Person Page - 3766

4390. Guernsey Sackett, 1833–1892, son of (1758) John T. and Maria L. Guernsey Sackett, was married, in 1859, to Gertrude R. Bertine, 1836–1900. Guernsey Sackett was born in Ancram, Columbia County, N. Y. As a boy he worked on his father's farm in summer, and in the winter attended the district school, where he prepared himself for admission to seminary courses, which he pursued at Amenia and Casenovia. On completing his academic studies he spent two years in close application to the study of law in the office of Judge John L. Talcott, of Buffalo, N. Y. In 1856 he was admitted to the bar and went to Kansas. There he of necessity soon became involved and for about two years took an active part in the so-called border troubles, which were in reality but the skirmishes preparatory to the great civil war.
     Returning to his native state he settled permanently in New York City, where in 1859 he married Gertrude R. Bertine, and for a third of a century practiced his profession with success. As head of the law firm of Sackett & Lang he was noted for his unswerving devotion to high principles in all the relations of life as well as for his professional ability. Mr. Sackett was possessed of a fine literary taste and was unusually familiar with the poets. As a matter of fact, he was himself a poet of no mean ability, and wrote many a graceful verse that found publication and was widely copied. At his death, which occurred May 6, 1892, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Union League Club, a trustee of St. Catherine's Hall, a director of the Brooklyn Choral Society, a vestryman of the Church of the Reformation, an honorary member of the Brotherhood of St, Andrews, and an active member of Anglo Saxon Lodge, No. --, of Free and Accepted Masons.

Lawyer Guernsey Sackett of Sackett & Lane of New York city died suddenly yesterday in his office of neuralgia of the heart.

—The Morning Journal-Courier, New Haven, Connecticut, 7 May 1892, p 3

Obituary.
Guernsey Sackett.
Yesterday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, at his office in Park Row, New York, Guernsey Sackett of the firm of Sackett & Long, sank back in his chair and died. He had complained during the morning of feeling badly, and a carriage had been sent for to take him home. His son, who is a member of the firm, had noticed the symptoms of his father's illness and became very anxious, but no such sudden termination was expected. His sudden decease is attributed to heart failure, superinduced by an attack of the grip dating from last January. The body was removed to his home, 477 Greene avenue, this city, later in the afternoon.
     Mr. Sackett studied law with Ira O. Miller in the old American Exchange Building in the years preceding the war, and finally took charge of the real estate law department of Boardman & Boardman. He was an expert in real estate law, and looked upon as an authority. In his younger days he was considered an athlete. He was a large, fine-looking man, and unusually strong. He never lost that strength until his last attack of illness. With gray hair and full gray beard, well formed, Mr. Sackett was one of the class of men who attract instant and particular attention.
     Always an active Republican, in his younger days he was a decided Abolitionist. He supported John C. Fremont and Abraham Lincoln in strong and earnest speeches. In his later days he applied himself to business, and was not often seen on the political platform; but when he did appear, it was always with wise counsel born of experience.
     He was a member of the Union League Club and of its governors, a vestryman of the Church of The Reformation, and a member of many of the Masonic organizations of high degree.
     Mr. Wilson, ex-president of the Union League Club, called at Mr. Sackett's office shortly after 3 o'clock yesterday and tendered his services. He spoke in high terms of Mr. Sackett as a lawyer and as a citizen, and expressed a very high appreciation of Mr. Sackett's valuable services to the Union League Club, of which he was a charter member.
     "During the first three years of my administration," continued Mr. Wiilson, "Mr. Sackett was a regular attendant upon the meetings of the club, and took a very earnest interest in its welfare. I frequently sought his advice in matters pertaining to the administration of its affairs. During the past year, owing to ill-health, his presence at the meetings has been less frequent. His sudden death will be a great shock to the members of the club, and therre will be very deep sympathy with the stricken family."
     The Executive Committee of the Union League Club will meet to-morrow at 3 P.M. at the clubhouse to take action on the death of Guernsey Sackett, one of the founders of the club, and will pass resolutions of sympathy and respect.

—The Standard Union, Brooklyn, New York, 7 May 1892, p 1

Death of Guernsey Sackett.
Guernsey Sackett, the well-known lawyer, who for sixteen years had lived at No. 477 Greene avenue, died suddenly yesterday in his office, No. 27 Park row, New York. He was seized with faintness and died before a physician arrived. Mr. Sackett was 58 years old and was born in Stamford. His partner was Frank C. Lang. Deceased leaves a widow and a son and a daughter. He was a member of the Union League Club of this city.

—The Brooklyn Citizen, Brooklyn, New York, 7 May 1892, p 1

Sackett—On Friday, May 11, Gertrude Rebecca, widow of the late Guernsey Sackett, in her 65th year.
     Funeral services at her late residence, 477 Greene ave, Monday, May 14, at 8 p.m. Interment at Armenia, N.Y.

—The Brooklyn Citizen, Brooklyn, New York, 13 May 1900, p 2