GEORGE W. HACK

Sacramento County

Biographies

GEORGE W. HACK

GEORGE W. HACK—Among the oldest settlers now living in Sacramento County, George W. Hack is well and favorably known and highly respected. He was born in Canastota, N. Y., April 25, 1846, a son of George and Mary Ann (Jenkinson) Hack, born in England, who came to New York on their honeymoon and for a time followed farming in Canastota. Afterwards they removed to Calhoun County, Mich., settling near Albion, and continued to reside there until1852, when he crossed the plains to California. In 1855 the mother and three children came via Panama and joined him on his ranch, just south of Freeport on the Sacramento River. Here they improved a farm and resided until their death, the father at eighty-four and mother at sixty-two years. Three of their children were born in the East and four in California, making a family of seven children, as follows: George W., the subject of this interesting review; John T., who died at Freeport; Annie E., Mrs. Carrington, who died in Sacramento; N. D., on a part of the old home; Mary Ann, Mrs. John Oswill of Contra Costa County; Emma, Mrs. George Landis of Sacramento; and Charles J., who died near Freeport.

George W. Hack, while yet a young lad, came out with the family to California via the Isthmus of Panama. Living on the farm, he attended school in the Union district, two miles away, the distance being covered by walking morning and evening. From a boy he assisted his father till twenty-two years of age. Meantime his father had purchased a ranch on the lower Stockton road, which George W. Hack farmed.

The marriage of Mr. Hack occurred near Antelope, November 24, 1868, when he was united with Miss Verdenia Frances Keys, a native of this county. Her father, William Keys, was a pioneer who crossed the plains and arrived in1850. He had started from the East in 1848, but was obliged to stop over at Salt Lake. He first engaged in farming near Freeport, and then at Antelope, residing there until his death; his widow survived him, passing away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hack.

After his marriage, Mr. Hack continued farming on the lower Stockton road. In 1878 he bought the farm adjoining, and so acquired 515 acres; but later he disposed of 150 acres, and now owns 365 acres; which he devotes to the raising of grain, hay and stock, being one of the thrifty ranchers of the district.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hack was blessed with one child, Clara, who became the wife of Dewitt S. Slawson. She passed away in 1916, leaving five children, who now make their home with their grandparents. Lulu assists in presiding over the Hack household; Ethel, Mabel and Maude are teachers; while the youngest, Amy, is in the Junior High School at Sacramento.

In May, 1901, Mr. Hack took a prominent part in the organization of the Sacramento County Patrons & Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, being elected a member of the first board of directors. On the organization of the board, he was elected president of the company; and he has since filled that position to the entire satisfaction of the patrons. He has given much time to its interests, and it is now a large and successful institution, with a membership of 925 and more than $2,000,000 of insurance. He has been a member of the County Grange for forty-eight years, and is a past master of the Subordinate Grange and the County Grange. As a member of the organization, he was the author of the preamble and resolution proposing to bond the county for the purpose of building good roads, which was subsequently approved by the people, resulting in the building of approximately 175 miles of first-class permanent improved highway, now one of the most valuable assets of the citizens of the county.

Interested in the cause of education, Mr. Hack served as trustee of Pacific school district for many years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hack have been prominent and active in the Pacific Methodist Episcopal Church from its organization, and he has been a member of the official board and a class leader for many years. He is a strong temperance man, and was an active worker for the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment. Mr. Hack has been a witness of and taken a part in the remarkable transformation wrought in this county, whereby it has been changed from a wild and primitive state to a garden-spot of fertile farms and orchards. He is optimistic, and looks forward to still greater development of this wonderful valley, with its remarkable resources of soil, water and climate. In national politics, Mr. Hack is a Republican, being a strong believer in the principle of protection for national industries.

Transcribed by Gloria Wiegner Lane.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 609. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.