Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

FRANK JOSEPH MICHEL

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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


 
The greater part of the life of Frank Joseph Michel has been spent in 
California, for he was only eight years old when he accompanied his mother to 
the Golden State.  When he was twenty years old he was conducting his father�s 
ranch, and in 1884 he made his first independent purchase of land, to which he 
has added from time to time until he now owns 970 acres of fine grain land, 
located about twenty miles south of Yuba City in the Nicolaus section of Sutter 
County.  He was born in Hessen Nassau, Germany, on March 1, 1861, the eldest of 
seven children born to John Adam and Anna Margaret (Krieg) Michel, both natives 
of Hessen Nassau, Germany.  John Adam Michel preceded his family to America and 
via Panama came to California, arriving in 1863, in company with Casper Peter, 
another pioneer who settled in the Nicolaus District, Sutter County.  Frank J. 
Michel made the long journey from Germany to California with his mother, coming 
via Panama and arriving in San Francisco August 4, 1869.  He received his 
education in the Nicolaus public schools and the Garden City Business College in 
San Jose, where he was graduated in 1879.  After finishing his business course 
he returned to the home ranch, where he received valuable lessons in practical 
agriculture, which have been the foundation of his success in life.  For many 
years, Mr. Michel was in partnership with his brothers in raising grain, but 
later the partnership was dissolved.  In 1909 Mr. Michel made a final purchase 
of land, which brings his total acreage to 970 acres; he uses tractors, horses 
and mules to carry on his extensive grain operations.  For eighteen years Mr. 
Michel has been a director of Levee District No. 2, and twelve years of this 
time he also served as secretary.  The reclamation work began in 1869, but not 
until 1871 was the first constructive work done; this district is now under 
State Reclamation District No. 1001.  In 1904 Mr. Michel was elected supervisor 
for Supervisorial District No. 5, Sutter County, and was twice re-elected and 
served until 1916.  For two years he was chairman of the board.  During his term 
in office much improvement in roads, bridges and buildings in Sutter County was 
started and plans for the new county highways, Nicolaus bridge and County 
hospital were made that have since been carried to completion.
The marriage of Mr. Michel occurred in Sacramento in 1885, uniting him with Miss 
Mary E. Reherman, a native of Germany, who arrived in Nicolaus, Cal., in 1882.  
They became the parents to two sons, Emil F. and Clement E.  The latter is 
married and has one son, Clement J.  Mrs. Michel passed away in 1898.  In 1902 
Mr. Michel was married to Miss Rose Krieg, a native of Germany, who came to 
California in 1890.  Mr. Michel built a fine residence in Sacramento on 
Sacramento Boulevard in 1921.  In politics, he is a Republican and has served as 
a member of the county central committee; fraternally he is a member of the 
Knights of Columbus, Sacramento Council No. 953, and Marysville Lodge No. 783, 
B.P.O.E., and he is Past President of the Von Moltke Lodge No. 24, Order of the 
Sons of Herman, at Nicolaus.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 1235