Dan A. Michael is now in the concluding months of his four years of service as the capable and popular sheriff of Mitchell County. His term ends with 1916 and according to the custom enjoined by a decree of law he is not eligible for another term in the same office, though his fellow citizens would gladly see him there and would feel that every function of the sheriff’s duties was in splendid hands. Mr. Michael served four years as under sheriff prior to his election to the office.
Though not a native of Kansas he had lived in the state nearly all his life. He was born in Missouri in 1883, a son of Noah and Phoebe Michael. Sheriff Michael had one sister, Flora. His mother died in Missouri, and the father with his two children immigrated to Kansas when Dan was two weeks old. They established their home in Mitchell County, where Dan Michael was reared and educated. The father was a farmer, and the son followed in the same course when it came time for him to choose a permanent location. However, he subsequently became a skillful butcher, and followed that occupation for about ten years. He was called from the work of his trade to the duties of sheriff, an office to which he was elected by a large majority. As sheriff he had the management of the county jail and at the present writing the average number of prisoners is about thirty. During his administration only one capital crime had been committed in the county, a case of murder in the third degree. The prevailing crime had been a violation of the prohibitory law and larceny.
Mr. Michael is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In December, 1915, he was happily married to Miss Minerva Holms, daughter of Mr. P. Holms.