from Ball, T.H., editor. Encyclopedia of Genealogy and Biography of Lake County, Indiana with a Compendium of History 1834-1904. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1904. pp. 83-84.
JOHN HACK was born in 1787, in a Rhine province that passed from France to Prussia, and came into this county with a quite large family in 1837. He was the first German settler so far as known. He established a home on the western limit of what was called Prairie West.
Receiving the hospitalities of that family one August night in 1838, the writer of this memorial made the following record: "In the summer evenings the family would gather around an out-of-doors fire, the smoke of which would keep off the mosquitoes, and sing the songs of their native Rhine region, presenting a scene at once picturesque and impressive." Their two guests, while ignorant of the language, could enjoy the music of those beautiful evening songs of the "father-land." Those early Germans did much singing in the evening and when out from home in the still night hours. The night music is no longer heard. Another record of John Hack is this: "Tall and dignified in person, patriarchal in manner, clear and keen in intellect, he was well fitted to be a leader and a pioneer." He had large views of government and looked closely into the genius of our institutions."
Last updated on May 31, 2006.
Go to John Hack, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.