Daniel Hartman Hastings(February 26, 1849 – January 9, 1903) was the 21stgovernor of Pennsylvania,serving from 1895 to 1899.[1]
Daniel Hartman Hastings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 21stGovernor of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 15, 1895 – January 17, 1899 | |
| Lieutenant | Walter Lyon |
| Preceded by | Robert E. Pattison |
| Succeeded by | William A. Stone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 26, 1849 Salona,Clinton County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | January 9, 1903(aged 53) Bellefonte, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jane Armstrong Rankin (married 1877) |
| Profession | Teacher Principal Attorney Military officer |
Biography
editDaniel H. Hastings was born in Salona,Clinton County, Pennsylvania,on February 26, 1849. He was educated locally, and worked on his father's farm. He tried several times to run away to join theUnion Armyfor theAmerican Civil War,following the example of his three older brothers, but his father stopped him each time.
Early career
editAt age 14, Hastings became a school teacher inClinton County, Pennsylvania,a job he held for four years. Named principal ofBellefonte High Schoolat age 18, Hastings carried out the responsibilities of this position while furthering his own education, attendingBellefonte Academyand studying law.
Hastings was admitted to the bar in 1875 and established a successful practice. He also became involved in several businesses, including coal mines and banking. In addition, he was editor of theBellefonte Republicannewspaper.
Involved in local government and civic institutions, Hastings served on the Bellefonte school board, as a townBurgess,a trustee of Bellefonte'sMethodist Episcopal Church,and a trustee ofPennsylvania State CollegeandDickinson College.Daniel Hastings was initiated into Bellefonte Lodge # 268 of Free and Accepted Masons in September 1874. He became their Worshipful Master of in 1878. He was a member of the Bellefonte Chapter # 241 of Royal Arch masons. He became the Eminent Commander of Constans Commandery #33 Knights Templar of Bellefonte in 1886.
Start of political career
editActive in politics as aRepublican,in 1878 he managed the successful Congressional campaign of his law partner,Seth Hartman Yocum,a Republican running as aGreenbacker.
In1882he was active in the unsuccessful campaign ofJames A. Beaverfor governor. In1886,he was a delegate to the state Republican convention, and gave the nominating speech for Beaver, who ran successfully for governor. In 1887 he was chairman of the state Republican convention.
Hastings was a delegate to the1888 Republican National Convention,and gave the nominating speech forJohn Sherman.He also gave a seconding speech forLevi P. Mortonafter Morton was nominated forVice President.
Military career
editIn July 1877 Hastings joined thePennsylvania State Militiaas paymaster of the 5th Regiment with the rank ofCaptain.Within a year he had been appointedLieutenant Coloneland second-in-command of his regiment, and soon afterwards he was appointed assistant adjutant of the Pennsylvania Militia's 2nd Brigade. By 1880 he had been promoted to commander of the 5th Regiment with the rank ofcolonel.
In 1887, governor and fellow Bellefonte residentJames A. Beavernamed Hastings as Adjutant General of the state Militia with the rank ofmajor general.
In his role as adjutant general, Hastings led relief efforts following the 1889Johnstown Flood,for which he gained statewide attention and praise.
Governor of Pennsylvania
editHastings was a candidate for governor in1890,butMatthew S. Quay,leader of the state Republican Party, succeeded in obtaining the nomination for George W. Delamater, defeating Hastings by only 11 votes.
As a wealthy banker affiliated withStandard Oil,Delamater proved unpopular with many Republicans, who gave him lukewarm support or supported theDemocraticnominee, former governorRobert E. Pattison.Pattison had been elected in1882,and served from 1883 to 1887. Pattison was barred by law to an additional consecutive term and so could not run for reelection. James Beaver defeated Chauncey Forward Black in the1886,and served from 1887 to 1891. Pattison running again then defeated Delamater in1890,and served from 1891 to 1895.
Hastings sought theRepublicangubernatorial again in1894.[2][3]He obtained it,[4]and defeated the Democratic nominee,William M. Singerly.[5]Hastings served one term, 1895 to 1899.
As governor, in1895Hastings appointed the first seven judges to the newly createdPennsylvania Superior Court,including former governor Beaver. In addition, his administration included the creation of thePennsylvania State Game Commission,State Forestry Commission,andPennsylvania Department of Agriculture.He also signed into a law a measure to replace state property taxes with a tax on corporate profits.
Also in 1895, Hastings enacted thePennsylvania Capitol Police,the first Pennsylvaniapolice agencyunder Commonwealth jurisdiction and the second oldest state police organization in the United States, after theTexas Rangers.[6]
In1897,the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg was destroyed in a fire, and the Hastings administration started efforts to erect a replacement, which was completed in 1906.
Hastings directed the state's response during theSpanish–American War,working with the state legislature to raise troops, supplies and equipment and transport them to mobilization sites, and then taking steps to return soldiers to Pennsylvania and demobilize them at the end of the war.
Death and burial
editFollowing his term, Hastings returned to his law practice and business interests. He died from pneumonia in Bellefonte on January 9, 1903, and was buried atUnion Cemeteryin Bellefonte.
Legacy
editHastings Hall on theUniversity Parkcampus ofPenn Stateis named for him.
In 1889 Hastings founded the town ofHastings, Pennsylvania,as part of his coal mining interests, and it was named for him. He also founded the mining towns ofSpanglerand Bakerton.
In 1895 Hastings received anhonoraryLL.D.from Dickinson College.
References
edit- ^"The Governors of Pennsylvania."Mount Union, Pennsylvania:The Mount Union Times,January 27, 1911, p. 1 (subscription required).
- ^"Hastings and Lyon."Carbondale, Pennsylvania:The Carbondale Daily News,May 24, 1894, p. 1 (subscription required).
- ^"City Notes."Scranton, Pennsylvania:The Scranton Tribune,October 22, 1894, p. 5 (subscription required).
- ^"Inaugural Arrangements."Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:Harrisburg Telegraph,January 11, 1895, p. 1 (subscription required).
- ^"Inauguration."Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:Harrisburg Independent,January 14, 1895, p. 1 (subscription required).
- ^"PA Capitol Police".