George Wesley Hastings was the son of Solomon and Susannah (Starkey) Hastings. Solomon was born along the east coast and had migrated to Ohio, where he married Susannah.

A note about the family surname: Some in this line spelled the surname Hasting, and some spelled it Hastings. Solomon and Susannah spelled the surname Hasting, as did their son David; their son George and his descendants spelled it 'Hastings' with an s on the end. All of George and his wife Mary's documents, newspaper clippings, and other things done during their lifetimes spell their surname 'Hastings.' It is unclear why their marker says 'Hasting' but it is possible the family member who arranged the marker wanted it to be spelled like their own. George's brother David survived him.

George Wesley Hastings was born 22 August 1845 in Belmont county, Ohio. In 1852, his parents migrated to Illinois from Ohio, to a spot where the village of Baylis now stands.

George Wesley Hastings wed Mary Ann "Polly" Winner on 9 August 1867 in Barry, Pike county, Illinois. They farmed a nice plot of land, and had several children together, including: Mary Etta, Nancy Ellen, James Samuel Olen, Sarah Olive, Charles Wesley, Maggie Mae, John Henry, William, Richard Clarence, John Floyd, Jessie Lelia, and Harry Amos Hastings. Sadly, four of their children preceded them in death: Mary Etta, Richard Clarence, William, and Floyd.

Not long before Christmas in 1903, a tragic house fire cost the family their home, belongings, and the life of their son Richard Clarence. Richard Clarence is buried in the Winner family cemetery, which has since fallen into a state of disrepair. The house fire also caused serious burns to other familly members including George's wife, the children's mother, Mary, and son "Billy."

George Wesley Hastings died 11 March 1931, at age 85. Mary Ann (Winner) Hastings died the following 13 May 1932. Both were members of the Kingston, Illinois Baptist church.

According to the Illinois death index both are buried in Parklawn cemetery. According to their obituaries both are buried in Kingston cemetery.

Sources: Censuses, newspaper stories, obituaries, Illinois death index, family information.