Daviess County IN Archives Biographies.....Hackler, Oscar Perry March 1, 1879 - May 22, 1963 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Stephen Stalcup puclats@sbcglobal.net April 14, 2007, 9:50 pm Author: Stephen J. Stalcup Oscar Perry Hackler (1879-1963) Oscar Perry Hackler was a Renaissance man. The range of activities he pursued, and the things he accomplished in his 84 years were hardly what might be expected from one born into the hardscrabble farm life of rural Daviess County, Indiana. Oscar was born March 1, 1879, the first and only child of William Moore Hackler and Nancy Jane Myers. Oscar always claimed that his father took one look at him and said, “No more, never!” Oscar’s formal education was limited to the ‘common schools’ available in Epsom, Indiana. However, his natural bright, cheerful inquisitiveness fueled a life-long passion for learning and new experiences. Oscar was not yet nine years old when his father, William Moore Hackler died January 14, 1888. He was 39 years old. Oscar and his mother went to live with her parents, William and Catherine Myers, on their farm near Epsom. His mother remarried in 1891 to William Aaron Stites; but Oscar spent most of his formative years in the home of his maternal grandparents. Their strict, but loving, guidance made a great impression on Oscar. Later in life, he became the self-appointed family historian for the descendants of William and Catherine Myers, and was a major player in their annual reunions for nearly 20 years. Oscar made his first foray out of Daviess County when he was about 20 years old. In the 1900 Census he was enumerated on June13, 1900, in the Union Depot Hotel in Pueblo, Colorado. His occupation is shown as a cook. Two months later he was back in Elnora, Indiana in Daviess County to marry Ruth Agnes Hickey , August 25, 1900. They were married for 29 years until her death, May 23, 1929. There were no children born to this marriage. In 1903, Oscar became one the first three RFD (Rural Free Delivery) mail carriers at the Elnora Post Office. As Owen R. Rader notes in his book, “History of Elnora, Indiana, 1885-1985”, the mail, in those days, was delivered by horse and buggy in good weather and via horseback when the roads were extremely muddy. Always an original thinker, Oscar Hackler came up with a better way in 1910. In the spring of that year the following article appeared in the ELNORA STAR newspaper: “Oscar P. Hackler, the genial letter carrier on Route 3 is becoming famous. Some of the fame, however, must be attributed to his motorcycle, which he uses to distribute mail in a fast way. This fame reached a far greater circuit, however, and last month’s issue of several leading magazines contained a portrait of Mr. Hackler and his cycle as an up to date manner in delivering Uncle Sam’s mail throughout the country” A week after this article was published; Oscar set a record for himself by delivering the mail on his route to 106 patrons in two hours and twenty-five minutes. This was an early example of Oscar, the born entertainer. By the time he registered for the World War I draft in 1918 at the age of 39, Oscar was farming in Elmore Township, an occupation in which he was still employed in 1920. After his wife died in 1929, Oscar, apparently, left Indiana again for a time. The 1930 Census shows him living in Steep Creek Township, Lowndes County, Alabama. His occupation is dairy farmer. Available records for the 1930’s don’t give us a good picture of where Oscar was living or what kind of work he was engaged in. It is likely that this is the decade he began his study of magic, which would become the primary outlet for his innate need to perform. He later became a registered magician who for years entertained audiences in cities throughout the Midwest. He was honored for his life’s work in 1961 at the Magicians’ National Association meeting in Michigan. Oscar Hackler attended his first reunion of the descendants of his grandparents, William and Catherine Myers in 1940. He listed his residence as Reading, Ohio on the sign-in sheet that year. By 1942 he was back in Indiana, living in Plainville in Daviess County. This residence was listed on the list of Myers Reunion attendees that year, and also his World War II draft registration that year. All men born between April 28, 1877 and February 15, 1897 were required to register. Oscar Hackler was 63 years old in 1942. For the next seventeen years, Oscar Hackler called Plainville, Indiana home. In addition to his performing as a Magician, he ran a novelty & magic shop there. He was also heavily involved with the annual Myers Reunion during the 1940’s and 1950’s, often performing his magic act to the delight of young and old alike. Oscar also served as Secretary-Treasurer for the Reunion for several years; and he compiled a scrapbook documenting 30 years of Myers Reunions, including, meeting minutes, attendees and photographs. In 1952, he wrote a family history of the William and Catherine Myers family; and presented a speech on it for his relatives at the annual reunion. Two years later, in 1954 he developed a massive Family Tree chart showing the names of the current 494 descendants of Joseph Myers [1802-1881], father of William Myers [1833-1916]. This Tree was a labor of love for Oscar that took years to compile; and was his personal tribute to the grandparents who raised him. In January 1959, Oscar Hackler, moved to the Indiana Masonic Home in Franklin, Indiana. There he continued to apply his philosophy that life’s greatest joys come from making others happy. Oscar never lost his love of performing, and continued to present his magic act for the residents, as well as for other Masonic Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters. He also continued to attend the annual Myers Reunions in Daviess County through 1961. Two months after he arrived at the Masonic Home, on March 1, 1959, his eightieth birthday, Oscar issued a reflective document he had written entitled: ’80 Years of Life, As I see Myself and As I Have Lived it’. Three years later, at 83, he prepared a sequel ’83 Years of Life, My Life Story Continues’. Oscar Perry Hackler died at 8:05a.m., May 22, 1963, at the Masonic Home Hospital in Franklin, Indiana. He was 84 years old. He was a devout Methodist; and belonged to the Plainville Masonic Lodge, three York Rite bodies in Daviess County, and the Hadi Shrine Temple in Evansville. His funeral had what might have been the largest number of attendees for any service at the Indiana Masonic Home. Oscar Hackler, himself, wrote the best summary of his life: “In closing, I’ve had an awfully good time in this world. I’ve never been afraid to live and I don’t intend to be a coward when it comes my time to die. Life up to eighty has been exceedingly kind and good to me. And when the Great Conductor comes around to collect my last ticket, I want him to find me smiling. It’s been a happy trip.” Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/daviess/photos/bios/hackler887nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/daviess/bios/hackler887nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 7.5 Kb