Person Page - 3827

Oliver B. Sackett.
     Prominent among the energetic, far-sighted and successful business men of Antrim county, Michigan, is the subject of this sketch. His life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the crowning points in his career and have led to desirable and creditable success. His connection with agricultural and business interests has been of decided advantage to Antrim county, promoting its welfare along these various lines in no uncertain manner.
     Oliver B. Sackett is a native of Chenango county, New York, where he was born on the 25th of May, 1844. He is the son of Oliver and Esther (Wing) Sackett, the father having been born in Massachusetts and the mother in New York state. Oliver Sackett, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, followed the dual pursuits of a miller and stone mason and spent nearly all of his years in the Empire state, where he died. He was the father of twelve children, of whom ten are now living. The subject of this sketch attended the common schools of his native state and succeeded in acquiring a fair and practical knowledge of the common branches taught in the common schools, which has been liberally supplemented through his subsequent years by habits of close reading and observation. In 1871 Mr. Sackett came to Antrim county, locating in Forest Home township and has lived in this section ever since. He has devoted a large share of his time to the butchering business and for a number of years ran a successful meat business at Elk Rapids. He also was employed about a year in a wagon factory at Traverse City, acquiring a good working knowledge of that business. Aside from these enterprises Mr. Sackett has devoted his main attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has attained to a definite success. His home place comprises ten acres of land, of which all is under the plow, and in addition to cultivating the soil, he has found a profitable source of income in fruit raising. He has one hundred and four pear trees, one hundred plum trees, three hundred and twenty apple trees and thirty-five cherry trees and a large number of other fruit trees as well as several hundred berry bushes, all in good condition and bearing heavily. He has by dint of persistent industry and intelligent attention to the details of his business been enabled to realize a gratifying income from his operations. Mr. Sackett is a staunch and uncompromising Republican in his political attitude and has been honored by election to several public offices, having served as constable of his township for four years, for six years as pathmaster and also as member of the school board. He takes a deep interest in the educational welfare of his township and has done all in his power to advance his community's best interests materially, morally and educationally. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes a deep interest in the departments of church work, having served for several years as superintendent of the Sunday school and in other ways has contributed his time and means to advance the best interests of society. When Mr. Sackett first came to Michigan he did not possess a dollar and made his first money by cutting cord wood. From this humble position he has advanced step by step up the ladder of success and today no man in the township is more highly esteemed nor holds a more influential position among his fellow men than does Oliver B. Sackett.
     In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda M. Anderson, to which union were born four children, Lizzie, Alice, Andrew and Tillie. Mrs. Matilda Sackett died and the subject was subsequently married to Eva Abblett, this union being blessed by the birth of one child, Pearle Maude.
     As a business man Mr. Sackett has been conspicuous among his associates, not only for his success, but for his reputation in fairness and honorable methods. In everything he has been eminently practical and this has been manifested not only in his business undertakings but also in social and private life. He was a member and corporal for seven years in the New York state militia, from which he has an honorable discharge.

—Biographical History of Northern Michigan, B F Bowen & Company (1905.)¹⁵