Sutter
County
Biographies
FRANK W. ALGEO
Frank W. Algeo is a worthy
representative of one of Sutter county’s most highly honored families, which
was established here during the historic period of the great gold rush of 1849,
and during all of the subsequent years its members have done their full part in
the development of the locality in which they live and have contributed to its
stability and prosperity. The family was
founded in this country by the parents of James I. Algeo, a native of Ireland
who settled in the state of Ohio. He was
living at Steubenville, Jefferson County, that state, in 1849, when the news
reached the east of the wonderful deposits of gold that were being discovered
in California. He and his family at once
began the long and dangerous overland journey, with ox teams and covered
wagons, and on their arrival in this state the men at once went to the mines. In the spring of 1851 they came to the vicinity
of Nicolaus and camped, while James I. Algeo busied himself with whatever
offered a living. For a while he was
employed at haying, but later he did teaming to Sacramento and to the
mountains, which proved fairly remunerative, as he received from one hundred to
one hundred and fifty dollars a ton for transporting freight. He followed that business until 1860 and
during that period located a number of claims in Sutter County, upon which the
family engaged in farming. He died on
his ranch here about 1877, at the age of seventy-six years. His son, John Algeo, who was born in
Steubenville, Ohio, continued the work inaugurated by his father, carrying it
on successfully until his death, in July, 1889, at the age of sixty-six
years. He married Amy Vestal, a native
of North Carolina, who had come overland to California with her parents in 1851. She died in May, 1903, at the age of
sixty-eight years, leaving ten children, one of whom is Frank W. Algeo, of this
review. John Algeo was, as was also his
father before him, a Democrat in his political alignment and he served for
sixteen years prior to his death as justice of the peace, being a man of
prominence and influence in his community.
Frank W. Algeo, whose home ranch is
located about four miles northwest of Pleasant Grove, Sutter County, was born
in this vicinity, November 29, 1858, and has spent practically his entire life
here. He attended the public schools and
early became accustomed to the work of farming and stockraising. On attaining his majority he rented land
adjoining the home place and farmed there until 1888, when he bought two
hundred and forty acres, to which he added one hundred and sixty acres about a
year later. In 1902 he purchased another
one hundred and sixty acre tract and has subsequently bought other acreage
until today he is numbered among the largest landowners of this section of the
state. This estate has been acquired
entirely through his own industry and good management and he has long been
regarded as one of Sutter county’s most successful
business men.
In 1888 Mr. Algeo was united in
marriage to Miss Mary M. Howsley, a native of Nevada, who came to Sutter County
with her parents in young girlhood.
Further reference is made to the Howsley family in the sketch of Joseph Algeo,
on other pages of this work. Mr. and
Mrs. Algeo have four children, Lillie, Ruth, George and Joseph. The last named is now engaged in sheep raising on his father’s ranch, on a share arrangement, and
lives at home with his parents.
Frank W. Algeo gives his political
support to the Republican Party and has always evinced a keen interest in
matters affecting the welfare of his community.
In 1904 he ran independently for the office of supervisor and made a
strong race, being defeated by only twenty-three votes. He served as clerk of the school board for
several years and proved an efficient and faithful officer. During all the years of his activities here
he has been ably seconded and assisted by Mrs. Algeo, who has been a true
helpmate in the best sense of the term and is well liked by all who know
her. Mr. Algeo has been a witness of the
remarkable development of this section of the state and to such as he the state
is indebted for its present standing among the foremost commonwealths of the
Union, for he has been loyal to its best interests and in his own life has
exemplified a high type of citizenship.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 110-112. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Sutter County
Biographies