Eli Hacker

My grandfather was Jacob (NMN) Hacker, son of Eli (NMN) Hacker. I first find Eli in the 1840 US Census for Polk County, MO., with 4 children. I next pick him up in the 1850 US Census for Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Arkansas, with 4 children, and he was born about 1810. (Looks like an Eli purchased some land in 1855 in Sebastian County, Arkansas through the Clarksville, Arkansas Land Office. Can't tell for sure if that was my Eli or not.) He next appears in the 1860 US Census in East Bear River Township, Yuba County, California. Since all the above US Census Eli's are Eli's born in 1811, I'm assuming they are the same Eli.
What I want to know now is, who was his father? Looks like he separated from his first kids (US Census says they were all born in Missouri) George, Julius, William, and Eli back in Arkansas or somewhere along the trail west, or in the mines of California as they don't appear along with the 6 children of the 1860 US Census.
Can anyone shed some light on the Tennessee/Alabama/ Missouri/Arkansas Hackers? Who was greatgreat granddad and earlier, and other history.