Santa
Clara County
Biographies
ALFRED
WARREN HASTINGS
Endowed by nature with great
artistic ability and much mechanical ingenuity, Alfred W. Hastings cultivated
his natural gifts and talents to an eminent degree, and now occupies an honored
position among the leading designers and builders of Santa Clara county, and as
head of the firm of A. W. Hastings & Son is contributing his full share
toward promoting the architectural beauty of San Jose and its suburbs. A son of
William Theodore Hastings, he was born June 14, 1854, in London, England. He
comes of a family distinguished in the annals of Great Britain, being a lineal
descendant of Warren Hastings, the first governor-general of India, whose
subsequent impeachment, trial and acquittal are historical facts familiar to
all school boys. William Hastings, the grandfather of Alfred Warren, a native
of Gloucestershire, England, was a contractor and builder, and for several
years owned the stage line extending from Cheltenham to London.
Born and educated in Cheltenham,
Gloucester county, England, William T. Hastings
learned the builder’s trade from his father, and in his early life was an
active and influential citizen of his native place, filling many public
positions, and serving for a time as treasurer of the county of Gloucester.
Subsequently removing to London, he was foreman of a hothouse and greenhouse
until 1856 when he engaged in business as a contractor, and made a specialty of
building hothouses and greenhouses, there continuing thus employed until his
death. He married Sarah Hastings, who was born in London, a daughter of Thomas
C. Hastings, who spent his entire life in London, and there established the
wholesale provision business which is still carried on under the firm name of
T. C. Hastings & Nephew. Of their union, four children were born namely:
William Theodore, who died in London; Alfred Warren, with whom this sketch is
chiefly concerned; Charles Walter, a brick contractor in San Francisco; and
Mrs. Margaret Adams, of Los Gatos, Cal. The mother came to America after the
death of her husband, and passed her last years in Toronto, Ontario.
Brought up in London, Alfred W.
Hastings attended the public schools until fourteen years old, obtaining a
practical education. As a boy he became familiar with the carpenter’s trade,
and later served an apprenticeship with his father. Coming to Ontario in 1871
he located first at Barrie, where his uncle, Joseph Hastings, was a jeweler.
Following his trade in that locality for a time, he subsequently removed to
Toronto, where he was employed in carpentering for a few years, living in that
city from 1885 until 1889. In the latter year Mr. Hastings came to the Pacific
coast, locating in San Jose, and for five years worked at his trade. Embarking
in business for himself in 1894, he has since become widely and favorably known
as an able and skilful designer and builder of modern houses, and has had
charge of the erection of many noted buildings and residences, including among
others the Letcher and Campton flats, the Colonel Danforth,
Ainsley and Campbell residences, and his own
residence at No. 655 South Sixth street. Near Mountainview
(sic) Mr. Hastings owns a five-acre ranch, on which he has made improvements of
value, and has set out an orchard containing fruit trees of various kinds.
In Toronto, Canada, Mr. Hastings married
Myra Adams, a native of Scarboro, Ontario and they
have six children namely: Wesley Warren (in partnership with his father),
Beatrice Clara, Charles Thomas (working as a carpenter with his father), Ada, Ruby and Norman. Wesley W., the oldest son, is a
skilful architect, and does all the designing and drafting for the firm. Mr.
Hastings belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men, and is a member of the San
Jose Builders’ Exchange. In national politics he is identified with the
Republican party.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 511-512. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.