Glenn County
Biographies
FRANK S. REAGER
As county superintendent of schools
Frank Seymour Reager is prominently connected with the educational interests of
Glenn County. He was for a number of
years a successful teacher and his labors have been most effective in promoting
intellectual advancement in this section of the state. Well qualified in his chosen calling, he has
gained prestige as a representative of the educational profession, and in this
connection he well deserves mention among the leading citizens of northern
California. He was born on a farm near
Orland, Glenn County, June 20, 1868, and is a son of Martin A. and Amanda
(Goodrich) Reager. His father was born
in Flint Hill, Virginia, and when nineteen years of age crossed the plains to
California. He drove an ox team, but he
walked nearly all the way. He was
attracted to the far west by the discovery of gold and for a year he engaged in
mining, but not meeting with the success he had anticipated he turned his
attention to a pursuit with which he was more familiar, locating in the
Sacramento River Valley, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for ten
years. In 1850 he took up his abode in
what is now Glenn County and became one of its successful farmers, devoting his
energies to the operation of his land throughout his business career. He was a Democrat in his political
affiliations, but never sought or desired public office. He died in December, 1895, but his wife, a
native of Albany, New York, is still living, her home being in the village of
Orland. Most of her children are yet
living, her one son being a teacher in the high school in Orland, while a
daughter is also successfully engaged in teaching.
Mr. Reager, of this review, has
spent his entire life in Glenn County.
He first pursued his education in the little school on the home farm,
and afterward continued his studies in Orland, also spent one term in
college. Of a studious nature, his
investigations have been largely carried on outside of the schoolroom and
through his unaided efforts he has become a man of scholarly attainments and
broad general information. He was thus
eminently qualified for the work of teaching, and in 1888 became actively connected
with the profession. He successfully
conducted the schools of Orland until 1898, when he was elected county
superintendent, in which position he has since served with credit to himself
and satisfaction to the public.
On the 17th of September,
1899, Mr. Reager was united in marriage to Miss Emma Scribner, a lady of
culture and refinement who was born in Tehama County, California, and is a
graduate of the Orland schools. They
have one daughter, Mary Amanda, born August 26, 1900.
Since casting his first presidential
vote for Grover Cleveland Professor Reager has been an advocate of Democratic
principles and by his ballot has supported its nominees. He belongs to various civic societies,
including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Independent Order of
Foresters and the Masonic fraternity, all of Orland, and in the first named he
has filled all the chairs. He also
belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Chico. He and his wife are consistent Christian
people, taking an active part in the work of the church and occupy an enviable
position in social circles, where true worth and intelligence are received as
passports into good society.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 256-257. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Glenn County Biographies