Arthur B. Cracknell, the leading dealer in wall-paper, paints, oils, glass, artists and painters supplies is a native of England, born in Warwickshire on the 4th ofMay 1860. His father George E. Cracknell was a painter by trade and spent his entire life in England, being called from this world in October 1894, at the age of 69 years. He was twice married and had a fammily of 13 children - 10 by the first union and three by the last. Those who are now living in America are Arthur B; C.H. who makes his home in the Canadian Sault Ste. Marie; G.F. a resident of St. Paul MN; T.J. who makes his home in this city and Kate, of Brooklyn, who is stewardess on a West India boat.

The gentleman whose name heads this record spent the first 19 years of his life in the land of his nativity and then determined to seek a home in the New World, for he believed that he might thereby better his financial conditions. Taking passage on the steamer Circassion, of the Allen line, he safely crossed the Atlantic and landed at Port Levi, Quebec. He spent nearly 2 years in the Queen's dominion before coming to Sault Ste. Marie and ont he 5th of May 1881 arrived in this city, a young man who had not yet attained his majority and possessing a cash capital of less than $50. He was master of the painter's trade, however, and was industrious, enterprising and ambitious. He resolved tom ake the most of his opportunities and was not long in seeking employment, which he secured in a short time from James Hamilton. He worked by the day all that season and the following year began business for himself, taking contracts which soon yielded to him a good income. He opened a paint shop and was soon at the head of a good business, which steadily increaseduntil he had accumulated a capital of $3,500.

Thus when the "boom" came on he was enabled to make investments which, owing to the rapid rise in land values, soon netted him at least $50,000. He now has his capital safely invested in valuable property, including stores and residences, and the monthly rental is a handsome income. He owns the Cracknell blocks, comprising six stores on Portage avenue, three dwellings in the Fort Brady addition, two on Ann stret, his homestead on Lyons street and a store and dwelling on the Canadian side of the river. All this he owns in addition to the large business which he now conducts. He has had all the large contracts for painting and glazing in the Government work at this place, and obtained the contract from the Government for the work at Ft. Brady. The man who can successfully conduct important business transactions must possess abilities no less than those of the general on the field of battle. His campaign, it is true, is of a different character and different methods are required. He must have industry, energy and determination, good management and perseverance, and above all, must possess a tact that enables him to meet all classes of people with their varied tastes.

Mr. Cracknell was married on Manitoulian island on 29 Sept. 1881, to Sarah J. Hickenbottom, only daughter of Walter Hickenbottom who was born in England and was a farmer by occupation. Our subject and his wife have a daughter May, age 10. Socially Mr. Cracknell is associated with the I.O.O.F. and the Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Episcopal church .

Memorial Record of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895