Page  
 
 

Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin Counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     DANVILLE W. PAGE is well entitled to be classed as one of the pioneers of the Big Bend country.  A long residence here in the stock business has made him well known to all the old timers and his labors have accumulated for him a goodly competence in the years that have gone by.  At the present time, he is dwelling in Pasco, where he has a beautiful and commodious residence.  He took about the first homestead within the  present precincts of Franklin county and for twenty-one years he dwelt on it.  The same is located about twenty miles east from Pasco, and is one of the best places in the county.  For many years after coming here he was the most extensive horse grower in the country.  He had as high as one thousand animals at a time and in addition handled a bunch of cattle.  At the present time, Mr. Page has sold most of his stock property and handles only a couple of hundred horses.  However, as he has decreased the number he has improved the breed and now has choice animals.
     Danville W. Page was born in Somerset county, Maine, on September 28, 1854, the son of Isaac and Dolly (Parkman) Page, also natives of Maine.  The father followed farming and died when our subject was twelve.  The mother is still living in Maine.  Danville received his education from the common schools and remained in Maine until twenty-three, being occupied in farming.  In 1877, he came to California and two years later came on to Washington.  In 1880, he was on the log drive which brought the timber down the Yakima river for the ties used in the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad.  Shortly after that, he took the homestead mentioned., where he at once began operations as a stockman.  He established Fishhook ferry there and operated it for years.  The town of Page on the 0. R. & N. was named in honor of our subject.  During the years of his extensive stock business, Mr. Page operated in connection with a partner, who has died since.  When our subject retired from the farm, he sold all his interests there and transferred his headquarters to Pasco, where he now lives.  He has a choice residence and owns other property.  In political matters, he has always been a Democrat and thrice has been called by the people to act in the important office of county commissioner and refused the nomination for a fourth term.  He also assisted to establish district number two of this county.  He has shown marked faithfulness and ability in all this public service and is entitled to the respect and confidence freely bestowed by an admiring constituency.
     At Walla Walla, on May 22, 1894, Mr. Page married Miss Maggie, the daughter of Mike and Maggie (Fogleton) Sentel, and to them one daughter, Clare, has been born.  Mrs. Sentel died some time since, but Mr. Sentel is still living.
     Mr. Page is also mayor of Pasco, and has given a good administration.  He was for many years supervisor of his road district.  One peculiar thing exists in Franklin county, which, doubtless, is not found in another county in the state.  Not a bridge or culvert is found on the entire road system of the county.  This speaks volumes for the natural lay of the land as well as for the wisdom of the commissioners in laying the road system.  Mr. Page was commissioner when land boomers were trying to inflate values in Pasco, and despite their tremenduous efforts to bond the county, even raising monster petitions and indignation meetings, he stood firm with the other two men, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and refused to grant the bonds for the erection of the forty thousand dollar court house and for other things these boomers wished.  This so started the county that today it is entirely without bonded indebtedness, and is one of the most prosperous political divisions of the state.  Much credit is due Mr. Page and it is universally recognized.
 
 


 
 

BACK