William Edgar Sackett Jr

(1848-1926)
FatherWilliam Edgar Sackett (1823-1896)
MotherJosephine Findlay (1826-1901)
William Edgar Sackett Jr, journalist and political author, son of William Edgar Sackett and Josephine Findlay, was born in New York CityG on 23 May 1848.1 He died aged 78 on 18 November 1926.2 He married first in 1869, Edith Freeman.1 Edith was born in PennsylvaniaG in about 1853.3 She died aged 41 in East Orange, Essex CountyG, on 13 February 1895.4 He married second in 1899, Elizabeth (Van Iderstine) Gulick.

Extract from The Sacketts of America
[William Edgar Sackett] studied law in the office of President Arthur, in New York, but drifted into newspaper and literary work. In 1882 he founded the Sunday Morning News, of Jersey City, and ten years later the Jersey City News, daily. His best known work is "The Modern Battles of Trenton," which treats in an effective manner the political history of New Jersey from 1868 to 1895. By an act of the legislature this book was placed in every public school library in New Jersey. In 1898, through the influence of the late Vice-President Hobart, he was made Secretary of the United States Industrial Commission, at Washington, which investigated the whole field of labor and capital, and made its report to Congress in fifteen volumes of testimony, reviews and recommendations.

Extract from Encyclopedia of New Jersey2,5
Sackett, William E. (b. May 23, 1848, d. Nov. 18, 1926). Journalist. Sackett, the son of William and Josephine Findlay Sackett, was educated at the Anthon School and the New York Free Academy. Originally intent on becoming a lawyer, he worked for three years (from 1865 to 1868) in the law office of Chester A. Arthur, who later became president of the United States when James A. Garfield was assassinated.
A veteran reporter for the New York Times and New York Herald, Sackett is perhaps best known for his delightful two-volume work aptly titled Modern Battles of Trenton. The first volume, which chronicles New Jersey politics from 1868 to 1894 ranks as a classic in muckraker literature. The second volume, published in 1914, covers the gubernatorial administrations extending from George Werts to Woodrow Wilson. Although there is much hearsay and exaggeration in both volumes, they offer an invaluable chronicle of the state politics from just after the Civil War to World War I. A reform democrat disillusioned with machine politics and political bossism, Sackett made a futile attempt to seek his party's nomination for governor in 1913 during the high noon of progressivism.

Sackett, William E. Modern Battles of Trenton. 2 vols. Trenton: J. L. Murphy, 1895–1914.

     In 1900 William was living at 111 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DCG, and was recorded in the census as William E Sackett, a government official, head of household, a widower, aged 52, born May 1848 in New York. Living with him were his children, Edith, 19, Edward, 17, Chester, 14, Leon, 11, and Gladys, aged seven. Also in the household was a housekeeper, Elizabeth Gulick, who was to become William's second wife.6
     In 1910 he was living at Orleans Street, Newark, Essex County, New JerseyG, and was recorded as William E Sackett, a newspaper editor, head of household, aged 62, and born in New York. His house was rented. Living with him was his second wife Elizabeth, 36, and their children, William, 8, Eileen, 7, Gloria, 3, and Muriel, aged nine months.7
     In 1920 he was living at Fourth Avenue, NewarkG, and was recorded as William E Sackett, a newspaper writer, head of household, married, aged and born in New York. Living with him were his wife Elizabeth, 48, and their daughters, Eileen, 16, and Floria, aged 13.8

Children of William Edgar Sackett Jr and Edith Freeman

Children of William Edgar Sackett Jr and Elizabeth (Van Iderstine) Gulick

 Notes & Citations

  1. Charles Weygant, The Sacketts of America, "5080. William Edgar Sackett, b. May 23, 1848, m. Edith Freeman."
  2. Maxine N Lurie, editor, Encyclopedia of New Jersey (Rutgers University Press, 2004).
  3. Date of birth based on age at death.
  4. New York Times, 15 February 1895, "Died. / SACKETT.—Wednesday evening, Edith Sackett, wife of William E. Sackett, aged 41 years.
    Funeral services at her late residence, 83 Walnut St., near Park Av., East Orange, Saturday morning, at 10:30. Interment in Greenwood at convenience of family."
  5. Researched by Ted Smith.
  6. 1900 United States Federal Census, ED 120, sheet 1A; 1 June 1900
    111 Maryland Avenue NE
    Sackett, William E., Head, W, M, May 1848, 52, Wd, NY, NY, NY, Official - Govt
    Sackett, Edith, Dau, W, F, Dec 1880, 19, S, NY, NY, PA
    Sackett, Edward Y., Son, W, M, May 1883, 17, S, NY, NY, PA
    Sackett, Chester A., Son, W, M, Dec 1885, 14, S, NY, NY, PA
    Sackett, Leon A., Son, W, M, Mar 1889, 11, S, NY, NY, PA
    Sackett, Gladys, Dau, W, F, Sept 1892, 7, S, NY, NY, PA
    Gulick, Elizabeth M Housekeeper, W, F, May 1872, 28, M, 5, 1-1, NY, NY, NY, Housekeeper.
  7. 1910 United States Federal Census, Newark Ward 2, Essex, New Jersey. Roll T624_876, p. 3B, FHL 1374889
    Orleans Street
    Sackett, William E, head, 62, 2nd m 10y, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NY, editor, newspaper, house rented
    Sackett, Elizabeth M?, wife, 36, 2nd m 10y, 4 ch all living, b. NJ, father b. NJ, mother b. NY
    Sackett, William E, son, 8, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NJ
    Sackett, Eilleen, dau, 7, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NJ
    Sackett, Gloria, dau, 3, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NJ
    Sackett, Muriel, dau, 9/12, b. NJ, father b. NY, mother b. NJ.
  8. 1920 United States Federal Census, T625_1034, p. 16B
    Fourth Ave, Newark Ward 8, Essex, New Jersey
    Sackett, William E, head, home rented, 71, married, b. NY, father b. CT, mother b. NY, writer, newspaper
    Sackett, Elizabeth M, wife, 48, b. NJ, father b. NJ, mother b. NJ
    Sackett, Eileen, dau, 16, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NJ
    Sackett, Floria, dau, 13, b. NY, father b. NY, mother b. NJ.
Appears inNotable Sacketts
Sackett line8th great-grandson of Thomas Sackett the elder of St Peter in Thanet
ChartsLine 3a (American)
Sackett Family Association descendants
Steven Applegate.
Generation.Tree5080.9Q.3
Last Edited15 Sep 2019
 

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