Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/614

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

greater part of his long and useful life in the blessed art of healing rather than creat- ing pain or suffering. He threw himself into the ranks of the Confederacy with all the ardor of his youthful nature and served valiantly until the last shot was fired, then with empty pockets but with a full stock of hope, courage and determination, took up the battle of life anew. He was for half a century engaged in battling with disease in Berryville and vicinity, and during that period gained a place in the hearts of thou- sands, which is only gained by the kindly sympathetic family doctor, who from child- hood is their friend, confidant and adviser. More than that of physician, more than that of friend, and more than that of adviser is this sacred relationship, and nowhere is it found save in the peculiar bond that unites the old doctor with the families whose mem- bers he ministers to from their first to their latest breath.

The Pages of Clarke county, Virginia, are descended from John Page, who came from England to \^irginia about 1642, settling at Williamsburg. He left a son, Colonel Mal- colm Page, who died in Rosewell, Gloucester county, Virginia. Mann Page, son of Colo- nel Malcolm Page and grandson of John Page, died January 24, 1730, leaving three sons from whom all bearing the name Page and dating from Colonial days, are de- scended. The eldest son, Mann (2) Page, is credited with having spent his entire for- tune in aiding the cause of independence. John Page, of North End, Harrison county, had a son, Mann (3) Page, who was prob- ably the first of the name to settle in the Valley of Virginia. The third son of Mann (i) Page, Robert Page, of Broadneck, Han- over county, is the ancestor of the late Dr. Robert Powell Page, of Berryville, Clarke county, Virginia. Two of the sons of Rob- ert Page, of Broadneck, John Page, of Page- brooke, Clarke county, and Matthew Page, of Annfield, in the same county, came to the Valley of Virginia about 1784.

At Pagebrooke, the family homestead, was born Judge John E. Page, third son of John Page, of Pagebrooke, and father of Dr. Robert Powell Page, of Berryville. The Pages intermarried with the Byrds, Bur- wells, Nelsons, Harrisons, Lees, Carters and McGuires, all families of Colonial and Revo- lutionary importance in Virginia. John E. Page was born in 1796, died March 11, 1881.

He was an eminent lawyer, commonwealth's attorney and jurist, serving as attorney of Clarke county, and as judge of the state courts sitting at Richmond. He was a law student of William Wirt, the eminent jurist and statesman. He married Margaret Emily McGuire, who died in November, 1858, daughter of Colonel William McGuire, an officer of the Revolution. Children : John Yates, born in Clarke county, June 24, 1827, graduate of the law department of Univer- sity of Virginia, class of 1847, LL. B., prac- ticed at St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul

Minnesota, married Elizabeth ; Robert

Powell, mentioned below; William B., born in Clark county, died in 1864, a member of Colonel Carter's regiment of artillery. Con- federate States army; Thomas H., Mary, Emma, Ann W., Jane M., and Evelyn Byrd.

Dr. Robert Powell Page was born in Clarke county, Virginia, March 12, 1838, died in August, 1914. He was educated at Oak Grove Academy, later spent three years at the Episcopal High School, entered Wil- liam and Mar)' College in 1855, winning dis- tinction in French and Latin, and being awarded two diplomas. In 1859 he entered the Medical College of the University of Virginia, obtaining the degree of M. D., class of i860. He spent the next year in advanced medical study at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving the degree of M. D. in June, 1861.

Returning home after his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Page took sides with the state and enlisted in the Second Regiment Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army, joining the army at Harper's Ferry, in September, 1861. He was attached to "Stonewall" Jackson's com- mand as asssitant surgeon, serving with that division of the army until the final surrender at Appomattox. After the war he returned to Berryville, entirely without capital, and began the more peaceful practice of his profession, but which was for some time scarcely less arduous than when practicing his healing art in hospital or on battlefield. The Valley of the Shenandoah had been devastated as few other sections had by the movements of both armies, and all were so broken in fortune that the rebuilding of the beautiful valley seemed a hopeless task. But out of it all prosperity came, American pluck and progress asserted itself and the valley, in a few years, had recovered from