from Goodspeed, Weston A., ed. Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana. Chicago: F.A. Battery & Co., 1882. p. 611 .
MATTHIAS J. HACK (deceased) was born July 27, 1816. He, with his father, John Hack, and their families, were the first Germans to settled in Lake County; they were all natives of the Province of the Rhine, Prussia, at that time a part of France. Matthias remained in Germany until his twenty-first year, and obtained a good practical education. His parents emigrated to the United States in 1837, traveled westward, and located in St. Johns Township, Lake Co., Ind., at that time occupied only by "squatters," and engaged in farming, where he married his first wife, Barbara Teal, who bore him one daughter, since deceased; Mrs. Hack is also dead. On December 15, 1844, Mr. Hack married Angeline Schmall, a native of Prussia, born June 2, 1825, who came with her parents to Lake County in 1838. Five children were born to this union--Anna (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Joseph L., John M. and William. Mr. Hack is by trade a blacksmith, at which he worked until 1850, when he removed to Crown Point, and died February 27, 1867. He was one of the most prominent men of his time in the county, and foremost in aiding and contributing to every laudable enterprise. He was a leader among the Germans, and an upright, conscienctious gentleman; this was by all conceded. His widow survives him, and lives at Crown Point and owns what is known as Hack's Exchange, where she manages a first-class hotel, perhaps the best in the place.
Go to Matthias Hack, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
Joseph Hack
from Goodspeed, Weston A., ed. Counties of Porter and Lake Indiana. Chicago: F.A. Battery & Co., 1882. pp. 611-612 .
JOSEPH HACK was born in Neiderdoseim, Germany, March 18, 1825, and is one of the eleven children born to John and Hannah (Snyder) Hack, both natives of Germany. John Hack was a farmer by profession, and was Government Real Estate Appraiser in the fatherland. In June, 1837, he emigrated with his family to the United States, and settled in St. John Township, Lake Co., Ind., which township was named after him. He first entered 160 acres, on which he built a cabin and a blacksmith shop. To this he added until he was owner of 300 acres of well-improved land. In 1853, he left the farm to reside with his son Joseph, where he died in 1855, aged sixty-nine years. His family was the first of the Germans in the county. Joseph Hack, after coming to this country, worked for his father until he was twenty-three years old, when he went to La Porte, Ind,. and learned the carriage and wagon-making trade, at which he served three years. In 1851, he came to Crown Point, opened a shop, and has been successful. On April 15, 1852, he was married to Catharine Leinen, a native of Germany. To this union there have been born six children--George G., Matilda, Helen, Frank, Carrie and Joseph P. Mrs. Hack died August 17, 1882; she was a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Hack is one of the oldest, most enterprising and most valued citizens.