SAUL HICKS HACKETT, farmer, stock dealer and feeder, was born in Bath County, Kentucky, February II, 1827. His father, Daniel D. Hackett, was born in Kentucky, and was a farmer by calling. He died when Saul H. was only two years old. The mother was formerly Maudalina Hicks, born in Kentucky, who, after the death of her husband, moved the family to Crawford County, Illinois, in 1829. There they were raised. At that early day school advantages being very limited, what learning the children had was obtained at home. The subject of this sketch was the youngest of five children, and from his earliest recollections saw many hard times, and was deprived of many of the necessaries of life, and all its luxuries. He grew up with industrious habits, and with a determination to succeed, but poor in pocket. He soon bought a tract of land, improved it, and in 1865 sold out and came to this state and county, purchasing a part of his present farm. Upon this he made extensive improvements, built a substantial dwelling and other buildings, besides making large additions from time to time. He has become one of our heaviest stock dealers and feeds large numbers of cattle and hogs yearly, having as good facilities and lots adapted to that business, as anyone in this township. He has 314 acres of land and lives on section 12. Mr. Hackett married Miss Polly Watts, March 1, 1849. She was the daughter of Lott Watts, a native of Virginia, but long a resident of Illinois. They have six children : Arminta (now Mrs. B. F. Garst), Mary Ann (now Mrs. George L. Hughes), Morton F., Zerelda (wife of John L. Harrison,) William Levi and Phoebe Emma. He has raised quite a family of children, given them good advantages for an education and started them in life under favorable circumstances. Mr. H. religiously was raised a Methodist and is very zealous in advancing the interests of the church, giving much towards its support. He has for many years been superintendent of the Sunday school. After having made a successful start in life he was induced in 1868 to help the railroad and in the enterprise he suffered a loss of $6,000, which nearly ruined him. But with his characteristic energy he succeeded in re-establishing himself on a firm basis, and is now one of the solid and reliable men of the county. His father died in October, 1829, and his mother, who was born May 21, 1797, is living with him. Though deprived of her sight, she is enjoying good health for one of her years. She has two sons living: Felix Grundy Hackett, living in Illinois, and the subject of this shetch. Mr. H. has taken four children to raise: William Hale, Henry R. Hale, Sarah Collins, a very capable young lady, and Owen Hale.279