Welcome to Genealogy Trails!

Texas picture


Biographies - R. M. Page

FORT WORTH
Source: "Types of Successful Men of Texas, Pages 96 - 99"
Author; L. E. Daniell
Published By The Author
Eugene Von Boeckmann, Printer and Bookbinder
1890

Submitted by: Charlie Vines

The subject of this sketch, R. M. Page, of the growing city of Fort Worth, Texas, whose portrait is herewith presented, is a native of old Virginia; and was born near Orange Court House, Orange County, Va., on the banks of the swift-running waters of the historic Rapidan, January 1, 1842. Later on, his parents, R. F. and Sarah W. Page, with others of quite a large family, removed to Greene county, of which Stanardsville, Va., is the seat. It was here he acquired an elementary English course of education, which served to qualify him in a manner for the stubborn conflicts of life, which in warp and woof partake of the real nature of knightly tourneys and battles hotly waged for the many prizes to be won. Viewed in the light of his hard-won successes, considering the narrowness of his early training, Mr. Page may, with sincere and unaffected pride, point to his career and record as substantial evidence of the fact of his being a man of affairs, alike shrewd and keenly observant, and withal one of ostensibly superior merit. To an ambition to forge ahead and achieve vantage-ground in commercial life, is due in no small degree whatever of fortune he enjoys. Habits of industry, economy and sobriety, have been to him as he claims, no mean aids and props in helping to achieve important triumphs, and in assisting to garner up and preserve their beneficent fruits. A religious regard for and the observance in strictness, of sound principles of business, and the contraction of simple habits of life has, as may be imagined, held sway, as it were, over his mind, and guided his energies in the acquisition of his large fortune. As a result, he is now in the enjoyment of a princely income, which secures to him a life of luxurious ease and cloyless independence. Unaided by the accidents of tortune or adventitious circumstances, he may be fairly cited as exemplifying in his business methods and habits, what, truly is possible of attainment at the hands of the aspiring and resolute young men of the rising generation. In view of his broad acquirements in divers fields of useful knowledge, he is justly esteemed the architect of his own fortiine; and is rightly racked off and grouped with that remarkable galaxy of pushing, aggressive busy-bodies, most fittingly entitled the world over "self-made men." Confessedly, to this class of stalwart organizers, mankind is largely indebted for that foresight, and energy of mind which inaugurates wholesome innovations and blazes the way for each advance step in the direction of the development of the world's boundless material resources.

The Pages of the "Old'Dominion," whose numerical strength make them appear almost ubiquitous, and whose pleasant and hospitable homes are to be fonnd dotting and beautifying the most favored sections of the grand old State, can boast an ancestry of which they may well feel proud. It has been said by some of our best writers that Virginian society was but, in its early stages and mature development, a continuation of the most cultivated society of old England.  The most gifted of the ancestral progenitors of this family acted and bore a leading and conspicuous part in the heroic struggle and protracted war for independence. In the crises of her fate, Virginia, ever renowned as being the fairest of the fair, the proudest of the proud, and the bravest of the brave, gladly welcomed such around her council fires. Diligent inquiry discovers, that stations the most exalted, involving the most sacred trusts and the highest honors, were bestowed upon such by the suffrages of their countrymen, in recognition of meritorious services. At the outbreak of the civil war the subject of this sketch was sojourning in Saline county, Mo. Hostilities being begun his instincts naturally led him to enter the Confederate service, 'in which he enlisted as a private. It was not ordained, however, that he should remain and serve as such very long. His manly bearing as a soldier did not pass unnoticed, as the sequel reveals. In recognition of valuable services rendered Maj.-Gen. Jno. S. Marmaduke, as a bold and daring scout and for other soldierly conduct, he was singled out by him as one pre-eminently worthy of promotion; and, was accordingly commissioned to recruit and organize a company for the regular service. The dispatch with which this task was set about and accomplished, is much to his credit, and argued well his possession of the highest qualities of a recruiting officer. To his credit in the main was due the organization of Company "A" 10th Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army, of which he was elected Captain. The conspicuous eminence of the army of Missouri, in all essential virtues which makes for the honor of American manhood, in the rare union of the attributes of fortitude, hardy endurance of privations, daring and courage, is known of all men, and is but simply the fruitage of duty well and heroically performed. The war being fought to an issue, Capt. R. M. Page repaired to Memphis, Tennessee, at which place he engaged in the produce and commission business, which he prosecuted for several years with moderate success. In the summer of 1874, he came to Texas and located at McKinney, at which place he embarked in the lumber business, very much to his profit, with a cash capital of $6,000. As he prospered, a new horizon and a larger field for venture opened before him. He saw the policy of vigorously undertaking new enterprises; and, under the spur of impulses generated, established lumber yards at various other eligible points within the State; seven in all being the number of his plant. Thus he began to feather his nest and to rapidly accumulate under a wise conduct of his extensive enterprises, much additional capital, and to prepare the way for real estate ventures of most singular good luck and fortune. Thus too, was builded the scaffolding from which as from a Pisgah he could behold, not only his advantages, but likewise the virtues and emoluments of the prosperous business of banking. The causes which have most contributed to Capt. Page's pre-eminence in the highest walks of business life and existence, have been outlined above. Today he walks proudly erect, one of the most upright and respected bankers and men of affairs to be met with anywhere within the borders of our imperial State. His investment in the three lines, viz.: lumber, real estate and banking, represent as the outcome of his sleepless vigilance and toilsome labors, the handsome sum of $750,000 capital. He is known to be a confirmed and incorrigible old bachelor, much devoted to his extensive library and an admirer of clean, clever little children, which he regrets, as he informs us, are awful scarce. In politics he is a simon-pure Democrat; and, while disowning the profession of the politician, he sometimes by way of diversion, employs his leisure moments in writing racy, crisp and breezy articles on current political topics, for the press. He accepts as embodying the soul of wisdom, the advice given the youth of Athens by the author of the oration on the crown-Demosthenes—that it was best to eschew politics as a profession. He likewise bears nobly in mind the characterization of public life by the barefooted philosopher of Athens—Socrates—"That it was but a den of wild beasts." His life embodies a lesson and points a moral which may and should be well and profitably pondered and studied.

HOME BIOGRAPHIES RETURN TO
TYPES OF 
SUCCESSFUL
MEN OF TEXAS

MAIN PAGE

This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated without consent.
All rights reserved. Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited.
The copyright (s) on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

© 2010 - Present by Tarrant County Trails To The Past
Administrator