Colusa County Biographies

KEEPERS ALBERY

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


            Is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, born in the year 1838.  His 
youth was uneventful, being passed in a resolute struggle to secure a common 
education.  This once acquired, he taught school in Franklin County, Ohio, and 
also in Iowa, laying by with genteel economy every dollar for which he toiled so 
patiently and successfully in the school-rooms of the young Buckeyes.  Having 
amassed a snug little hoard for a pedagogue in those days, he invested it all in 
securing a higher education than he had yet attained, at Ann Arbor University, 
Michigan.  Completing his course here, he undertook the study of the law and was 
admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1865.  After practicing his 
chosen profession for a few years in Mercer County, of that State, he was 
elected District Attorney thereof, serving in that office from January 1, 1868, 
to January 1, 1872.  Meanwhile, with the proceeds from his profession, he was 
aiding a younger brother, H. M. Albery, the present District Attorney of Colusa 
County, to acquire an education, and who became proficient in a knowledge of the 
law.  While serving as prosecuting attorney, the criminal element of his 
district had reason to fear his ability, for not one of the many indictments 
prepared by him was quashed.
            In 1875 Mr. Albery removed to Shelby County, in his State, and there 
practiced his profession till 1880, when, becoming possessed of a strong 
inclination to reside in California, he determined to realize it.  For this 
purpose he sundered the strong ties and warm friendships of a life-time, placed 
his property in the care of an agent and turned his face toward the setting sun. 
 On arriving in California in the fall of 1880, he cast about for some 
out-of-door occupation to relieve the strain of years of professional toil, and 
concluded to engage in mining in Plumas County.  This he followed till 1886, 
when he located in Colusa County, though still retaining an interest in his 
mines.  With his capability for making and holding friends, it was not long till 
Mr. Albery had gathered clients about him and built up a good practice in the 
legal profession.  Shortly after locating in his present abode, the Wright 
Irrigation law was passed.  Mr. Albery was a close student of this measure from 
its first introduction in the Legislature, and was convinced that it was 
radically wrong, though he himself was not opposed to irrigation as an adjunct 
of cultivation.  Among a multitude of reasons for antagonism to this law, 
adduced by Mr. Albery, was that �for at least another generation, it will add to 
the large real-estate holdings at the expense and ruin of the small holdings, 
and particularly of the small holdings which happen to be encumbered.�  He 
fought the measure sturdily as a citizen of the county, while his professional 
services were retained by the opponents of the creation of the Colusa and 
Central Irrigation Districts.  Mr. Albery is a pleasant companion, cheerful as 
well as thoughtful, has a legion of friends, and, as he is in the prime and 
vigor of life, can look forward to increasing prosperity in his Colusa County 
home.
 
�Colusa County� � by Justus H. Rogers � Orland, CA � 1891 � pp 410-411