Background
W.F. Hackney was born in 1854 in Springfield, Missouri, United States.
W.F. Hackney was born in 1854 in Springfield, Missouri, United States.
He begin architectural study in the Chicago office of A. Piquenard who was at that time engaged in preparing plans for the State Capitol buildings in Illinois and Iowa. Subsequent to Mr. Piquenard's death in 1875, Hackney remained in the office and entered into partnership with the late M. F. Bell to complete the work on hand.
In Kansas City where he later set up his own office, he was appointed City School architect, and of the several buildings erected under his supervision the Central High School, completed in 1887, was considered his best work. Independently he served as architect of the Federal Penitentiary at Chester, Ill., in 1880; the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphans Home at Normal, Ill., 1888, and was associated with Charles A. Smith on the Public Library at Kansas City.
He was a charter member and in 1890 was elected the first president of the Kansas City Chapter, A. I. A.