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Smith Cemetery ~ Reuben A. Hastings ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Hastings, Reuben A.
LAST NAME: Hastings FIRST NAME: Reuben MIDDLE NAME: A. NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 26 Jan 1857 DIED: 8 Sept 1928 BURIED: 10 Sept 1928 ~ Smith Cemetery
OCCUPATION:  
BIRTH PLACE:  Polk Co, Oregon
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co, Oregon
NOTES: 
1st MARRIAGE - R.A. Hastings & Miss D.E. Price m 12 Oct 1879, residence of Mrs Abigail Price; Pres Holman GP. Wit: Press Price, Hannah Hastings
1880 OR CENSUS - R.A. [Reuben] Hastings (23y; b Ore) enumerated as son-in-law in house of G.P. [Gilla] Price (63y; b Mo; widowed); with him was his wife E.D. [Ella] (19y, b Ore)
NOTE - first wife Ella was daughter of Fantley Price who is buried in Salt Creek Cemetery and Gilla Price who is buried in Kings Valley Cemetery in Benton Co; Ella died 18 Aug 1884 and is buried in Kings Valley Cemetery
2nd MARRIAGE - Reuben A. Hastings & Esther Johnson md 3 Aug 1890, Polk Co, Oregon
NOTE - second wife Esther was daughter of John & Phoebe Johnson who are buried in Taylor Cemetery. She died 20 Feb 1895 near Lewisville and was buried in Kings Valley Cemetery (Independence Enterprise 21 Feb 1895)
3rd MARRIAGE - Reuben A. Hastings & Tena S.J. Waters md 14 Nov 1900, Polk Co, Oregon
1910 OR CENSUS - Reuben A. Hastings (53y, b Oregon, married twice) enumerated with wife of 9 years Tina S.J. (41y, b Oregon, mother of 2 children, both living) and daughters Grace R. (8y, b Oregon) and Pearl G. (5y, b Oregon)
4th MARRIAGE - Ruben A. Hastings & Mary E. Lee md 28 Jan 1921, Polk Co, Oregon
NOTE - 4th wife Mary was widow of Samuel McDowell (buried Smith Cemetery) and Andrew J. Lee (died 6 Sept 1917 in Portland, Oregon; buried Dallas cemetery). She died 28 Feb 1923 at Pedee and was buried in Dallas Cemetery (probably in the Lee plot in the pioneer section, although her grave is unmarked) (death notice Polk County Observer 1 Mar 1923 & Polk County Itemizer 8 Mar 1923)

BIOGRAPHY - The owner of a finely improved farm lying two miles east of Pedee, Reuben A. Hastings occupies an assured position among the more intelligent, enterprising and active citizens of Polk county. He is carrying on general farming with success, year by year adding to his wealth, and, having the respect and confidence of his neighbors and friends, is regarded as a valuable member of the community. Native and to the manor born, his birth occurred January 26, 1857, on Soap Creek, Polk county, near Suver station, on the homestead which his father Burres L. Hastings, took up from the government.
His paternal grandfather, John W. Hastings, was born April 15, 1798, in Orange county, NC. Emigrating to Tennessee with his bride, just after his marriage, he lived in Henry county until 1840, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. He subsequently continued his independent vocation in Fulton county, Ark, until his death, April 2, 1847. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Estes, was born in Orange county, NC, and died in 1850 in Arkansas. They reared five sons and two daughters, Burres L. being their third child.
Born April 2, 1832, in Henry county, Tenn, Burres L. Hastings obtained the rudiments of his education in his native town, completing his studies in the common schools of Arkansas. In 1852, in company with his brothers, John and Archibald, he came to Polk county, Ore, where all three located and one of the brothers, John Hastings now resides ain Airlie. Leaving Arkansas on April 7, 1852, the brothers were a little more than four months on the road, arriving in Portland, Ore, August 26. They remained on the Luckiamute, Polk county, about two weeks, and then proceeded to California, where they were engaged in mining on Weaver creek for some time. Having poor luck, Burres L. Hastings returned to Oregon in the summer of 1853, and took up a donation claim on Soap creek, near Suver, and on his farm of three hundred and twenty acres engaged in mixed husbandry, including stockraising, for four years. Selling out, he purchased a ranch containing one hundred and sixty acres, about two miles north from his present home, and lived there a year and a half. Disposing of that estate, he settled on the Luckiamute river near Airlie, renting a farm for three years, and then buying a ranch, which he occupied until 1871. Renting that farm, he moved into Tillamook county for the benefit of his own and family’s health, and lived there fifteen months. He subsequently lived for a time on his Airlie ranch, then carried on farming on his Tillamook county ranch for a year. Returning then to Airlie, he resided there until 1875, when he sold his farm, and moved to his present homestead, in the vicinity of Pedee. He has a well improved estate of three hundred and seventy-nine acres, seventy five of which are in a good state of cultivation, and he is carrying on general farming and stock-raising with good results.
Burres L. Hastings married, in 1854, Sophia Simpson, who was born in Fulton county, Ark, April 5, 1837, and of their union four children have been born, namely: Rebecca Alice, deceased; Reuben A., the special subject of this sketch; Hannah J., wife of William Elkins of Dallas; and R.W. of Cottage Grove, Ore. Mr Hastings is a Democrat imn politics, and has served as road supervisor and school director. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church at Pedee.
Born near Suver, Reuben A. Hastings obtained his early education in the common schools of Polk county, and when yet a boy moved with his parents to the mountains near Pedee. As soon as old enough to be of use, he began assisting his father on the farm, and as early as practicable engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. Locating on his present ranch not far from Pedee, he had one hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, forty of which are in cultivation, yielding excellent crops. In addition to general farming he carries on a substantial business as a stock-raiser. He also has charge of his father’s large ranch, managing it ably and satisfactorily.
Mr Hastings has been married three times. He married first, October 12, 1879, Ella Price, daughter of Fantley Price, who crossed the plains in 1852 and located on Salt creek. She died at Pedee in 1884. His second marriage, which occurred August 3, 1890, united him with Ettie Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, who crossed the plains in 1844 and settled near Lewisville, on the farm now occupied by his widow. She died on the home farm, February 20, 1895. Mr Hastings married for the third time, November 4, 1901, Tena Waters, a daughter of John Waters, an early settler of Pedee. Mr and Mrs Hastings have one child, Grace Rowena. Politically Mr Hastings is actively identified with the Democratic party, and has served his fellow citizens as school director, and as road supervisor.
Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1903), pp 887-88
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OSBH DC (1928 Marion co) #618 Ruben A. Hastings, male, farmer, married; b 26 Jan 1857, Polk co, Ore; father B.L. Hastings (b Tenn); mother Sophia Simpson (b Ark); d 8 Sept 1928, 1695 S Commercial St, Salem; age 71y 7m 3d; informant Mrs Walter Zosel, 1695 S Commercial, Salem
OBITUARY: 
Reuben A. Hastings died Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs Walter Zozel, 1695 South Commercial street after an illness of almost two years. Mr Hastings was a native of Polk county and was 71. He was the son of B.L. Hastings who took up a donation land claim near Pedee, Oregon in 1853. Mrs Hastings died in Salem 14 years ago and he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs Walter Zozel, his only child. Also surviving him is a sister, Mrs W.D. Elkins of Eugene. Funeral services will be held from the Rigdon establishment at 1:30 o’clock Monday. Burial will be in the Pedee cemetery.
Oregon Statesman, Sunday, September 9, 1928
INSCRIPTION: 
No marker at Smith Cemetery [grave moved to Belcrest Cemetery in Salem in April 1930]
SOURCES: 
OSBH DC (1928 Marion co) #618
Polk Co, Oregon Marriage Record, 1879-1888, page 2
1880 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Luckiamute, ED 107, FA#151)
Polk Co, Oregon, Marriage Records, Vols 3 & 5
1910 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Luckiamute, ED 244, Sheet 5A) 
Oregon Marriage Index
Oregon Statesman, 9 Sept 1928
PBRWV, pp 887-888
CONTACTS: 
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