Shelby County Indiana
Obituaries
Hacker
Obituaries
Hacker
The Shelbyville News
May 2, 1969
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RITES SET FOR ROBERT HACKER
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Robert H. Hacker, 40, 209 Van Avenue, died May 2, 1969.May 2, 1969
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RITES SET FOR ROBERT HACKER
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Resident of Shelbyville for past 13 years.
Born September 9, 1928, Columbus, Ohio.
Married Patricia Ann Foster on September 7, 1968; she survives.
Also surviving: children, Robert Keith Hacker, Michael Wayne Hacker, Larry Hacker, Penny Elaine Hacker, Shelbyville, Terry Charline Hacker, Fresno, California; three step-children, William, Dale and Lisa Krise, Shelbyville; five brothers and sisters, Carl Hacker, Tremont City, Ohio, Lawrence Hacker, Springfield, Ohio, Mrs. Betty Mercer, Mrs. Ruth Atkins, Columbus, Ohio, Mrs. Kathryn Oldherns, Johnstown, Ohio.
Employed with Fred A. Beck Distributing Company of Indianapolis.
Member of the Eagles Lodge, WWII Marine Corp veteran.
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, with Rev. James H. Horner officiating..
Summarized by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelbyville News
Wednesday, December 11, 1957
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RITES SET FOR
MRS. HACKER
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City Man's Daughter
Killed in Germany
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Funeral services have been arranged for Mrs. Eilene Hacker, 36, daughter of Bryan Demaree of this city who was killed in an automobile accident in Hanau, Germany, November '27. The rites will be held at the Christian Church in New Point, Decatur county, Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at New Point. Friends may call at the Myer Funeral Home in Batesville.Wednesday, December 11, 1957
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RITES SET FOR
MRS. HACKER
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City Man's Daughter
Killed in Germany
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Mrs. Hacker, whose home was in Decatur county, lost her life when the car in which she and her husband, Specialist Third Class Elias Hacker, and another serviceman were riding swerved to avoid striking a car and struck a building. Surviving with the husband and father is a brother, Charles Demaree of this city.
Contributed by Phyllis Fleming and Betty Kitchen
The Shelby Democrat
Thursday March 8, 1906
Page 1 column 2
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FORMER RESIDENT DEAD
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William Hacker, Father of Mrs. George W. Barger,
Died Last Night
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(From Tuesday's Daily)Thursday March 8, 1906
Page 1 column 2
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FORMER RESIDENT DEAD
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William Hacker, Father of Mrs. George W. Barger,
Died Last Night
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Mrs. George W. Barger, who resides north of town, received a telegram today announcing the death of her father, William K. Hacker, of Farmersville, Illinois, which occurred last night.
Mr. Hacker formerly resided in this county and had many friends, who will regret to hear of his demise. He leaves besides Mrs. Barger, a daughter, Sophie, who lives in this county; two sons who live in Indianapolis, and one sister, Mrs. Jesse Meloy, of this city.
Members of the family left this afternoon for his late residence where the funeral services will be held tomorrow.
Contributed by Barb Huff for Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Shelby Democrat
Thursday January 18, 1906
Page 7 column 4
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William Hacker of Rushville died this morning at four o'clock, after an illness lasting one hour. Mr. Hacker lived in Shelbyville for a number of years, having resided on Montgomery street.Thursday January 18, 1906
Page 7 column 4
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Contributed by Barb Huff
The Shelbyville Democrat
Friday, July 11, 1902
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MARY A. HACKER
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An Aged Resident of This City,
Died at Six O'clock, Monday Evening
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Mary A. Hacker, wife of the late William Hacker, died at her residence in this city Monday evening at 6 o'clock.Friday, July 11, 1902
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MARY A. HACKER
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An Aged Resident of This City,
Died at Six O'clock, Monday Evening
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She was the daughter of the Rev. Thomas W. and Rebecca Sargent and was born in Clermont county, Ohio, March 19th, 1817, being at the time of her death 85 years of age. She was united in marriage to William Hacker in Shelbyville, January 20th, 1839. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1889.
The living children are William A., Carmi, Illinois; Thomas S., Indianapolis; Mrs. Thomas Randall, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. T. B. Jennings, Topeka, Kansas; Mrs. Caughey Fleming and Mrs. Jacob Conrey, of this city. Funeral services will be held at the residence, Wednesday, July 9th, at 4 p.m., Dr. J. W. Duncan, of the First M. E. church, will officiate.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Indianapolis Journal
Marion County, Indiana
July 9, 1902
Page 6
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Other Deaths in the State.
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SHELBYVILLE, Ind., July 8. ---Mary A. Hacker died at her home in this city on Monday night. She was born in Clermont county, O., on March 19, 1817. She was the wife of William Hacker, who was prominent in Masonic circles. Their golden wedding anniversary was celebrated in 1889. The children living are William A., of Carmi, Ill.; Thomas S., of Indianapolis; Mrs. Thomas Randall, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. T. B. Jennings, Topeka, Kan.; Mrs. Caughey Fleming and Mrs. Jacob Conrey, of this city. Funeral services will be held to-morrow afternoon.Marion County, Indiana
July 9, 1902
Page 6
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Other Deaths in the State.
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Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
The Jasper Weekly Courier
7 Aug 1891
Page 6
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On the 29th, William Hacker, a veteran freemason, died in his home in Shelbyville, Ind., aged 81. He leaves a widow and six children. Mr. Hacker was made a mason by St. John's lodge, No.13, at Dayton, O. in 1822 and passed through the grades of masonry, including the thirty-third degree. He became a member of the grand lodge of Indiana in 1835 and has been a working member ever since.7 Aug 1891
Page 6
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Contributed by John Addison Ballard
The Shelby Democrat
August 6, 1891
THE GATES WERE AJAR
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And the Spirit of William Hacker Passed Peacefully In
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AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER ENDED
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The Death Angel at the Home of Indiana's Most Distinguished Mason
Finds a Loved But Not Unwilling Victim--After a Life Service,
Marvellously Beautiful in the Sweet Simplicity of Its Character,
an Aged and Honored Citizen's Span of Life Comes to a
Peaceful Repose--Complete Sketch of the Birth, Life and
Business Character of One of the State's Most Honored Sons.
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Calmly he looked on either life, and here
Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear;
From nature's temperate feast rose satisfied;
Thanked heaven that he had lived, and that
he died.---Pope
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From Daily Democrat, Thursday, July 30.August 6, 1891
THE GATES WERE AJAR
_______
And the Spirit of William Hacker Passed Peacefully In
_______
AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER ENDED
_______
The Death Angel at the Home of Indiana's Most Distinguished Mason
Finds a Loved But Not Unwilling Victim--After a Life Service,
Marvellously Beautiful in the Sweet Simplicity of Its Character,
an Aged and Honored Citizen's Span of Life Comes to a
Peaceful Repose--Complete Sketch of the Birth, Life and
Business Character of One of the State's Most Honored Sons.
_______
Calmly he looked on either life, and here
Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear;
From nature's temperate feast rose satisfied;
Thanked heaven that he had lived, and that
he died.---Pope
_______
Yesterday afternoon at two o'clock Indiana's greatest Mason, William Hacker, breathed his last. Attending him were nearly all of the members of his family and several Masonic brothers of this city. His death was due to a general failure of the vital forces, brought on by a severe attack of the grippe, which prostrated him, but which was not attended by any especial local manifestations that he physician, Dr. J. W. Green, was unable to speedily control. His great age, eighty-one years, and a constitution seemingly feeble for years, hastened his demise.
Conscious to the last hour of his life, he heroically and with that fortitude which, borned of a deep and profound relationship to the Great Master, is the christian's stay, William Hacker's last days on earth were emblamatical of the purity of the busier years of a life filled with honor, distinction and love to all mankind. A whole state deplores his death; an order of world-wide renown will bow its head in grief that he is no more; church and community will sincerely mourn.
His life was such as marks the perfect man! Consistent, congenial, considerate, his charity for human error was a marked attribute. Just, generous, amiable and pleasant, he won men to him and they were ever after his friends. Honest in business relations, capable in the discharge of every duty of official life; bright and entertaining in social circles, he was honored and revered by all who came into contact with him.
* *
In 1498 Mr. Hacker's paternal line of descent commenced at the birth of Wilhelm Heckardt, near Dresden, in Saxony. He was the first born of his parents, and therefore inherited their large and extensive estates. In early manhood he espoused the cause of the Reformation as taught by Luther and his coadjutors. He was therefore compelled to flee the country, and he lost his entire estate, which reduced him to beggary. He went to London and began preaching the Reformation, but the Bishop in 1527 apprehended him, preferred charges, had him tortured, and upon his refusal to renounce his religion he was placed on the rack. He died soon after in prison.This proceeding was had under Henry VIII, by the orders of Sir Thoms Moore. About 120 years later William Hacker, a great-grand-son of the original William Hacker, became the Col. Francis Hacker, the Drill officer and Commander of Cromwell's Iron-Side Brigade, and led it in many a hard fought battle during the commonwealth of England. During the imprisonment of Charles I, Col. Hacker had command of troops that kept guard over the King, and led that unhappy Monarch to the scaffold at his execution. One of the first acts of Parliament, after the restoration of the monarchy was the bill of attainder against those who had taken part in the condemnation and execution of King Charles I, which was to extend to them and their posterity forever.
Under this act, Col. Hacker was arrested, tried and put to death; in 1860. The descendants of Col. Hacker fled to Holland and thence to America, settling in Virginia, near Winchester, in the Shenandoah Valley. The head of this family was named William Hacker who became acquainted with a young Scotch lady on the voyage to America, whom he married in Philadelphia. They moved to the west fork of the Monongahela. They had two sons--William and John--and five daughters. John, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in a block-house January 17, 1773. Thus it will be seen, William Hacker was of German and Scotch descent.
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William Hacker was born near Urbana, O., Dec. 5, 1810. His father, John Hacker, served in the war of 1812, and died in Shelby county, Indiana, in 1834. The son had very poor educational privileges, attending school only about two months in the year, but he availed himself of every opportunity to gain useful knowledge and acquired much general information. Until the age of seventeen he worked on his father's farm, in Montgomery county, Ohio, and then learned a trade in Dayton, serving an apprenticeship of four years. In 1838 with his father, he removed to Indiana and a year later located in Shelbyville, which was his home until hes death. In 1838 he engaged in Merchantile trade, but was soon obliged to abandon his business on account of failing health.
In 1839 he and Miss Mary Ann Sargent, of Pennsylvania, were united in marriage.
In 1841 he was elected justice of the peace, and held the office for five years, during three years of which time he also collected the revenues of the county for the treasurer. He was secretary of a railroad company for several years, and in 1851 again tried selling merchandise, but was compelled to give it up owing to poor health. In 1852, he was again elected justice of the peace, which office he held thirteen years. During the latter part of this period his hearing became so defective that he was compelled to retire from active business and professional life.
Mr. Hacker took great interest in Masonry. He attained the highest grades in both the York and Scottish Rites, and was seldom absent from any meeting of the Grand Lodge, Grand Commandery or State Co??sistory. Tall, erect and slender, with long white hair and beard, his presence always attracted attention. He was regarded by many as the "father of Masonry" in this State. He was an enthusiastic member of the fraternity, and was considered an authority on all matters pertaining to the order. His library of Masonic works was the most complete in the West. A few years ago he presented it to the Scottish Rite. It was given a prominent place in the social rooms of the temple, where it is known as the "William Hacker library."
Mr. Hacker received the Master Mason degree in St. John Lodge, No. 13, at Dayton, O., in July, 1832. In 1835 he was elected worshipful master of Shelby Lodge, which position he often filled in after years. In 1845 he became a member of the Grand Lodge, and in 1863 was chosen grand master. Retiring in 1865, he was immediately elected grand secretary but resigned three years later. In 1845 he was made a Royal Arch Mason and in 1848 became a member of the Grand Chapter, of which he was grand high priest from 1855 to 1861. From May, 1865, to October, 1868, he was grand secretary of the Grand Chapter. In 1856, at Hartford, Conn., he was made a member of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States. For twelve years in succession he was elected an officed in that body, reaching the station of exalted grand king. Mr. Hacker was also a member of the council, and in 1855 helped organize the Grand Council of Indiana, of which he was presiding officer six years, and afterwards grand recorder.
Mr. Hacker was also connected with the Independent Order of Odd-fellows. Besides holding other offices, he served as conductor in the Grand Lodge, and junior warden in the Grand Encampment. He took great interest in temperance, and was also prominent in church and Sunday school work, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. In early manhood Mr. Hacker was an ardent politician, and was a warm admirer of Henry Clay. When the Free-soil Republican party was organized, he became one of its supporters. The only public office he ever held, outside of justice of the peace, was Mayor of Shelbyville, in 1851.
Submitted by Phyllis Miller Fleming
