Charles H. Hackett
Charles H. Hackett. postmaster at Yellow Springs and a former merchant at that place, was born on a farm in Miami township, this county, February 22. 1873, son of James and Ellen (Cavenaugh) Hackett, both of whom were born in Ireland, who were married at Springfield, this state, later coming down into Greene county and locating on a farm in the Cedarville neighborhood, where they both died, the latter in 1915 and the former in October, 1916.
James Hackett grew to manhood in his native Ireland and then came to this country, presently coming to Ohio and engaging in railroad work at Springfield. In that city he met and renewed his acquaintance with Ellen Cavenaugh, whom he had known in the old country and who had come to this country with her parents, the family locating in the vicinity of Springfield, and the couple shortly afterward were married. Not long after his marriage James Hackett decided to give up railroad work and engaged in farming and with this end in view came down into Greene county and bought a farm in Miami township, in the vicinity of Cedarville, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there, as noted above, in the fall of 1916. His wife died in 1915. She has a brother still living, now retired, in the city of London, Ohio. To James and Ellen (Cavenaugh) Hackett were born ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being the following: Richard, a farmer living in Xenia township, who is married and has two children; Thomas, deceased, as also is his wife, the two having left a son, John Hackett, who is now (1918) with the American Expeditionary Army in France; Margaret, wife of John Downey, a farmer living in the vicinity of Yellow Springs; Edward, a blacksmith, living at Yellow Springs; Katherine, who married Michael Minnogue, living in the vicinity of Springfield, and has seven children; John, deceased; William, now a resident of Dayton, who is married and has seven children; Joseph, living on the old home place in Miami township, who is married and has four children, and Harry, of Yellow Springs, who also is married and has four children.
Charles H. Hackett was reared on the home farm, but early decided on a mercantile career and upon completing his schooling in the high school he began working in the grocery store of A. H. White at Clifton. He was then nineteen years of age and for twelve years he continued that employment, in that time gaining a very comprehensive knowledge of the grocery business. Upon the completion of that term of service Mr. Hackett bought the store from his employer and engaged in business on his own account. Two years later he sold that store and moved to Yellow Springs, where he bought the hardware store of George H. Smith and continued to operate that store until his appointment, two years later, in 1913, as postmaster of Yellow Springs, which office he ever since has occupied. Mr. Hackett is a Democrat and has long been recognized as one of the leaders of his party in the northern part of this county.
In the winter of 1902 Charles H. Hackett was united in marriage to Clemmie Gram, daughter of David L. and Katherine (Taylor) Gram, of Springfield, this state, and to this union two children have been born, Leo, born on August 12, 1905, and Kathleen, March 27, 1913. Mrs. Hackett has three brothers, John E., Grover and Homer Gram. Mr. and Mrs. Hackett are members of the Catholic church and take an interested part in local parish affairs.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918