William Wirt Hastings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William W. Hastings
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd district |
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| In office March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1935 |
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| Preceded by | Alice Robertson |
| Succeeded by | John Nichols |
| In office March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921 |
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| Preceded by | Dick Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Alice Robertson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Wirt Hastings
December 31, 1866 Benton County, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | April 8, 1938 (aged 71) Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Cherokee Nation |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lula Mayfield Starr |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Cherokee Male Seminary Vanderbilt University (LLB) |
William Wirt Hastings (December 31, 1866 – April 8, 1938) was an important American politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Cherokee Nation and served several terms as a U.S. Representative in the United States Congress. This means he helped make laws for the country.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William W. Hastings was born on December 31, 1866. His birthplace was a farm in Benton County, Arkansas. This was very close to the border of what was then called Indian Territory.
His family later moved to a farm in Delaware County, Oklahoma. At that time, this area was part of the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory. William went to a school run by the Cherokee tribe.
He graduated from the Cherokee Male Seminary in Tahlequah in 1884. This was a school for young men of the Cherokee Nation. On December 9, 1896, he married Lula Mayfield Starr. They had four children: Grace, Lucile, Mayme, and Lillian.
A Career in Law and Politics
William Hastings started his career as a teacher. He taught in the Cherokee tribal schools from 1884 to 1886. Later, he went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He studied law there and graduated in 1889.
After finishing law school, he became a lawyer in the same year. He started his law practice in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He also taught in the tribal schools again from 1889 to 1891.
Hastings held important roles for the Cherokee Nation. He served as the Attorney General for the Cherokee Nation from 1891 to 1895. He was also the National Attorney for the Cherokee tribe from 1907 to 1914. He was involved in politics, attending the Democratic State convention and the Democratic National Convention in 1912.
Serving in Congress
William Hastings was elected to the United States Congress as a Democrat. He served three terms from March 4, 1915, to March 3, 1921. During this time, he was the chairman of a committee that looked at spending in the Department of the Interior.
In 1920, he tried to be re-elected but lost. He was defeated by Alice Mary Robertson, a Republican. This was a historic moment because it was the first time a woman had defeated a sitting U.S. Congressman.
Hastings was elected to Congress again in 1923. He served five more terms, from March 4, 1923, to January 3, 1935. He decided not to run for re-election in 1934. After leaving Congress, he went back to practicing law in Tahlequah.
Later Life and Legacy
William Hastings worked hard to help his community. Thanks to his efforts, Tahlequah received an Indian hospital in 1935. This was a special gift for the community.
He briefly returned to public life when President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him as a Cherokee Chief for one day. This was to sign a new deed after an error was found in an old document.
His Final Years
William W. Hastings passed away on April 8, 1938. He was 71 years old. He died in Muskogee, Oklahoma. His burial place is in the City Cemetery in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
See also
