YUBA COUNTY Biographies

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

LESLIE B. CROOK

Gaining that proficiency which is the result of thorough training and broad experience, Leslie B. Crook has become recognized as one of the foremost civil engineers of Northern California, and Marysville is proud to claim him as one of her native sons. He was born July 26, 1884, and his parents were William H. and Mary Jane (Hobart) Crook, pioneers of California. The father came to the Golden State in the early sixties, bringing with him his wife and child, making the journey via the Isthmus of Panama. He soon obtained employment with W. T. Ellis as head bookkeeper, a position he held for twelve years, and then he became proprietor of a grocery store at Fifth and D Streets, which he successfully conducted for a number of years, selling out to W. F. Kelly. He then withdrew from business affairs and spent his remaining years in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He lived to celebrate his golden wedding anniversary and is survived by his widow, who has reached the age of eighty-two, and by his daughter Nellie, Mrs. J. F. Tapley, and son Leslie B., the subject of this review.

Leslie B. Crook was graduated from the Marysville grammar schools and attended a local business college. In 1904 he enrolled as a student in the Van Der Nailen College of Engineering at San Francisco, where he completed a course in civil and mining engineering, receiving the degree of C. E. and M.E. in 1906. On his return to Marysville he was placed in charge of the construction of all bridges from Oroville to his native town on the Western Pacific Railway, and during these four years worked under E. Oliver, division engineer of the above company. He then acted as assistant engineer on the location of a forty-five-mile railroad for the McCloud River Lumber Company. In 1908 he was appointed deputy county surveyor of Yuba County, discharging the duties of that position for two years. His excellent work in that connection led to his election to the office of county surveyor. So well did he perform his duties that he was re-elected to succeed himself. Thus he has filled the office from January, 1911, until January, 1913, and during the period while county surveyor he built nearly all the concrete bridges in the county. In 1920 and 1922, he was a member of the Marysville city council. He is now engaged in private practice and his technical knowledge, ready adaptability and practical turn of mind enable him to find a ready and accurate solution of all difficult professional problems. Les Crook, as he is familiarly called by all of his friends, has also filled other public offices outside the strict path of his profession and has always done efficient and conscientious work. He was a member of the Marysville Board of Health, of which he was made chairman, and also served as chairman of the annual Shad Bake. At the Panama Exposition he had charge of the exhibits from Yuba and Sutter Counties and was congratulated by the board of supervisors of the latter county for his work in that connection. He is fond of hunting and served as secretary and treasurer of the Yuba-Sutter branch of the State Fish & Game Commission. He was also deputy fish and game commissioner for this district. During the World War he acted as fire warden and was also one of the Four Minute speakers. Mr. Crook gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and his fraternal connections are with the Knights Templar Masons, the Eagles, the Foresters, the Red Men, the Elks, and the Native Sons, in which he is a past president. He is a Grand President of the Ancient Order of E Clampus Vitus. In line of his profession he is a past president of the State Association of County Surveyors and also a member of the State Association. He is Admiral of the Empire Motor Club.

Mr. Crook was united in marriage to Miss Esther Irene Sperbeck and they have a son, Hobart William. Mrs. Crook’s parents, Jacob and Margaret Sperbeck, crossed the plains to California in an early day and were also numbered among the pioneer settlers of the state. Mr. Crook has made continuous progress in his profession, experience and study ever bringing him a wider knowledge and greater efficiency, and he has enlisted his talents as readily for the public weal as for his own success. His life has been one of great activity and usefulness, characterized by the completion of much important and valuable work, and his worth to his community is conceded by all who know aught of his career.

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