George Hackler was the son of Conrad Hackler, and was born in Virginia in 1806. On April 6, 1830 in Grayson County, Virginia, he married Frances Boyer, born 1811 in Virginia. Their first five children were born in Grayson County: Henry (1831/32); Nancy Margaret (1832/33); Conrad M. (Oct. 29, 1833); Troy (Jan. 15, 1836) and William C. (1839).
In 1840, the family moved to Missouri, living in Johnson County, Henry County, and finally settling near East Lynne, in Cass County (just south of Kansas City). Four more children were born: Melville G. (1841); Wiley R. (1846); Fielding (1850); and Sarah Elizabeth Jane (1854).
From the "History of Cass and Bates Counties", p. 136: "Rev. George Hackler, from Grayson County, Virginia, was the first local preacher (Methodist) in the township (Camp Branch), and officiated for that society as early as the fall of 1843." This church was later known as Pitts' Chapel.
During the Civil War, four of the seven Hackler brothers joined the Confederate forces: Henry, Pvt. Co. J., 16th Missouri Infantry (said to have died of war wounds); Troy and William C., both Pvts., Co. A, 12 Missouri Cavalry; and Melville G., Corp., Co. D, 8th Missouri Infantry. They were under Major-General Sterling Price's Trans-Mississippi Command, and probably in action in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri. Troy was wounded in the foot at Ashley Station, Arkansas.
Conrad M. did not join (according to Aunt Annie Stewart Megginson, he was crippled), but came to Texas and taught school during the war. In 1866, he returned to Cass County, and was elected County Recorder in 1879. William C. moved to Cooke County, Texas; Melville G. to Kansas; and Troy moved to Tarrant County, Texas, near Mansfield. He farmed and was Vice President of the First National Bank of Mansfield. He died May 5, 1906.
Sarah Elizabeth Jane, or Jennie, married Herschel "Dock" Stewart, probably around 1874/75. They had two children born in Missouri: Annie Laurie (Jan. 23 1876); and Reese. Melville Monroe (Aug. 10, 1879); Clara Lee (June 25, 1882). Melville and Clara were born in Kansas.
Compiled by Mary Louise Stewart Claunch