Page, William B. (1871-1945)

Revision as of 16:57, 19 March 2014

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Jun 28 p. 1, 5

Birth date: 1871 Jan 5

text of obituary:

Doctor, Missionary, Called Away In Death

At Goshen, Ind., Dr. William B. Page, 74, practiving [sic] physician there for the past 35 years and former Mennonite missionary in India, was found dead in bed at 7:30 A. M., Thursday, June 14, by his wife at their home, 214 East Lincoln avenue. Although he was at his office and the local hospital on the previous day, he complained of not feeling well and went home after setting a man's broken shoulder.

His death was probably caused by heart attack.

Always interested in the progress and activities of the church and in missions, Dr. Page had yet attended the annual business meeting of the Eighth Street Mennonite church on Tuesdat evebing.

Giving a brief history of his life, the Goshen News-Democrat reported as follows:

Born in Juniata county, Pa., Jan. 5, 1871, Dr. Page was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Tobias Page. He graduated form Valparaiso university in 1887, from Ada College, Ada, Ohio, in 1890, and from the Chicago medical College in 1896. His marriage to the former Alice Thut took place July 3, 1895.

Dr. Page was the first medical missionary sent to India by the Mennonite church, serving from 1899 to 1901. He and Bishop J. A. Ressler founded the mission at Dhamtari, Central Providence [sic], India, for the Mennonite church while serving as missionary. He also served at the Home Mission in Chicago. he practiced at Middlebury from 1902 until he came to Goshen in 1910.

One of the doctor's hobbies was the keeping of the exact count of the number of babies he had delivered since coming to Goshen. Less than two weeks ago he remarked at Goshen hospital, after delivering a baby, "that was my 2,393rd". Arrangements were made at that time for an interview and the writing of a newspaper feature story when Dr. Page delivered his 2,400th child.

Surviving in addition to Mrs. Page are a son, Ralph Page, dean of men at Bucknell university, Lewisbury [sic Lewisburg], Pa.; a daughter, Mrs. Karl (Marian) Stoll, of Pekin, Ill.; and four grandchildren.

The following further details of Dr. Page's work and missionary activities are given by Mrs. Mary Y. Burkhard, also a missionary in India for a number of years. Mrs. Burkhard and her husband began their service at Dhamtari station in India, Oct. 26, 1900, at the time Dr. Page and his wife went home on furlough:

Dr. Page became a volunteer for foreign missionary work while a student and was accepted by the Mission Board of the (Old) Mennonite Church Nov. 4, 1898, together with Bishop J. A. Ressler of Scotdale [sic Scottdale], Pa. In 1899 Dr. Page and wife and little son William and J. A. Ressler sailed for India, arriving in March of that year after several months of travel and investigation they located at Dhamtari, C. P., in November, 1899, just when the famine of 1900 was at its' worst.