The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-16


Page for many years until his death,
was draped in morning.
The inscription on the tablet reads:
Thomas Page
1843-192e.
In loving memory of Thomas Page,
a member and benefactor, and for fiji
teen years prior to his death, an elder
herein, this tablet is erected by mem
bers of the Second Presbyterian
church.
The unwilling of the tablet was i'm
pressive. David Page, Jr., grandson
of Thomas Page, drew the cord that
unveiled the memorial. Preceding the
unveiling, Senior Elder J. w. Priddy
read the following sketch of the life
and services of his long time friend
and co-worker:
Life and Services OF Thomas Page.
II was asked to say something on
this occasion. relative to your and
my friend, Thomas Page, and realiz-
ing it was fitting that should try to
do so because OF our long and 1ntf-
mate acquaintance and association in
our church, I now submit this BRIEF
sketch.
Thomas Page was born in Fife
shire, Scotland, September 3, 1S45
and died in Topeka, January 10, 1920,
we'll past 76 years of age. At an early
age he. became an apprentice miller,
choosing milling as a life occupation
and business. Completing his appren-
ticeship training of several years, he
first served as head miller in
lea in 1855 he continued in this occu-
patton, first at Cohoes, M Y, later at
Rockford and Peoria, ILL.,, and finally.
in 1871, with the Shawnee Mills of
Topeka, where he continued until
1879 when he became the experienced
partner of the milling firm of Page,
Norton e Co, which bought the
Davies & Manspeaker mill, to be
known as the Inter Ocean Mills. This
successful partnership with only one
change, continued until Mr.. Page sold
his interest to the other partners in
1892.
TT was during this partnership,
that, as a near neighbor, I first be
came acquainted with Mr.. Page and
his family. Many evenings spent in
eighties, was the formation of a
friendship that has been priced highly
by me. Later Mr.. Page sold his in
terest in the Inter Ocean Mills to his
partners and built his own mill then
and now known as the Mid-Continent
Mills or the Thomas Page MILL
Before the organization of this
church, Mr.. Page. like several OF u.s.
was identified with a First church OF
Topeka, tho his was not of our de-
nomination, but the Congregational,
during DR.. Blakesley's long and ac-
ceptable pastorate Mr.. Page was a
great admirer of DR.. Blakesley and for
some time was reluctant to sever his
connection with his church, but finally
he and Mrs. Page, on January 20
1885, united with this church, then
known as the North Topeka Presby-
terrain church. while the Rev. George
W. Bean was supplying US, and during
the period of the perpetual elderShlp.
Elders Mitchell, Brown and Priddyi
were present on this occasion Both
Mr.. and Mrs. Page became active,
faithful members. Mrs. Page was OF
great help in the church music and
was leader of the choir for a number
of years. Mr.. Page. was trustee OF
the church during most of the time of
his thirty-four years membership. He
served one three-year term as deacon.
He was first elected elder June 81,
1889, when it was decided to adopt the
rotary eldership plan-serving three
years. then ineligible for one year, un-
loss the plan be suspended. Had Mr.
Page consented TO serve, he would
have been the eighth elder.
After repeated refusals to serve as
an elder, he finally yielded to our
urging in 1905, and was elected. along
with j. H. Skinner, as the sixteenth
elder. Mr.. Page and Mr.. Skinner were
ordained on June II, 1905, following
their election on March 80, and the
dedication of this church edifice on
April 80 of this same year. ByA suS-
pension of the rule of ineligibility, Mr..
Page served continuously as an active
elder for Almost fifteen years, and
was associated with the present elder
and ten others
Loyalty to Little Church.
Mr.. Page was intently interested
in this little church and its mission,
and since he has passed away 1 have
recalled his often expressed concern,
in later years for the welfare and
progress of small churches, regretting
as he did, that many OF our leading
and influential members passed the