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Five Brothers Serve the Union
In an article from the Grand Rapids Daily Eagle (newspaper), May 24, 1864, Vol 8, No. 257, page 1, column 2:
Another Sacrifice – “…Charles Page, son of L.M. Page of this city, was killed … a few days since. This is the second terrible affliction to Mr. Page and family caused by the Slaveholder’s Rebellion. In the siege of Yorktown, one of his sons had both feet shot off, which, of course makes him a cripple for life. Oh, the sacrifice of human life and the bleeding hearts caused by this awful war! And the end is not yet; but, thanks to God and the Army of Freedom, from present indications, it draws nigh.”
1. John S. Page U.S. Army, 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics, Co. G; enlisted 27 Aug 1862 at Grand Rapids, Michigan; age 24; private; mustered 5 Sep 1862 Detroit, Mich. Taken prisoner, then paroled at Munfordville, Kentucky Dec. 1862; discharged 6 Jun 1865 at Washington, D.C; Artificer. Returned to Grand Rapids. Died 25 Mar 1890, age 52.
2. Fernando Page U.S. Army 3rd Michigan Infantry, Co. K; enlisted 13 May 1861 at Grand Rapids, Michigan; age 21; private; mustered 10 Jun 1861; in 1862 while on duty during the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia had both feet effectively amputated by an exploding shell. He survived; discharged for disability at Detroit, Michigan. Returned to Grand Rapids; served as Doorman at the U.S. House of Representatives for over 30 years. Died 27 Apr 1912, age 71
3. Charles F. Page U.S. Army 8th Michigan Infantry, Co. H / I; enlisted 18 Aug 1861 at Grand Rapids, Michigan; age 18; mustered 23 Sep 1861; private / promoted to Corporal; Color Guard; Killed in action 6 May 1863 at the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia; age 21; It is believed he is buried in a mass grave in Wilderness National Cemetery No. 2, Virginia.
4. James B. Page U.S. Army 1st Michigan Light Artillery, Battery L; enlisted 10 Mar 1863 at Grand Rapids, Michigan; age 16; mustered 16 Apr 1863; encountered the enemy six times, including locations in Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky; mustered out 22 Aug 1865 at Jackson, Michigan; returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Died 21 Feb 1929, age 82.
5. Enos W. Page U.S. Army 10th Michigan Cavalry, Co. G; enlisted 14 Oct 1863 at Grand Rapids, Michigan; age 14 (records show age 18); while on duty in Alabama he was “attacked with epilepsy”; discharged 11 Nov 1865, reason: termination of war. Returned to Grand Rapids. Died 1 Feb 1915, age 65.
These were uncles to my Grandmother, Mary Adeline (Page) O’Brien.
I have had 3 sons who have served in the Armed forces, two in the Air Force and one in the Navy.
They are also from Grand Rapids. So, these 5 Page brothers would be my sons’ 2nd Great Uncles.
There is now a day established in Grand Rapids honoring Loren and Jane (Soper) Page, parents to the 5 Page brothers.
On Friday June 10, 2011 at the grave-site monument dedication ceremony in Fulton Street Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan a Mayoral Proclamation was read by the Grand Rapids Deputy Clerk, Darlene O’Neil. The proclamation listed some of the accomplishments of Loren M. and Jane E. Page … including raising nine children, five of whom served the Union during the American Civil War. The proclamation established June 10, 2011 as Loren M. Page and Jane E. Page recognition day in Grand Rapids. It was signed by George K. Heartwell, Mayor of Grand Rapids.
It was a proud day for the extended Page family. Many gathered the following day at the Page Family Reunion at Fallasburg Park near Lowell, Michigan which was at one time Page farmland. To this day, Page Creek flows through the park and a new identification sign reading “Page Creek” was unveiled at the base of the footbridge near the termination of the creek at the Flat River.