Sacramento Valley Biographies

JOHN ELWOOD SACKETT

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, May 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

         Whatever of prosperity the Sacramento Valley has enjoyed and
what-ever of prestige the passing years may bring to its growing fame, such
prosperity and such prestige have culminated or shall culminate from the
merit-orious efforts of progressive citizens, among whom Mr. Sackett holds
an honorable position. Through the early settlement here of his brother,
Buell R., the family name has been identified with this portion of the
valley since the '50's, and there are few residents of the locality to whom
the name of the brothers is unfamiliar. The family is of Revolutionary stock
and has given to the world men of professional ability and keen intellectual
acumen. Honored in his generation was the father of the two brothers, Rev.
John B. Sackett, who for many years officiated as corresponding secretary of
the Ohio state association of the Baptist denomination and who died while
still in the midst of his activities as a preacher of the gospel. In the
sketch of the older brother, Buell R., further mention of the family
appears.

        During the residence of Rev. John B. and Amanda (Bardeen) Sackett in
Mount Vernon, Ohio, their son, John Elwood, was born in 1853, and there he
was primarily educated. Later he was a pupil in the public schools of
Madison, Ohio. His education was completed by a years' course in Denison
University at Granville, Licking county, of which institution his father
served as a trustee for many years. When nineteen years of age, in 1872, he
came to California, where for twelve years he engaged as bookkeeper for a
San Francisco firm, at that time the largest wholesale commission house on
the Pacific coast. On resigning from office work he came to the Sacramento
valley and purchased his present homestead from his brother, with whom later
he formed a partner-ship that continues to the present time. By purchase
they have acquired nine hundred and fifty acres in one body, of which two
hundred and fifty acres are utilized for market garden, orchard, and
vineyard. The output in favorable years has aggregated forty cars of fruits
and vegetables. While the brothers are neighbors, the elder lives in Yolo
county and the younger in Solano county, but both are near Winters in what
is known as Sackett's valley, which is a part of Pleasant valley.

         Some years after coming to California Mr. Sackett established
domestic ties through his marriage, solemnized in 1878, to Miss Ella May
Loud, a native of Boston, Mass. Of the union there are seven children, named
as follows: John Elwood Jr., now in Los Angele; Helen, who for three years
was a student in the University of California; Mabel, a stenographer
employed in San Francisco; Bardeen, a graduate of the Winters high school
and at present assisting his father on the home ranch; Grace, Eulalia, and
Marna, who are living on the home farm. Like his brother, Mr. Sackett
advocates the principles of the Republican party and is a disciple of
Masonry, holding membership with Buckeye Lodge No. 195, F. & A. M., at
Winters, of which he is now the worshipful master, also is a member of the
Eastern Star at the same point. Among the people of the locality where he
has made his home for  twenty years or more he is recognized as a man of
sterling moral attributes, irreproachable character and companionable
disposition.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 473-474.