Biographical Sketch of

George B. Sacket

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 405- 406


George B. Sacket, senior member of the firm Sacket & Fitch, bankers of Berlin, was born at Sacket's Harbor, N. Y., 
June 7, 1849, and is a son of Edward and Cornelia Sacket who were also natives of the Empire State. The Sacket family 
was founded in America in 1685, by two brothers, Huguenots, who, on the revoking of the Edict of Nantes went into 
exile and settled in North Carolina. The name which was written by these emigrants 'Sackette" has since been contracted 
to the present form of spelling. The paternal grandfather of our subject emigrated to Northern New York, in an early 
day, and founded the city which now bears the name of Sackett's Harbor. He was an enterprising, energetic man and 
became the historic character of that place.

Edward Sacket, his son, and father of our subject, was born in Sackett's Harbor in 1806, and was married in his native 
town to Miss Cornelia Beckwith, who was also a native of northern New York. Members of her father's family were 
well-known capitalists in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, while on her mother's side she was related to the Sterlings, a 
wealthy and influential family of the Empire State. Her death occurred in Sackett's Harbor in 1853.

When five years of age, George B. went with his father to Cleveland, Ohio, and the following year removed to Chicago. 
He acquired his education in the Military School of Fulton, Illinois, and at the Western Reserve College of Hudson, 
Ohio. He entered upon his business career as a salseman in the store of Reese & Whiting of Berlin, in 1867, and the 
following year went to Cleveland White Lead Works for two years. At the expiration of that time he returned to 
Chicago, where he was employed as a bookkeeper by J. F. Warren & Co., manufacturers of white lead, paints and oils, 
and one year later, in the spring of 1871, became a partner in the business. Several months of prosperity followed, 
but in the fall of the year he witnessed the destruction of the city by the great conflagaration of that memorable 
October. His house lost their sales rooms and the large stock, but saved their well-filled factory on the west side. 
Mr. Sacket continued his connection with that house and in the summer of 1872, they incorporated the Chicago White 
Lead and Oil Company, now the largest concern of its kind in that great city. His health becoming impaired he sold 
out in the fall of 1873 and spent three years in travelling. In September, 1876, in company with George Fitch he 
established the banking house of Berlin, of which he is a senior partner. He was also interested with his father and 
brothers in an extensive cranberry marsh but in 1880 bought out his brother's interest in the part which was known as 
Sacket's Marsh. He now has a partner in the business, F. W. Stanley of Chicago, but all affairs connected with it are 
conducted under the name of George B. Sacket, who is the general manager. The Sacket Marsh comprises 720 acres of land, 
all in one body, situated in northeastern Waushara county, 500 acres of which are improved and planted. The improvement 
of the property cost more than $30,000. A ditch three-quarters of a mile long and fifty-five feet wide connects it with 
the Fox River and furnishes an inexhaustible supply of water, an essential element in the culture of cranberries. The 
so-called ditch was made by Mr. Sacket with a government dredge in 1885. Water is raised to flood the marsh by two 
powerful centrifugal pumps, which have a capacity of throwing 50,000 gallons each per minute. These pumps are operated 
by two engines of 150-horse power each, and when working to their full capacity will cover the entire surface of the 
marsh in six to eight hours, while the drainage facilities are so perfect that the water can be drawn off in two hours. 
The largest crop grown in the Sacket Marsh was 11,000 barrels, while an ordinary crop is usually from 3,000 to 4,000 
barrels.

On the 1st of December, 1880, in Berlin, Mr. Sacket led to the marriage altar Miss Alma C., daughter of C. H. and Annie 
Dunham. She was born in Berlin, where her parents still reside and was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church, of 
which she is now a member. Mr. Sacket is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to Berlin Lodge, No. 38, A. F. & A. M.; 
Berlin Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M.; and Berlin Commandery, NO. 10, K. T.  In politics he is a Republican, but has never 
sought or desired public office. He has preferred to devote his undivided attention to business pursuits in which he 
has been eminently successful. His property interests are large, and the banking house of which he is a senior member 
and which is based upon the personal responsibilities of its proprietors, is classed as one of the soundest financial 
institutions of the upper Fox River valley. 






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