The Drackett Family Home Page

In 1850, at the age of 18, John Drackett left his home in Lowestoft, England, and set sail with his uncle, Robert Wiggs (just seven years his senior), to a new life in America. Entering the U.S. on September 4, 1850 through New York aboard the ship Southampton, John, a shipbuilder by trade, and Robert Wiggs, a sailor, made their way to Cleveland where they settled. At the time, Cleveland was a boomtown -- a crossroads of trade and immigration -- a land of plentiful timber for building ships and geographic advantage for western trade and migration. Between 1840 and 1870, Cleveland was the leading shipbuilding port on the Great Lakes. Over the years, John Drackett became a well known shipbuilder, married Mary Lewis in 1854, became a US citizen in 1860, and had seven children. Eventually, two of John's brothers and his widowed mother would follow him to the U.S. Many of their descendents demonstrate the same pioneering, hardworking, entrepreneurial and creative talents John brought with him to America.

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Family Photos

• Four Drackett Men (65 KB)
  From left to right: Harry Rogers, Jr.; Harry Rogers, John, Philip William about 1914 or 1915.
• Philip W. Drackett & Sons (13 KB)
  This photo, taken about 1910, shows Philip W. Drackett and his two sons, Philip on the left and Harry Rogers on the right.
• John Visits Morgan City (56 KB)
  Seated: John & his daughter, Minnie; Standing: son John Robert and J.R.'s wife, Laura. About 1910-15
• 1890 Cleveland City Directory (1259 KB)
  This directory shows listings for John, Phillip & Thomas. A supplemental page shows Daniel, circulator for The Sentinel, residing also at 129 Fulton.
• 1900 Cleveland City Directory (152 KB)
  This directory shows listings for Daniel, John, Robert H., Robert W., and Wm. L. Drackett.

Related Files

• Robert William Drackett (1849-1928) (16 KB)
  This file contains notes about the life of Robert William Drackett, brother of John.
• Thomas Drackett (1841-1906) (11 KB)
  This file contains notes about the life of Thomas Drackett, brother of John.
• John Drackett's Obituary (1 KB)
  This obituary appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on January 16, 1925
• CENSUS RECORDS, 1841-1920, UK and US (26 KB)
  This file follows the life of John Drackett in the UK and US census records.
• The DESCENDANTS of Philip Drackett (116 KB)
  This file contains a Genealogy Report on three generations of descendants from Philip Drackett born in England in 1812.

Related Links

• Cincinnati Post--Philip Drackett (100 Greater Cincinnatians)
• Drackett Products Become Part of SCJohnson Brands
• John Drackett's Bio in HISTORY OF THE GREAT LAKES