Autobiography of Z. S. Hastings

In this intimate memoir, a 19th‑century American reflects on the roots that shaped his life, addressing his sons as both witnesses and future custodians of family history. He opens with the story of his birth in 1838 Indiana, detailing the quirky naming debate that gave him the double‑barreled moniker Zachariah Simpson and the earnest baptism rituals of his deeply religious parents. The narrative weaves together his English‑Irish heritage, the Quaker‑Whig lineage of his forebears, and the earnest desire to pass on values of humility, honesty, and faith.

The early chapters recount the family’s arduous trek from North Carolina to the frontier, the modest wagon load that carried only a few belongings and a hundred dollars in gold, and the vivid memories of a presidential rally that left an indelible impression on a toddler’s mind. Through vivid recollections and gentle moral musings, the author paints a portrait of a bygone era, inviting listeners to glimpse the everyday struggles and aspirations that forged his character.