Joseph Sego, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Joseph Sego
JOSEPH SEGO.
JOSEPH SEGO, ex-sheriff of Porter County, Indiana, and a citizen whose intelligence, enterprise and energy, with many other estimable qualities have secured for him a popularity not derived from any factitious circumstances, but a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit, was born in Kankakee County, Illinois, May 8, 1862. His parents, Louis and Agley (Fancher) Sego, were natives of Canada, but of French origin, the paternal greatgrandfather of our subject coming from that country to Canada at an early date. Our subject's grandparents on both sides of the house, moved from Canada to Kankakee, County, Illinois, purchased land, and there resided for many years. Later grandfather Sego moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, and died there in the fall of 1893, when seventy-eight years of age. Grandfather Augustus Fancher resides in Valparaiso at the present time and has the esteem and respect of all. The father of our subject removed from Illinois to Warren County, Indiana, and from there to Texas in 1877, locating in Dallas County, where he remained for three years. From there he moved to Butler County, Kansas, and there died in 1879, when forty-two years of age. He left a widow and seven children, and the mother subsequently moved back to Kankakee County, Illinois, where she resided until 1881. At that date she moved with her family to Valparaiso, Indiana, and two years later she married Paul Depatis who later moved back to Kankakee County. There she resides at the present time. Her children were named as follows: Joseph, Charles, Ollie, Anna, Henry H., Amos, Josephine (deceased), and --------. Our subject, being the eldest child, the support of the family fell on his and his brother Charles' shoulders. He received a liberal education and followed farming until he came to Valparaiso. After that he embarked in the brick business and carried this on for several years. Later he engaged in the truck business and followed this until 1890, when he was elected sheriff of the county. That position he held one term and was not only the youngest sheriff that ever filled that position in the county, but the only Democrat Sheriff elected in sixteen years. In the fall of 1892 he was a candidate for re-election and, after a warm contest, he was defeated by but two votes. In his first election he overcame a majority of 416 votes, thus showing his popularity. He may justly be regarded as one of the enterprising, reliable and public-spirited citizens of the county, in the affairs of which he has ever taken a decided interest. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Sophia Sommer, and their union was celebrated January 5, 1883. Four children have been given them: Minnie A., Lydia C., Clara M. and Bessie B. Mr. Sego is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., S. of V., Royal Arcanum and Forresters.
Source: Goodspeed Brothers. 1894. Pictorial and Biographical Record of La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke Counties, Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Brothers. 569 p.
Page(s) in Source: 284-285
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook