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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.
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