W. E. M. Hackleman (1868–1927)

At 17 years of age he was teach­ing sing­ing class­es and lead­ing the sing­ing in meet­ings. He taught pub­lic school for four years, and stu­died mu­sic at the To­ron­to, Ca­na­da, Con­ser­va­to­ry of Mu­sic un­der Ital­i­an com­po­ser Fran­ces­co d’Au­ria, and with pri­vate teach­ers in New York Ci­ty.

A publisher of religious music. He also sang and wrote religious pieces as well. His hymnals were used in Christian (Disciples of Christ) churches throughout the US. His business became so successful that he had an office in the Majestic Building downtown.

Mr. Hackleman traveled all over the US to direct music and attend Disciples' conventions. He was also involved in the Anti-Saloon League and likely celebrated the Prohibition Amendment to the US Constitution.

A neighbor of William was Reverend Ennis M. Barney and his wife, Effie. Mr. Hackleman and Mr. Barney were of like minds on many issues especially Prohibition. The Reverend Barney was Superintendent of the Indianapolis Anti-Saloon League. Mr. Hackleman sat on the board of the same organization. Both men could breath easily in Irvington in 1915 because the town fathers had decreed in 1870 that Irvington would be a "dry" community. (a covenant until 2000!) The two men fought heavily for a constitutional ban on alcohol in the United States and eventually won.

Tragically, he was killed on October 2, 1927, in Illinois. He was preparing to attend another convention. The driver of a larger car sideswiped his and fled the scene. Mr. Hackleman was crushed and died twenty minutes after being hit.