The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-17
A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE
A LENDER IN THE STATES IN
DUSTRIAI REVIVAL.
OWNER OF IMPORTANT PROPERTIES HERE
One of the Best Men the State has Produced
His Recent Gift Of SIS, 900 to the
Methodist 0rphanage.
Funeral To-Day.
Funeral To-Day.

For several weeks Mr. Frank Page,
who celebrated his 10th birthday in Au-
gust, has been critically ill ait his resi-
dence on Wilmington street He was
an old man and yet he did mot die be-
cause of old age He came of a family
of physical vigor and he had always
until few years ago. been robust and
strong. His father lived to be ninety
four years old, and but for a serious
stomach trouble he would probably have
lived to be as old. His death at $40
yesterday afternoon was not unexpected.
lie had been unconscious for about two
weeks, growing weaker steadily, and his
family felt that the end was near. He
died quietly and peacefully without pain,
and passed into the other world as quiet
ly as a child falling asleep.
The funeral will be held from Edenton
Street Methodist church ait / O'Clock to-
day, conducted by the pastor. DIR. w.
c. Norman, assisted by DIR. Eugene
Daniel, pastor of the First Presbyterian
church.
Allison Francis Page was born in
Wake county, August Both, 1924, and
was therefore in his 10Th year. He was
one of a large family of large-mnded
and capable men and women all of whom
impressed themselves upon their com
munities Only one brother, Rev. Jesse
IL. Page, pastor Of the Methodist church,
survives. He was a son of Anderson
Page, who died i'll 1884, aged "a years.
MIR. Page was long known as~~the
Moore county lumber King He was
always a believer in the wealth in the
North Carolina pine and in the days
when it was thought that saw mill
would break any man he owned one.
Mr.. Page was engaged in the lumber
business. His first business venture of
any consequence was in the timber bust
mes near Fayetteville. In 1866 he own
ed what is now Cary in Wake county. |
He practically built that town. While |
living there he engaged in the lumber
business, built a cotton factory and had |
a large farm. He helped build a church |
and a school, and in other ways made it |
an attractive village.
In 1878 Mr.. Page, having faith that
there was wealth in the pine forests Of
Moore county. That was before Southern
Cary and went into the pine region of |
Moore county That was befre Southern
Pines or Pinehurst had been dreamed of,
before the pine forests were deemed
valuable. He obtained options, pur
chased timber and created the enter
prises that built up the town of Aber-
deem. He was at first engaged in the
lumber business, and in 1887 projected
4he Aberdeen and West End railroad, !
now the Aberdeen and Asheboro rail- |
road. This, his greatest enterprise, was
built in connection with his son, Junius
IL. Page. For long time it was the
best paying piece of railroad property in
the United States. Some years ago he
Withdrew from it, and it has since been
operated and chiefly owned by his sons
who received the mantle of his sagacity
and industry. He invested much to the
profits from his Moore county invest |
ments in Raleigh real estate. He was
one of the founders of the Commercial
and Farmers Bank of Raleigh, and one |
of its largest stockholders and directors.
When the bank was organized, Mr.. Page
bought one half Of the building the bank |
bought the other half, and they still own
it in common. He built the Academy of !
Music and the Park Hotel, two of the |
largest and most costly structures in the |
city. He had previously built quite a |
number of residences in Raleigh, and |
had other investments in the city. |
About II year ago, when he
made Raleigh his home, Mr.. Page pur- |
chased the home of the late Chief |
Justice Meu-riInon, and looked forward to
a quiet and happy old age among a
large circle of friends who gave him and
His wife a warm welcome to the city.
Mr. Page was twice married. Ills
first wife was Miss Katherine Raboteau,
of Fayetteville There were eight chill
dren of this union, all of whom survive