Theodore Hack
Theodore Hack (17 November 1840 – 27 December 1902) was a South Australian politician.
He was born at Echunga, South Australia a son of John Barton Hack and his wife Bridget Hack, née Watson, and was educated at the Adelaide Educational Institution.[1]
Hack was by turns landing officer at Semaphore, harbormaster at Port Willunga, clerk with the Engineer-in-Chief's Department, railway storekeeper, timber merchant (with Elvira's sister Stella Ann Robin after the death of her husband Theophilus Robin), then valuer and architect.[1] He was member of the Port Adelaide council (and for two years its mayor)[1] and the first mayor of Semaphore,[1] as well as a member of the House of Assembly, representing Gumeracha between 1890 and 1893.
Hack was a judge at the Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition in 1887, a member of the Central Roads' Board and the Fire Brigades' Board, a lay preacher for the Methodist Church and active with several Methodist organisations. He was president of the Local Teachers' Association, the governing body of Prince Alfred College, chairman and treasurer of the Prisoners' Aid Society and an active member of the Chamber of Manufacturers. He died of Bright's disease, from which he had suffered for some time.[1]
Family
Theodore Hack married Elvira Louisa Ansell (c. 1842 – 7 October 1890) on 17 November 1864. Their children included:
- Ernest Barton Hack (1867– )
- Harold Ansell Hack (1869– )
- Emily Bee Hack (1871– ) married James Fergusson Ballantyne in 1901
- Theodore Bernard Hack (1873– )
- Stella Ellie Hack (1875–1957)
- Clement Alfred Hack (1877– )
- Roy Darton Hack (1882– )
They adopted Elsie Miriam Earl (1881–1976), who was known for some time as Elsie Miriam Earl Hack. She was a student at Knightsbridge School and a fine pianist and singer. She married John Arthur Ballantyne (1873–1942) on 7 August 1907.
He married again, to Elizabeth Jane Almers, née Nancarrow (1858–1914) in 1898.