Jacob Edwin Sackett

Jacob Edwin Sackett, son of Orsemus Sackett and Caroline E ___, was born in Chenango County, New York State^G, in about 1850.^1,2 He died aged about 48 in Chicago, Illinois^G, on 29 August 1898 and was buried at Westlawn Cemetery, Goffstown, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire^G, on 31 August 1898.^3,4,5 He married first in New Zealand^G in May 1878, Margaret Brewer.^6,7 They divorced in Denver, Colorado^G, on 22 May 1883.⁸ He married second in Denver^G on 24 May 1883, Ida L Curtis.⁹ Ida was born in 1855.³ She died aged about 44 on 15 February 1900 and was buried at Westlawn Cemetery^G.³
     In 1855 Jacob was living in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York State^G, in the household of his grandparents Ezekiel and Ruth Sacket, and was recorded in the census as Edwin J Sacket, aged five and born in Chenango County.¹⁰
     In 1860 Jacob was living in Maryland, Otsego County, New York State^G, in the household of his father Orsemus and stepmother Geraldine, and was recorded in the census as Edwin Sackett, aged ten and born in New York.¹¹
     Jacob was listed in the St Louis, Missouri^G, city directory in 1883. He was living at Everett House and was a co-owner of the Sackett, Day & Gregory museum.¹² In 1885 he was the director of the Indianapolis Dime Museum, Indiana.¹³
     In September 1885, J E Sackett opened a Dime Museum at Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota^G, in partnership with E W Wiggins. The venture was extensively promoted with articles and advertisements in the St Paul Daily Globe. The museum displayed all manner of curiosities, including stage productions.
     In June 1886, Sackett & Wiggins announced plans to build a new theater at the corner of First Avenue and Fourth Street. Jacob was then living in Chicago. Sackett & Wiggins were said to control theaters and museums in Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Kansas City. Jacob had recently sold his interest in the Cleveland theater. In the following year, they were involved with others in setting up the Murray Opera House Company.
     By the end of 1887, the firm of Sackett & Wiggins was in financial trouble. While the Dime Museum was reported to be profitable, the loss-making Hennepin Avenue theater and the commitment to build another theater in St Paul had overstretched their resources. The firm was declared insolvent in February 1888 and a receiver was appointed. Several parties were interested in taking over the business and it was sold by auction later that month. The deal was mired in controversy, even resulting in a free fight in which the attorney for Sackett & Wiggins had his nose broken after refusing to give up the Dime Museum building to the receiver.
     Jacob Sackett was still active as a museum proprietor in 1890 when the English Syndicate was reported to have taken control of the freak show houses in Sackett & Lawter's circuit at Omaha, Missouri, and Lincoln, Nebraska, leaving Sackett & Lawter with a one-fifth share.
     Jacob was named in his father Orsemus's will. He and his brothers Henry and Fitch were left just one dollar each, the residue of their father's reportedly considerable estate being divided among his nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.