Robert Edward Lee Sackett

From A History of California

Robert E. L. Sackett.

The universal esteem of a community is given to Mr. Sackett for his demonstration of business qualities which have placed him in the front rank of ranchers in Los Angeles county, where he was born December 5, 1869, the son of a worthy pioneer. His father, Thompson D. Sackett, was born near Quincey, Ill., in 1827, while his mother, Rebecca M. Evans in maidenhood, was a native of Alabama. The parents were married in Arkansas, and lived in that state until their removal to Texas, whence they came overland to California in 1857. From San Bernardino county they went to Visalia for a few years, then returned to Los Angeles county in 1867. While in the north he had engaged in the cattle business but during the dry years lost all of his stock, and when he came back to Los Angeles county he had to begin at the foot of the ladder once more. He established his home in this community and spent the remainder of his years on the old homestead, passing away in 1892 at the age of sixty-five years. The mother died in 1906 at the age of seventy-four years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom four are now living. Mr. Sackett was a lifelong Democrat politically, and in religion both himself and wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Norwalk.

The preliminary education of Robert E. L. Sackett was received in the common schools after which he took a commercial course in the Woodbury Business College, of Los Angeles. After the close of his schooldays he returned to the home ranch and worked with his father, until the latter's death, when he went to work upon the forty-five acre tract which he had inherited. He is progressive and enterprising and it was not long before he purchased thirty-five acres of land adjoining his property, and has since added twenty acres and a fifteen-acre tract, while he also owns a lot in Long Beach. The home place is in grain and the management of a dairy occupies a large part of his attention, fifty cows supplying this department of the work, the milk being sold to the Alpine Farm and Dairy Company, of Los Angeles. A considerable portion of his other property is devoted to the raising of grain, although he intends to set out fifteen acres in gum trees in the fall of 1907. In 1893 Mr. Sackett was united in marriage with Miss Millie Beasley, a native of Oregon, and a daughter of David I. Beasley, who at the time of his death was in the employ of the government in Arizona. Mr. and Mrs. Sackett are the parents of the following children: Edward B., Irene, Dorothy and Robert G. Mr. Sackett is a member of Camp 10, K. O. T. M., of Artesia, and is also identified with the Independent Order of Foresters. Politically he is a stanch Democrat. Regarding the upbuilding of this section no citizen has been more prominent than Mr. Sackett: he has done much to promote the improvement of the San Gabriel river in this vicinity, serving as secretary and the superintendent of the New San Gabriel corporation organized to improve and straighten the river. Mr. Sackett was the right of way man and the successful completion of this undertaking was largely due to his efforts and those of a brother.

—J. A. Guian. A History of California & An Extended History of its Southern Coast Counties, II:1869. (Researched by Thurmon King).