John A. Page

John A. Page
Born	Haverhill, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	August 23, 1891(1891-08-23) (aged 77) Montpelier, Vermont, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Banker, politician
Years active	1840s–1891
Known for	Vermont State Treasurer

John A. Page (June 17, 1814 – August 23, 1891) was a prominent Vermont banker and political leader who held the office of Vermont State Treasurer.

Early life

Born on June 17, 1814, in Haverhill, New Hampshire, John Alfred Page was the son of John Page, who served both as a U.S. Senator and Governor of New Hampshire. He completed his education at Haverhill Academy and initially pursued a career in commerce, gaining experience in dry goods establishments located in Portland, Maine, and Haverhill. Following the economic downturn caused by the Panic of 1837, which led to the closure of his employer’s business in Haverhill, Page shifted his focus to banking by taking the position of cashier at the Grafton Bank.

In 1848, he relocated to Danville, Vermont, where he assumed the role of Cashier at the Caledonia Bank. At that time affiliated with the Democratic Party, he represented Danville in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1848 to 1849. The following year, Page entered into a partnership with Erastus Fairbanks as Financial Agent for the Passumpsic and Connecticut Rivers Railroad and moved to Newbury, Vermont.

Later career

Toward the end of 1849, Page accepted an appointment as cashier of the Vermont Bank and settled in Montpelier, where he remained thereafter. In 1852, he made an unsuccessful bid for Vermont State Treasurer, losing to George Howes.

Page succeeded Howes as Vermont State Treasurer from 1853 to 1854 after being chosen by the Vermont General Assembly when no candidate obtained a majority vote. He ran for reelection in both 1854 and 1855 but was defeated by Henry M. Bates on each occasion.

With the establishment of the First National Bank of Vermont in 1865, Page was appointed President and served as a director. By 1866, having aligned with the Republican Party, he was once again elected State Treasurer, succeeding John B. Page. He maintained this office until 1882 when William H. Dubois took over.

Death

Although John A. Page retired from most business responsibilities in 1882, he continued as President of the First National Bank until January 1891. He passed away in Montpelier on August 23, 1891, and was interred at Green Mount Cemetery.

Family

Page was married to Martha Ward from Haverhill. Their son, John W. Page (1847–1930), initially worked alongside his father in Montpelier before moving to Nebraska to engage in cattle ranching and later managing a rice plantation located in Louisiana.