The Family of John Jacob Hacker

Welcome!!

 These pages contain the basic information on Johann Jacob Hacker, his two wives and his twelve children but there is much more in my files! If you wish more information or have information to share, please contact me!

My name is Kate Sprague and I am just one of his many

 great-great-granddaughters.

Johann was born in the Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany on 3 Apr 1828. His birth town has not been identified yet but during my research I have seen these town names mentioned for him or by him: Lubbersdorf, Rostock, Lubeck and Wismar. Out of the four, only Lubbersdorf came from Johann himself. The other three came from family members.

The spelling of his name changes depending on which document you are looking at. His given name was Americanized over time from Johann, Johan to John and his surname was found as Haker, Haacker, Haecker and finally Hacker.

When Johann arrived in America in 1854, he was a farmer by trade. During his time in the Buffalo, New York area, he learned the trade of a Cooper (one who makes barrels or works with wood).

Johann married his first wife Elizabeth Lueth about 1852 in Germany. Elizabeth was also born in Mecklenburg in May of 1828. Her parents have not been identified yet. Elizabeth's given name has been listed as Elise, Eliza and Elizabeth. Her maiden name was found as Luth, Lueth and Leuth.

The only German town name associated with Elizabeth during my research so far is Steinfurth. Elizabeth's sister, Sophia and her husband Frederick Kollmorgan, had immigrated to America. In 1854, Johann & Elise followed them. After a 14 week voyage, they arrived in New York harbor on October 9th aboard the ship "Guttenburg". The Kollmorgans' had settled in Buffalo, New York. Johann & Elise settled on the outskirts of Buffalo in the town of West Seneca. In 1865, they followed Elizabeth's sister again, this time to Detroit, Michigan. Their family grew to include six children:

 1. John Frederick Hacker (1857-1942)
2. Louis Henry Hacker (1859-1938)
3. Henry Frederick Hacker (1861-1926)
4. Bernhard (Benjamin) Hacker (1863-1908)
5. Elizabeth M. Hacker (1866-1900)
6. Mary Anne Hacker (1868-1947) 

Johann's wife, Elizabeth died from consumption on 23 Mar 1875 at the very young age of 46. She was buried in the Old German Lutheran cemetery in Detroit, now possibly known as Trinity. (east row, Lot 5-Section B). I have to pause and wonder if she would have been on this earth longer if she hadn't left Buffalo.

On 18 Dec 1875, Johann remarried. He chose Hulda Schemke as his second wife. They were married in Detroit, Michigan and she was half his age. With Hulda, Johann would become the father of six more children:

1. Martha I. S. Hacker (1876-?)
2. Ida Hacker (1877-1890)
3. Emil Carl Hacker (1879-1939)
4. Hulda L. Carrie Hacker (1882-1962)
5. Wilhelm Hacker (1885-1890)
6. Emma L. Hacker (1887-1953)

By 1880, Johann & Hulda were settled in West Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio where they would remain until their deaths. They are buried side by side in Collingwood cemetery. Johann's name was Americanized by the time of his death in 1918. Their tombstones simply read "John J. Hacker 1828-1918" and "Hulda Hacker 1852-1927".

I am currently working on a multi-generation migration project and would like to include all descendants of Johann's children. If you are a descendant and wish to be included, have information on this family or want additional information, please contact me by email !!