John Page (New Hampshire)

John Page (May 21, 1787 – September 8, 1865) was an American farmer and politician from Haverhill, New Hampshire. He represented New Hampshire in the United States Senate and served as governor from 1839 to 1842.

John Page
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office June 8, 1836 – March 3, 1837
Preceded by	Isaac Hill
Succeeded by	Franklin Pierce
17th Governor of New Hampshire
In office June 5, 1839 – June 2, 1842
Preceded by	Isaac Hill
Succeeded by	Henry Hubbard
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1818–1820
Personal details
Born	(1787-05-21)May 21, 1787 Haverhill, New Hampshire
Died	September 8, 1865(1865-09-08) (aged 78) Haverhill, New Hampshire
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Democratic-Republican Party Jacksonian Free Soil Party
Spouse(s)	Hannah Merrill (1789-1855)
Children	9 (Including son John A. Page)
Occupation	Farmer

Biography

John Page, Jr. was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire on May 21, 1787, the son of John Page (1741-1823) and Hannah Rice Green(e) (1757-1827).[1][2] He attended the local schools and became a farmer.

During the War of 1812 Page served as lieutenant in a local militia company which performed duty on the border with Canada to prevent contraband trade and deter the threat of a British invasion.[3]

While the war was ongoing and immediately afterwards Page held the federal office of tax assessor.[4]

Page's party affiliation remained with different facets of the Democratic Party, and moved over time from the Democratic-Republican Party to the Jacksonians to the Democrats to the Free Soil Party.

He was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1818 to 1820.[5]

Page was also a longtime local and county official, serving as Register of Deeds for Grafton County in 1827 and again from 1829 to 1835.[6] He served as a Selectman in Haverhill for fourteen non-consecutive terms, and was also the longtime Town Clerk.[7]

He served in the state House again in 1835,[8] and was a member of the Governor’s Council in 1836 and 1838.[9][10]

In 1836 Page was elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat, temporarily filling the vacancy created when Isaac Hill resigned to become Governor.[11] Page served from June 8, 1836, to March 3, 1837. During the 1836 election to fill the vacancy it was agreed between the candidates that Page would complete Hill's term and then defer to Franklin Pierce. In 1837 Pierce was elected to a full six-year term and succeeded Page. During his Senate service Page was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.[12]

In 1839 Page was elected governor as a Democrat.[13] He served until 1842, and was succeeded by Henry Hubbard, after which he resumed farming in Haverhill.[14]

In his later years Page became affiliated with the Free Soil Party.[15]

Death and burial

Page died in Haverhill on September 8, 1865 and was buried in Haverhill's Ladd Street Cemetery.[16]

Family

In 1812 John Page married Hannah Merrill (1789-1855). They had nine children.[17]

Among the children of John Page was John A. Page, who served as Vermont State Treasurer.[18]

References

1. James T. White and Company, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 11, 1901, page 128
2. Ezra S. Stearns, History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire, 1875, page 615
3. Emma C. Watts, The Granite Monthly magazine, New Hampshire in the War of 1812, June 1901, page 359
4. United States Congress, Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States, Volume 3, 1828, page 27
5. John Quincy Bittinger, History of Haverhill, N.H., 1888, page 429
6. John Hayward (Boston), The New-England and New-York Law-Register, for the Year 1835, 1835, page 72
7. John Quincy Bittinger, History of Haverhill, N.H., pages 425-426
8. John Quincy Bittinger, History of Haverhill, N.H., page 430
9. The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge, New Hampshire Government, Volumes 9-10, 1838, page 142
10. Nancy Capace, Encyclopedia of New Hampshire, 2001, page 430
11. New Hampshire General Court, Journal of the Senate and House, 1836, page 58
12. Robert C. Byrd, Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992, Volume 4, 1993, page 522
13. New Hampshire General Court, Journal of the Senate and House, June 6, 1839, page 13
14. The Encyclopædia Britannica New Hampshire, 1911, page 498
15. Niles' National Register, The Presidency: Free Soil Movements, Volume 74, September 20, 1848, page 191
16. Thomas E. Spencer, Where They're Buried, 1998, page 134
17. Nancy Burton, Haverhill and East Haverhill, 2008, page 94
18. William Adams, editor, Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1889, page 389

External links

• United States Congress. "John Page (id: P000019)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• John Page (New Hampshire) at National Governors Association
• John Page at Find a Grave

Party political offices
Preceded by Isaac Hill	Democratic nominee for Governor of New Hampshire 1839, 1840, 1841	Succeeded by Henry Hubbard
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Isaac Hill	U.S. senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire 1836–1837 Served alongside: Henry Hubbard	Succeeded by Franklin Pierce
Political offices
Preceded by Isaac Hill	Governor of New Hampshire 1839–1842	Succeeded by Henry Hubbard