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1907 Past and Present Biographies

John Page

The agricultural population of America has always proven to be the backbone of this country’s prosperity. The substantial class of citizens who have carried on the agricultural in terests are always honest. thrifty and industrious, so that as a stable population there is no better class in the United States. A characteristic representative of this class is John Page, who was born in New Jersey, June 20, 1853. He is a son of Erastus and Patience (Marks) Page, both natives of New Jersey. This worthy couple were engaged in agriculture during their lives and reared a family of three children.

Mr. Page received his early education in the common schools, but, like most boys reared in the country, he spent many hours toiling in the fields on his father’s farm. This practical training gave him his preparation for the business of his life and was worth more to him than nny theoretical training could have been. In 1876 he removed to Kendall county, Illinois, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he came to Greene county, Iowa, and bought of Albert McNabb eighty acres of land on section 34, Scranton township, and an adjoining eighty acres on section 35, making one hundred and sixty acres. This place had a small house upon it and here Mr. Page lived until 1895, when his business had brought him the financial reward which enabled him to erect a splendid fourteen-room house, where he has since lived. He has added a horse barn fifty four by sixty-four feet, a stock barn sixty by sixty-four, a good hog-house, double corn cribs and outbuildings. He has fenced and tiled all of this land and has set out some of the shade and fruit trees which make the place so attractive and so profitable. He has been able to add to his original purchase and has just bought sixty acres, so that his farm now consists of two hundred and twenty acres and is considered one of the best farms in Scranton township. He is at present engaged in raising sheep, short horn cattle, Poland China hogs and draft horses.

Mr. Page was married February 14, 1884, in Illinois, to Elizabeth Cook, a native of that state. This union has been blessed with four children: Edna, the wife of Walter Balcom; Gertrude, Merle and Effie, the last three all living at home. Mr. Page is a democrat in his political views and has always been one of his party’s most active supporters, although he has never sought oflice. He has preferred to spend his time upon his farm and with his family. He is modest and unassuming in manner and has never cared to figure in the public eye nor has he been eager to amass a fortune. This has left him free to build up a life that is honest, straightforward and upright and to enjoy to the full the interesting family which it is his good fortune to have.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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