John W Page

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Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 12:18:03

John W Page, practical and enterprising in his work, John W Page is successfully carrying on farming on Sec 30, Colfax township, where he has 100 acres of land, adjoining the village of Luther. He is a native of Ohio, born May 23, 1845. His father Benjamin B Page, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1812, and when a young man left the Old Dominion, establishing his home in Ohio. He there married Miss Mary H Crishin, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr Page followed farming in the Buckeye state until his death, which occurred in 1864. His wife survived him and reared her children, living for many years in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, near the old home. In the family were eleven children five sons and six daughters who reached mature years and the sons and three of the daughters are yet living.
Mr Page of this review spent his boyhood days not unlike the manner in which most lads of the period were reared upon the farms. He enlisted in December, 1861, for one year’s service, being at that time about sixteen years of age. He joined Company I, of the Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Regiment and served under General Fremont in the Shenandoah Valley, participating in the battles of Cross Keys, Harper’s Ferry and some skirmishes. He was then taken prisoner at Harper’s Ferry in the fall of 1862, but soon afterward was paroled and discharged in Chicago in the same year.
Mr Page then returned home and later worked at bridge carpentering in the employ of the railroad until 1870, when he cam to Boone county, Iowa. He was married in Worth township of this county on December 15, of the same year, the lady of his choice being Catherine Eppert, who was born in Indiana and reared in Boone county, having been brought here in 1854, when a child of one year by her father , Daniel Eppert. He was among the first that enter4ed land in this locality. His birth occurred December 16, 1829, in Ohio, and in 1832, he was taken to Indiana, where he was reared. There on June 24, 1852, he wedded Mary J Huffman, a native of the same state. In Indiana he carried on farming for a number of years and in 1854 emigrated westward to Boone county, where form the government he secured a tract of 240 acres of land, which in course of time became a rich and fertile farm. Thereon he reared his family and there his death occurred March 22, 1886, while his wife passed away June 1900. Mr and Mrs Page began their domestic life upon the Eppert farm and after a year he purchased 160 acres of land in Colfax township, operating it for one season. He then removed to Des Moines, where he engaged in business for a number of years. On the expiration of that time he returned to Boone county, bought 100 acres of land in Worth township, and continued its cultivation for sometime, also placing substantial buildings upon the property.
In 1892, however, he sold that farm and bought the one on which he is now living on Sec 30 Colfax township. Since that time he has remodeled the house, has planted fruit and shade trees and added to the place many excellent improvements, which have tended to make this one of the model farms of the community.
Unto Mr and Mrs Page have been bor n eight children, who are yet living: Melvin E, a resident farmer of Garden township, Nellie, the wife of J B McClarnan, a farmer of Worth township, H E, who is married and is the station agent and telegraph operator at Luther, Minetta at home, Daniel B and Scot D, who are assisting in the operation of the home farm, Raymond and Emma. The political support of Mr Page is given to the Republican party and in 1868 he cast his firth presidential vote thus endorsing the candidacy of U S Grant. At each presidential election he has given his support to Republican principles. He belongs to the Grand Army Post at Madrid and takes pleasure in recalling the scenes of army life with his old comrades. Since the fall of 1870 he has made his home in Boone county, which he has helped to improve and develop as the years have passed by. In manner he is pleasant and genial and the qualities of an upright business career and of the sterling character have gained for him the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.

1902 Boone County History Book