains were brought to Milton Thursday afternoon, funeral services being held at the Christian church at 2 o'clock Saturdayafternoon, Elder C.H. Hilton, officiating. Interment took place in thefamily plot in the city cemetery, where the deceased was laid to rest by the side of his wife.
___________________
MARTHA GRAHAM HASTINGS
(Milton Eagle Mar. 2, 1900)

We wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our numerous friends and neighbors for their untiring devotion, Christian love and sympathy shown during the illness and death of our dear mother, and for the genuine sympathy shown to our aged father in this, his greatest bereavement, the loss of his dear companion. For this we express sincere thanks of each sorrowing heart.

J.P HASTINGS - MRS. A. MORSE - E.G. HASTINGS - MRS. KATE HUDSON
__________________________
Jacob Peoples Hastings was the brother of Rebecca Hastings. When as young man he moved with his parents to Ohio, but after a few years residence in the state the family again moved, this time to Iowa. Here both the parents died and were buried, while their son was yet a mere youth.

When 25 years old Mr. Hastings was married to Martha N. Graham, the couple moving shortly after their union from Iowa to Missouri. Here they lived until the year 1862 when they moved to the Walla Walla valley. Rev. Jacob P. Hastings, a early pioneer of the Walla Walla valley and one of the first men to preach in this part of the northeast.

They started in March 1862, with their ox teams and covered wagons. It was a big train of covered wagons, which accompanied them on this long journey west. On the trip across the plains they encountered the usual hardships and difficulties, which so inevitably followed the steps of the early pioneers. They passed a wagon train that had been attacked by the Indians. The occupants had been murdered and left lying about and the wagons were burned. It must have just happened because the ashes were still hot.

After they had passed this tragedy, the Indians attacked them and tried to drive their cattle away and the driver became excited after the Indians withdrew from attacking the men, and ran out on a hillside from the wagons and the Indians shot him. Leaving the people in the train to watch. The bodies were buried after the massacre of the first ill fated immigrant train. There were two or three deaths, which occurred in the wagon train while they were on their journey. Two were children and one driver of a wagon they were buried by the roadside and camouflaged so the Indians would not notice them, and they had to drive off and leave their dead and journey on. They crossed the Platte River at flood stage. It is said that some of the pioneers felled trees, limbed them and sawed them the length of their wagons then chained them to the sides of their wagons and floated across, with the oxen swimming across.

They were in the state of Utah when the Indians tried to drive their cattle off again. It was believed they were afraid to attack the train because it was too large and manned too well. Mrs. Ella Hastings, Long`s mother, Alice Morris Hastings, told how the women and children were gathered in the wagons and they took their sacks of flour and placed them between them and the sides of the wagons. When the Indians were attacking them. Their flour sacks served as a barricade