John F. PAGE, is a native of Ringgold County, Iowa, born in Rice Township, September 19, 1861, a son of Edward (sic) PAGE, who was a native of the State of New York. The father came to Ringgold County, Iowa, in 1856, and settled on wild land, where he built a log cabin in which our subject was born. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and lost his life while in the service of his county.

John F. PAGE, the subject of this sketch was reared to farming pursuits, which he has made the principal avocation of his life. His education was obtained in the common schools of this county. His mother died when he was three years old, and his father dying not long after he was thus early in life left an orphan.

In 1877 he went to Dakota where he remained for five years, most of which time he was engaged in herding cattle, and while there was deputy marshal in Deadwood City for one year.

He returned to Ringgold County, and is now devoting his attention to general farming, on section 5, Jefferson Township, where he is numbered among the enterprising young farmers of his neighborhood.

Mr. PAGE was united in marriage August 19, 1884, to Miss Martha KURTZ, a daughter of John KURTZ, of Henry County, Iowa. They are the parents of one child, a daughter - name Ina M. Mrs. PAGE is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

NOTE: John's father Edwin D. PAGE was born circa 1836 at St. Lawrence, New York. He enlisted as a Private from Mount Ayr, Iowa, on November 26, 1861 and the age of 26 years, and was assigned to Company G, 4th Iowa Infantry. He died of disease March 27, 1862, Cassville, Barry County, Missouri. Edwin married March 24, Ringgold County, Iowa, to Mary Jane ANDERSON. Mary Jane (ANDERSON) PAGE was born in Indiana circa 1831, and died December 17, 1864, in Ringgold County, Iowa. John was the youngest of their three children.

In her book, Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937, Mrs. B. M. LESAN stated, "Edward PAGE was a native of New York, and settled in Rice Township in 1856 on wild land, where he built a log cabin. He was a soldier in the Civil War and lost his life in the service of his county. His wife died a short time before he did, leaving a three-year-old baby, John F. PAGE."

John F. PAGE was born in Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, on September 16, 1861, and died at the age of 46 years on June 2, 1908. John married first August 19, 1885, Henry County, Iowa, to Martha Ann KURTZ. Martha Ann (KURTZ) PAGE was born in Henry County, Iowa, on January 12, 1861, the daughter of John and Martha KURTZ. John F. PAGE and Martha Ann (KURTZ) PAGE were the parents of three children:

1) Ina May PAGE, born 15 Mar 1886, Ringgold Co. IA; died 17 Jun 1940, Anderson, Madison Co. IN
    married 27 Dec 1904, Clay Co. IN to Walter George ENT (1877-1929)
    Children:
      1) Gaylord Page ENT
      2) Lawrence E. ENT
      3) John William ENT
      4) Mary A. ENT
      5) Martha ENT, born 04 Feb 1913; died 16 Apr 1979
          married Samuel BIRCH (1908-?)
      6) Elizabeth ENT

2) Oscea N, (PAGE) HAVERCAMP, born 05 Apr 1888; died Dec 1982, Warren, Huntington Co. IN

3) Grace PAGE, born 18 Mar 1890, Henry Co. IA; died Apr 1982, Warren, Huntington Co. IN
    married 25 Oct 1915 Leonard WEAVER

John F. PAGE married second July 5, 1901, Forsyth, Taney County, Missouri, to Louise A. MUNDAY. Louise A. (MUNDAY) PAGE was born in 1883. John and Louise were the parents of one child:

1) Edwin Charles PAGE, born 10 Jun 1902.

John's sister Maggie A. PAGE married in 1875 to Jeremiah C. GUSTIN, whose biography was included in the 1887 Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County.

John KURTZ, a farmer residing on Section 7, Jefferson Twp., Henry Co., IA, was born in Maryland in 1829, and is the son of John and Margaret (HARGET) KURTZ, who were of German origin, but were born, reared and married in Maryland. His grandfather, on his father's side was in Germany, and his name was also John KURTZ. The given name of his wife was Susan, who bore two children: John and Susan, who remained in MD, and probably never married. The children of John KURTZ, father of our subject, are mentioned individually in the sketch of Newton McClintic, who married Ann R., the second youngest daughter. John KURTZ, Sr., died at the age of 64, and his wife survived him a number of years, reaching the age of 72. Both were buried on the old homestead side by side, and also with one son, Peter, who died unmarried.

John KURTZ, our subject, was married in 1850 to Martha K. MASON, a daughter of A. W. and Cynthia (ROGERS) MASON, who were married in Monroe Co., TN. Mrs. KURTZ was born there and came with her parents to Henry Co., in 1842, settling where Wayland is now located. Later Mr. MASON purchased a farm on Sect. 8, where he lived for some years, but later purchased a small home on Sect. 6, where he and his wife died. They were born in North Carolina and reared a family of 10 children, the first 8 being born in TN--James N., William R., Martha A., Mary J., Andrew J., Arch McCracken; Rufus and Thomas, Leo and Margaret, in Iowa. The wife of A. W. MASON died in her 41st year, and Mr. MASON wedded Isabella MURRY, who bore Henry H., Charles A., Elizabeth C., Samuel D., Viola J., and Ida, all born in this county. A. W. MASON died in May 1869, age 64. His widow yet resides in Washington County, now the wife of Joseph YOUNG.

Forty-six years in the county have crowned the head of John KURTZ, Jr. with hairs of gray, but he is the same genial man of 25 years ago. He is the father of seven children: Samantha, wife of John LUTE, a farmer in Jefferson Twp.; Aramintha, wife of Abner EDWARDS, a farmer of Washington Co.; William husband of Mattie ESSLEY, is faming near Coppack; David, the husband of Mary WINDLING, resides in Jefferson Co.; Mattie, wife of John PAGE, an employee on the C.B. & Q.R.R.; Charles, an employee in the State Asylum, and Frank complete the number. Mr. KURTZ owns 140 acres situated near Wayland, within easy walking distance of Coppack.

He has served longer on the School Board than any other.
- Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 381-82, 1887.

LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 p. 22. Blair Pub. House. Lamoni IA. 1937.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa p. 190. Acme Publishing Co. Chicago. 1888

American Civil War Soldiers Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009; updated June of 2010

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z