Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/617

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its spoliation. In this work of rebuilding and readjusting- Dr. Page bore his part. He tended the sick, taught school, held the office of justice of the peace, cheered and encour- aged his neighbors by example and word, filling his part well and prospering as others prospered. He grew in strength and med- ical skill as the years progressed and took leading rank with the physicians of his time. His wartime experience had developed his surgical skill and combined with his medical learning gave him a rich equipment. He continued in practice until his death, although years compelled him to relinquish the more arduous professional work.

He was for many years a member of the American Medical Association and was at his death a member of the Virginia State Medical Society. He was a member of the Masonic Order, having been made a Mason in P)lanford Lodge, No. 3, at Petersbtirg, Virginia, but later belonged to Treadwell Lodge, No. 213, of which he was a past master. He was also a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, belonging to Chapter and Commandery, in Petersburg. In polit- ical faith he was a Democrat, in religious be- lief an Episcopalian.

Dr. Page married Martha Turner, a daugh- ter of W. H. and Maria (Powton) Hardee, her father losing his life before Petersburg, in 1864, while serving in the Confederate army. Children : William Hardee, born June 8, 1864, drowned at Atlanta, Georgia, June II, 1884; Evelyn Byrd, born in Albe- marle county, Virginia, married John S. Goldsmith, of Georgia; John E., born in Petersburg, Virginia, May 9, 1867, graduate M. D., University of Maryland, became a surgeon in the United States navy and now living retired at Santa Barbara, California, married Mary Burling; Elizabeth R., born at Berryville, married Charles M. Brown and has a son, Charles C. ; Helen M., born in Berryville, married Dr. C. L. McGill, and has E. Page McGill ; Edward Douglass, born at Berryville, August 14, 1875 ; unmarried ; Mary Powell, born at Berryville, married W. H. Patterson, of Petersburg, Virginia.

John King. Left fatherless when a boy, I\Ir. King was fortunate in having for a guardian Colonel John R. Copeland. presi- dent of the Farmer's Bank of Suffolk, Vir- ginia, whose interest in the lad extended far beyond a guardian's usual care, and to whom Mr. King from the heights of latter

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day success acknowledges his indebtedness for early and careful business training.

John King, of Sufifolk, Virginia, head of the John King Peanut Company, one of the largest concerns of that principal center of the Virginia peanut industry, is of Nanse- mond county birth, son of Michael King, of Irish parentage, but born in Nansemond county, in 1809. Michael King was a farmer of his native county until his death in 1874. He married Mary Eliza Savage, born in Nansemond county in 1815, died in 1890,

John King, son of Michael and Mary Eliza (Savage) King, was born in Nanse- mond county, Virginia, June 8, 1865. He was nine years of age when his father died. Colonel John R. Copeland, of Sufifolk, there- after, as guardian, caring for his education and training for the business life he was to follow. He was educated in the public schools and College Institute at Sufifolk, fin- ishing his course at the latter institution and receiving his diploma. During the summer vacations Colonel Copeland, who was presi- dent of the Farmer's Bank, gave him all the advantages of practical banking by admit- ting him to the bank and assigning regular duties in the various departments. Thus while acquiring an academic education, he also secured valuable business instruction and was fitted to enter most any field. For the first three years after graduation, he was clerk in a mercantile house in Windsor, Vir- ginia, then established his own store and business, continuing until 1898. While in Windsor, he started a profitable peanut cleaning business and finally made that his exclusive line of activity. In 1898 he moved his interests to Sufifolk, an important center of the Virginia peanut industry, organized the "Sufifolk Peanut Company," after being in business for two years alone and was its first president. He continued the head of that company until 1910, when the present John King Peanut Company was incorpo- rated, with Mr. King as president. This company is one of the largest handlers of peanuts in Virginia, and anually purchases, cleans and markets many thousands of bush- els of this favorite nut now being used in so many ways. Mr. King has other inter- ests, landed and industrial, and is rated one of the progressive successful men of his day. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Christian church, and is afifiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of