Biography: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Simon Bailey Paige ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, December 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ History of northern Wisconsin: containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources, an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories, biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers, views of county seats, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881 p. 1157-1159 Simon Bailey Paige, a native of Wentworth, Grafton Co., N. H., was born Aug. 26, 1824. His father, James K. Paige, a prosperous farmer, an honest, industrious Christian man, was born in the same town, and was of English descent; his ancestors coming to this country at an early day, settled in and about Newburyport, Northeastern Massachusetts, and in his early manhood was imbued with a military spirit, and for some years was Colonel of a Regiment of New Hampshire Militia. His mother, Ann maria Ramsay, was born in the adjoining town of Rumney, was of Scotch descent, and came from the distinguished "Ramsay Clan," of Scotland; was a woman of marked ability, with sterling traits of character, possessing a memory which retained everything she saw or read, being able to quote verbatim passages of Scripture in any part of the Bible; so of history, poetry, hymns, etc.; she was a school teacher when in her "teens," before her marriage. Both of his parents were for many years, until their death, members of the Congregational Church of Wentworth; his father being first deacon of the same. Mr. Paige was brought up a thorough farmer in all other ways in a manner strictly in accordance with the views held to by Christian parents of that period. Winters he attended the district school, receiving additional instructions in his lessons from his mother. After attending several terms at a private school he entered Plymouth Academy, closing his studies with the fall term of 1844; having taught a district school several winters, commencing at the age of seventeen. Of his class at the Academy in Latin, algebra, geometry, surveying, intellectual philosophy, etc., were a brother and two sisters of Hon. James F. Joy, the celebrated lawyer and railroad man of Detroit, Mich.; also, William and Alfred Russell, the latter an able and distinguished lawyer of the same city. In December, 1834, soon after leaving the Academy, his father giving him his freedom, being then past twenty, he started for Lowell, Mass., and in two days after reaching there was at work for Messrs. G.J. & D. Bradt, extensive bakers, continuing with them and Isaac F. Scripture, another extensive baker, for three years, then forming a copartnership with Matt H. Cochran, now a manufacturer of boots and shoes at Montreal, and prominent breeder of blooded stock upon his extensive farm at Hillhurst, Canada; went into the grocery trade, continuing in it several years. In 1852, he received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff for the County of Middlesex, holding the office until the overthrow of the Whig party by the Know Nothings in the fall of 1855. In April, 1856, he left Lowell, for the West, meeting in Chicago his brother John A. Paige. Coming through Milwaukee and Fond du Lac, parties desired them to locate at each of those places, but they continued on to Oshkosh. Arriving here the last day of April, were received at the dock, foot of Main, then Ferry street, as were all strangers of that early day, by almost the entire population of the town, who were accustomed to go there daily at the arrival of the boat. Within one week they had bought out the extensive business of general merchandise and lumbering carried on by Messrs. Cottrill, Peaslee & Johnston, in Mark's building, corner of Ferry and Ceape streets. They then formed the firm of S.B. & J.A. Paige, which has not changed since and is the oldest firm in this city, taking possession on the 10th day of May. In just three years they were burned out by the great fired of May, 1859, losing their entire stock, on which there was no insurance. This was almost disheartening, but in three days after the fire they leased, for a term of years, forty feet front through to Shonaon street of Mr. griffin, adjoining the Marks property, erecting thereon a two-story building containing two stores, with offices above and fire-proof warehouse for the storage of their heavy goods upon the back end of the lot. After turning over to their creditors all their lumber, logs, land and other property, it was found insufficient to pay in full by several hundred dollars, and they gave their notes bearing interest for the balance. With this load upon them, actually worse than nothing, they commenced a severe struggle for existence, and well did they, by industry, economy, sobriety, integrity and good management overcome all obstacles, such as the hard times then existing, was of capital to do business with, etc. Their integrity has been such that they never have been asked by any bank when wanting money to put up a dollar of collateral, or an indorser outside their firm. Mr. Paige has always taken a deep interest in the development and improvement of this city, having always been a firm believer in the benefits which ample and competing railroad facilities give to a place, has from the commencement of his settling here taken an active part in assisting in the bringing of all the railroads now here to this place, and with a few others tried all that was possible to prevent the Oshkosh & Wausau Railroad- now the Wisconsin central- from being permitted to change its initial point to Menasha. His firm has contributed several thousand dollars in taking stock (usually proving worthless, or nearly so) and in other ways to these enterprises, himself devoting a large amount of time and labor in accomplishing their entrance into this city. In 1866, a bill was passed, through the instrumentality of Hon. Gabriel Bouch, Hon. Joseph Stringham and himself, incorporating the Oshkosh and Mississippi River Railroad Company, they being the only corporation in this part of the State. At the first meeting of the organization, Mr. Paige was chose a Director, which place he has occupied ever since, and at the first meeting of the board of directors was elected the Treasurer of said company, holding the same until after the completion of the road from here to Ripon. Through his hands passed all the moneys and bonds used in its construction, collecting the subscriptions made by individuals, towns and cities to the capital stock, which with the bonded debt amounted to several hundred thousand dollars. For all this labor he never charge or received one cent, but gave a heavy bond with sureties for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and upon giving up his trust in 1874 to his successor, the committee appointed to examine the accounts, as was done yearly, found them correct to a cent. Many thousand dollars would not now tempt him to do the labor and talking given to the enterprise. During the several years previous to and during its construction, it is well remembered that the N.W.R.R., backed by many of our leading citizens, opposed the building of this road, and actually put it back several years. In the last enterprise- that of bringing the M.L.S. & W.R.R. into our city, he took an active part in favor of it, both in the meetings of the board of directors of O. & M.R.R. Co.- which was mainly instrumental in making the connection- and by urging our citizens to vote in favor of the city lending its aid. For many years previous to 1872, the firm of S.B. & J.A. Paige did a large wholesale trade in groceries, employing several traveling men, and their sales exceeded those of any other house in Northern Wisconsin. In addition to this, they continued to carry on their logging operations. Mr. Paige's health commenced to fail him in 1872, and, by the advice of his physicians, he closed out his merchandising concern, and, during the following six years he traveled continuously and extensively, visiting nearly every State in the Union. He passed a year on the Pacific Coast between Oregon and Mexico, and visited every place of interest in California. He next visited Europe, and traveled over the continent three times. Egypt and the Nile he visited twice, and made an extended trip through the Holy Land, Syria, Turkey, Greece and the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus, Malta, Sicily, Corfu, etc- his last travels being a tour around the world. In all his travels he was accompanied by his estimable wife. This was the same trip recorded by Miss Risley, who accompanied the Hon. William H. Seward in his tour around the world. Since his return two years ago, he has again applied himself to business. From November, 1879, his firm has sold over 100,000 worth of logs, taken from their lands on the Wolf River and its tributaries, and in the same time have purchased $237,000 worth of pine land, mill property and logs- the latter being for their extensive mill at Davenport, Iowa, which they purchased last February at a great bargain, from the administrator of the estate of John L. Davies, the former owner, who refused $100,000 for this property previous to his death. The firm of Paige, Dixon & Co., composed of S.B. Paige, J.A. Paige, E.W. Dixon and R.F. Paige, was formed, and are now actively operating this mill. The magnitude of their business is indicated by the trial balance from their books Nov. 30, being $226,845.48. Mr. Paige, with his brother, John A., own large tracts of pine lands in this State and Minnesota. A large tract in the vicinity of Pine Lake, head-waters of the Wolf River, is said to contain a body of the best quality of pine in the state, and is also owned by them. Mr. Paige is an owner in the store of J.M. Rollins & Co., having been a member of that firm since its establishment in 1865. He was instrumental in getting the stock of the Commercial National Bank subscribed in 1865, his firm taking one- fifth of the capital stock of $100,000, and at its organization he was elected a Director and Vice President, which office he held for several years. The bank always paid a semi-annual dividend of 5 per cent, and at its closing up the stock sold for 40 per cent above the per value. The firm of S.B. & J.A. Paige are large owners in the Wolf River Boom Co.; the latter is and has been its President and treasurer for some years, since the company went into bankruptcy. He is looked upon by all as one of the best business men in the country, seldom making a mistake, possessing foresight, good judgment, honesty and integrity to a remarkable degree. His word is a bond to any one who gets it. As one illustration of many, showing his business qualifications. In the season of 1869, the Wolf River Boom Co., through bad management, became bankrupt; in April, 1870, Judge Miller, of the U.S. District Court, appointed him assignee of the bankrupt estate. On taking possession of the same, there was found to be less than one dollar in its treasury. He conducted the operations of the company, paying, in sixteen months all the debts in full, with interest, all costs and fees, amounting to $53,563.22, leaving a balance besides, which sum he paid over to the old stockholders. On receiving his discharge as assignee in the court of bankruptcy, the Judge took occasion to compliment him as having made the best showing of any assignee ever in his court. His firm has been among the largest tax-payers in the city for many years, and with the taxes upon the many thousands of acres of pine lands which they own- paid in the several towns where located- make their yearly taxes very heavy. He is a member of the Paige-Sexmith Lumber Co., of Superior, Douglas Co., Wis., a corporation with $200,000 capital. Mr. Paige is strictly a temperate man in all things, using no intoxicating liquors of any kind, or tobacco in any form. His moral character is without a taint. His extensive travels, with a clear perception of men and things, and with a retentive memory, make him one of the best-informed men in the State. Mr. Paige is quite a connoisseur of art, particularly of paintings and sculpture. In his several visits to Europe, he gave a good deal of time to a careful examination of these works, in the many galleries of art throughout that country, also visiting great numbers of studios where he saw hundreds of artists at their work with the brush and the chisel. During his last visit to Europe, he collected about sixty paintings, many of them very fine ones; also several pieces of fine marble statuary and Florentine Mosaics, which are stored, remaining in the shipping cases unopened. Mr. Paige is a lover of good horses, and is the owner of a dozen or so, possessing the best strains of high-bred trotting blood in the country; among them the noble horse "Akbar," and the celebrated mare, "Lady Mac," the fastest five-miler in the world, are well known. In politics, he was in his early years a Henry Clay and Daniel Webster Whig. When that party passed out he became a Republican. During the war he was very active in assisting in putting down the rebellion, and filling the quota by a free use of his money and time. Since coming to this city he has never sought nor accepted a political office; is not, although thoroughly Republican in his views, a "machine" devotee, and, in local affairs, would rather see in places a trust, a good, honest Democrat, than a dishonest, bad Republican. He was married to Leafy Cushing Bean, in Lowell, Mass., in January, 1848. They never had any children born to them. She came, on her mother's side, from the distinguished Cushing family, who were early settlers in Eastern Massachusetts. She was a most estimable woman; by her remarkably sweet disposition and Christian graces, she won the hearts of all her acquaintances, and was beloved by every one who knew her. They were never separated from each other but a few weeks at a time, during their long and happy married life of nearly thirty-three years, until her tragic death, which occurred on the 3d of December, 1880, from the burning of the Beckwith House. This sad and awful loss to her kind and affectionate husband falls with a crushing force on him, carrying sorrow and mourning to thousands of hearts. Since coming to this city, the fire fiend has been unrelenting toward him, burning out the firm's business, entire and in part, five different times, the firm of J.M. Rollins & Co. twice, and of R. Ash & Co., once, in which he was a partner. His residence was destroyed a few days after returning from Egypt and the Holy Land, with all its contents, and last, the awful and sad calamity of burning his wife alive, in the destruction of the Beckwith House, thus closing an eventful and happy period of many years in his life. He is a Mason of thirty-second degree. Is kind to the poor and unfortunate, contributing liberally to their assistance. Mr. Paige is, by force of his early training, a constant attendant upon church, although not a member of one, always giving freely toward their building and support, more especially the Episcopal, it being the church of his late lamented wife. Possessing no bigotry, he is pleased to see all denominations prosper, lending a helping hand to them when in need.