August Hacke, who resides in section 20, Brushy Mound
township, Macoupin County, is an extensive agriculturist and one of the
influential men of the township. He was born in Braunschweig, Germany,
October 9, 1841, and is a son of Hartwig and Augusta (Burgdorff) Hacke.
Hartwig Hacke and his wife left Germany on October 9, 1852, and arrived
at New Orleans, Louisiana, in November of that year, having with them their
three children: August, Henry and Harmon. They arrived at St. Louis,
Missouri, on January 1, 1853. Two weeks later Hartwig Hacke moved with his
family to Carlinville township, Macoupin County, Illinois. He purchased a
farm north of the Litchfield, Carrollton & Western railway station, which
property is now included in the city limits. He lived upon it for four
years, then sold out and purchased a tract of 200 acres, one-half mile east
of Carlinville in the same township. He had followed the trade of a
cabinet-maker in his native country, but after coming to the United States
always engaged in farming. He died in 1856, at the age of 57 years; his wife
survived him many years, dying in 1893, at the age of 72 years. Two children
were born to them after coming to this country, namely: Gustav and Joanna.
Religiously, they were members of the German Evangelical Church. Mr. Hacke
was a Republican in politics, and although deeply interested in its success
was never an active party worker.
August Hacke attended the common
schools of his native country, and of Illinois after his arrival in this
country. He continued to live on the home farm until the breaking out of the
Civil War, when he enlisted in Company A, 122d Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., on
August 9, 1861. He was in the service for a period of three years, and
during that time was never absent from roll call except when duty required
him to be away. He served in all the engagements in which his regiment and
company participated in a most creditable manner, and was discharged at
Mobile, Alabama, and mustered out at Springfield, Illinois. He now receives
a pension of $8 per month. After the close of the war, he returned to his
home and again took up the pursuits of farming. When the home estate was
divided, he sold his interest to his brother Henry, and in 1871 purchased
his present property of 120 acres. Fortune has smiled upon him in a business
way, and at the present time he is the owner of more than 640 acres of fine
farm and grazing land. He follows general farming but makes a specialty of
stock raising, feeding on an average of one carload per year. He is one of
the progressive men of the township, and is held in highest esteem by his
fellow men.
In May, 1866, Mr. Hacke was united in marriage with
Margaret Drew, who was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and with the
exception of one brother was the only member of her family to come to the
United States, The following children were born to bless this union: Edward,
deceased; Amelia; William; Adolph; Charles; Fred; Bertha; Arthur; Theodore;
Dorothy, deceased; and Harrison, deceased. Mr. Hacke is a member of Dan
Messick Post, G. A. R., and has served as its commander. He attended the
National Encampment at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1888. In politics, our
subject is a Republican and has served as justice of the peace, school
trustee, and supervisor, having held the latter office at intervals since
1882. He has always taken a deep interest in all matters pertaining to
education and the betterment of our public schools.
Extracted 2018 May 05 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 85-87.
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