Peter Hackenberg was the son of John & Matilda Shaffer Hachenberg, and the grandson of Revolutionary War Soldier Ensign Johann Peter Hachenberg, who served in Baxter's Flying Camp in Pennsylvania, and Anna Elizabeth Siphers Hachenberg.

Peter married Catharine Kuhns Hackenberg around 1831, and together they had twelve sons and two daughters, including: John K., Harrison, Hiram, William, Aaron, Farris (Pharis/Pharos), Daniel, Michael, Peter, Samuel, Joseph, Jackson, Katharine, and Adeline. Nine of his sons from this marriage served for the Union in the Civil War in regiments from Pennsylvania and Michigan.

He later married Sarah (Sallie) Boyer Hackenberg in 1855 and had eleven more children including: Gabriel, Matilda, Amanda, David, Susanna, James, Robert, George, Levi, and two unnamed infants.

He spent the majority of his life in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, but also resided later in life in Flowerfield Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan.

From "A History of the Hackenberg Family" prepared by Edwin Charles and presented to the Snyder Sounty Historical Society in 1915, we have the following information about Peter...

"Peter Hackenberg, (son of John Hackenburg son of Pieter Hackenburg, who emigrated from Germany prior to the Revolutionary War), was born in what is now Centre Township, in what was then Northumberland County, afterwards Union County, now Snyder County, Pennsylvania, June 10th, 1807.

Descended from sturdy pioneer ancestry he developed into a stocky man of wonderful strength and suppleness. Without fear he was, and his exploits at the log-rollings, bear hunts, and gatherings of the militia prevalent in his early manhood days were heralded far and wide and are still recounted as fireside stories. However, it is not the purpose at this time to narrate those tales, interesting though they might prove to be, but rather to show this man as the founder of a numerous and patriotic family. His homestead was the homestead of his father and grandfather before him, and it was located in a beautiful vale, surrounded by pine-clad hills. At proper age he took unto himself a wife, Katie Kuhns by name, with whom and for whom he toiled with great perseverance. They bearing together the hardships and inconveniences incident to the development of a new and somewhat remote country. As the tide of years passed by the faithful spouse, broken with the care of motherhood, fell by the wayside at the age of forty-six years the mother of twelve sons and two daughters. Burdened with the cares of his large family, the father in a few years took a second mate, whose maiden name was Sallie Boyer and who bore him eleven children. Thus he was the father of twenty-five sons and daughters.

This man Peter Hackenberg was markedly pronounced in his opinions concerning the principles of free government and brought up his wonderful family well grounded in hisbelief. And this proved, for when the dire tocsin of war sounded throughout the land, it struck a responding chord in the hearts of nine of those sturdy sons full-brothers, located now in three different states of the Union. Yet, wherever they happened to be, they felt the fire burn within them and responded ot the need of their country. Yea, and the aged father, too went to Camp Curtin and requested admission to the ranks. The enrolling officer having heard of the enlistment of the nine sons refused him saying 'Go to your home you have done your duty."