Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 818 - 819

JAMES SACKET, who occupies an influential and prominent position among the agricultural population of Illinois Township, has his homestead upon section 15, where he has a farm of 320 acres of land. Upon this he has erected some excellent improvements, and here he lives, surrounded with a fair share of the comforts of this life. He came to Kansas to his present location, in 1872, and was among the pioneers of this section of Sedgwick County.

            Mr. Sacket is a native of Illinois, born in Madison County, March 11, 1837, and is the son of James and Sarah Janette (Parker) Sacket, natives of Connecticut and New York State respectively. His father was born in 1804, and died in 1884, and was by occupation a farmer, carpenter and mason. In an early day he removed to Illinois, where he was married, Feb. 23, 1816, to the mother of our subject, who died March 4, 1867. In his politics he was a member of the Whig party, but in later years voted for the Republican candidates. He was an important member of the community in which he lived, and held the office of School Treasurer in this township, and being deeply pious was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife. They were the parents of six children, of whom the following is a record: Francis Marion was born Dec. 31, 1835, married Miss Maggie Bowers, and is a farmer in Madison County, Ill., and the father of a large family; James Sacket, the second child, is the subject of this sketch; Clarissa B , whose birth occurred July 11, 1839, is a resident of Boulder, Col.; Andrew, who was born Feb. 22, 1841, is an express messenger in Colorado; Henry R., born Sept. 8, 1843, is also residing in Boulder County, where he is engaged in the profession of dentistry, and is the husband of the lady who was formerly Miss Mary Glass; Frances Sarah, born Oct. 18, 1845, is the wife of W. W. Dee, a farmer of Sedgwick County, residing in Illinois Township.

            Reared upon the paternal farm, the subject of this history received his education in the district schools of his native State, and remained at home, assisting his father in his agricultural labors, until his marriage. This interesting event occurred Aug. 25, 1862, at which time he and Miss Mary Shippen plighted their mutual faith at the marriage altar. His life companion is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Endsley) Shippen, and was born in Wayne County, Ind., March 29, 1839. Her father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, born July 2, 1803, is a resident of Harper County, this State. He has been twice married, the first time to Miss B. Minor, who became the mother of four children, as follows: John, who married Rebecca Wood, and is the parent of twelve children, is a farmer in this State; Elizabeth, who married William Endsley, a farmer in Nebraska, and has a family of seven children; William, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, residing at Butte City, Mont., and the father of two children; and Lydia Ann, Mrs. Washington Wilson, the mother of three children, residing on a farm in Iowa; she is now dead. After the death of his first wife Mr. Shippen was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, nee Endsley, who was a native of Ohio, born May 22, 1802; she was the widow of Jesse Butler, and the mother of two children at the time of her marriage with Mr. Shippen. Sarah Jane, Mrs. John Curry, living in Illinois, and Rachel, the deceased wife of Solomon Schaefer, who makes his home in Bond County, Ill. By this second marriage Mr. Shippen was the parent of the following children: Mary, the wife of our subject; Abraham, a member of the 1st Iowa Cavalry, died in the service during the late war; Martha, Mrs. Adolph Friday, is living in Harper County, Kan.; and David, who is living with his parents in the last-named county.

            Mr. Sacket remained in his native State until 1871, when he removed to Missouri, but twelve months later removed to Sedgwick County with his family, and pre-empted 160 acres of land, to which he has added 160 since. When he settled here the country was extremely wild, but he has brought his land to the uses of civilization, set out a large orchard and a beautiful grove, and an abundance of small fruits. He carries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising graded horses, cattle and hogs, all of the best breeds. He has filled several important official positions in the county. having been elected Trustee of the township in 1874, at the time of its organization, in which capacity he served two years. He occupied the place of Township Treasurer one year, Justice of the Peace four years, Clerk and Treasurer of the school district for several terms. He is, politically, a member of the Republican party, but warmly endorses the action of the Prohibitionists, believing that the evil of dram drinking should be suppressed by law. Both he and his wife are sincere and Christian members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

            To Mr. and Mrs. Sacket there have been born a family of five children, whose record is as follows: Nettie E., who was born May 18, 1863, and was united in marriage, Nov. 18, 1886, with W. C. Dupy, a farmer of Scott County, this State, and is the mother of one child, Archie Ray, who rejoices in having four grandparents and six great-grandparents still living. Martha Pearl was born May 18, 1866, and married Robert F. Barnett, a farmer at Mead Center, this State, June 11, 1884; William James, born July 11, 1868; Clarence Henry, Oct. 13, 1871; and Josiah Andrew, Nov. 22, 1880, are all at home.

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