John Page

JOHN PAGE, one of the oldest and most successful mine operators in Cherokee County, is an influential citizen of Galena and has witnessed the city's growth from its infancy. He has aided materially in its development and has frequently been called upon to accept some position of public trust.

Mr. Page was born in England, January 21, 1848, and is a son of Richard Barmby Page. His education was very limited and at the age of 12 years he left home to make his own way in the world. At the age of 19 years he sailed for America, landing in New York City. The same year he journeyed west to Kansas City, Missouri, and for a time clerked under H. C. Craig, agent of the old Missouri River, Fort Scott, Gulf Railroad at Paola. Mr. Craig is now general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph for the "Frisco" system. Our subject removed to Joplin, Missouri, where he engaged in dyeing and cleaning clothes and caps for some years, and is still well known there to the older settlers of the city. While there he also engaged in mining on the old Baker tracts. He came to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1880, and located at Galena, where he sold peanuts on the streets for a time, at the same time being interested in mining. He would work all day and frequently until midnight, and it was by such industrious efforts that he forced his way to the front. For a period of 23 years he has been manager of the Illinois Lead & Zinc Company, formerly known as the Bloomington Mining Company, and was the man to sink the shaft where James Murphy is now excavating. He struck ore at 13 feet for the Bloomington company; its successor has 228 acres, which it leases in 1O and 20 acre tracts. Under the excellent management and supervision of Mr. Page, this company has been very successful. He was one of the organizers of the Central Mining Company, which he still owns, the officers of the company being at the present time: Richard Page, president; Mrs. Annie Page, vice-president; Pearl Page, secretary, and John Page, treasurer and manager. This mining land was leased from the John M. Cooper M. & M. Company. This company is about to take up more land and its affairs are in excellent condition. The John M. Cooper M. & M. Company organized the New Century Zinc & Lead Mining Company in 1902 and Mr. Page was elected president.

This company controls 1,000 acres of land. Our subject served seven or eight years as city sexton, two terms on the School Board, and from 1889 to 1892 was mayor of the city, its progress being marked during his administration.

Mr. Page was first united in marriage with Barbara Ashenfelter, who died leaving one daughter, Mrs. Daisy Stough, who resides in Colorado and has five daughters and one son. He formed a second union with Annie Klein, a native of Buffalo, New York, and they are parents of five children, namely: Richard, Pearl, Irene, James and Marie. Mr. Page lives with his family in a comfortable home on Main street, south of Eighth. Fraternally, he has been an Odd Fellow for many years and was a member of Unity Lodge, in Manchester, England. He is past noble grand of Galena Lodge and has passed all the chairs. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and numerous insurance orders.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, by Barton Riddle, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 4/22/97