My Genealogy Hound

CHRISTOPHER W. PAIGE, an old and respected resident of Prescott, was born in Hardwick, Mass., February 22, 1821, son of Christopher and Judith (Bigelow) Paige. The Paige family is of English and Scotch origin. The first representatives in this country were three brothers, who came to America in 1665, and settled in Medford, Mass., where the old Paige farm is still occupied by members of the family. Jesse Paige, the grandfather of Christopher W., was an early settler in Hardwick, where he worked industriously, tilling the soil during a long and exemplary life, and was counted among the well-to-do residents. In religious belief he was a Congregationalist. A family of five children brightened his household, two sons and three daughters.

Christopher Paige, the father of Mr. Paige, was born and bred in Hardwick. In 1822 he moved to Prescott, settling on the farm which is now occupied by his son, and for many years was engaged in general farming. The Paige farm was formerly owned by Constant Ruggles; and at the time of its purchase by Mr. Paige it consisted of one hundred acres of good land, the yearly crops from which yielded him a handsome income. Politically, Mr. Paige supported Democratic principles. He was a man of prominence in the town, and served as Postmaster, Selectman, and in other minor offices. His religious creed was that of a Congregationalist, and he was an active worker in the interest of the Congregational Society of the town. He lived to be eighty-one years of age, dying at the homestead. His wife, who was a native of North Brookfield, attained the advanced age of ninety-two. Six children were born to them, as follows: John Foster, who died at the age of eighty-three; Nancy, wife of Chester Conkey, also deceased; Mary, who died in the dawn of young womanhood, at the age of sixteen; Francis B., familiarly known as Deacon Paige, who died at seventy-six; Abigail, widow of Rodney Russell, residing in Prescott; and Christopher W., whose name heads this article.

Christopher W. Paige received his education in the schools of Prescott. At the same time he acquired familiarity with the details of farm work. After finishing with school, he worked on the home farm for some time longer, and then for the succeeding twenty-five years in miscellaneous callings. These included stock trading, peddling, fur dealing, and trapping. In 1867 he purchased the old home farm, and has since been successfully engaged in its cultivation. This is said to be the oldest farm in town. The dwelling-house, which was built in 1810, is a fine type of the old-style New England family residence, generously planned, with large airy rooms. At the time of its erection it was one of the best houses in the locality, and in the many years that have passed since that time it seems to have lost little of its stability.

On April 9, 1845, Mr. Paige was united in marriage with Mary E. Bigelow, a native of North Brookfield, born March 25, 1825, daughter of John and Betsey (Maynard) Bigelow. She died August 3, 1895, after completing over fifty years of married life. She was highly esteemed by all who knew her, and was a faithful Christian wife and mother. Three sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Paige, as follows: Mary Jane, who died in infancy, living but seventeen months; Charles W., who lives with his father; John C., also on the home farm; Mary B., wife of Reuben Horr, a farmer of Prescott; Warren B. and Nellie Belle, living at the old home.

Mr. Paige votes with the Democratic party. He has been and is still one of the most active citizens of the town, and is respected and loved by all who know him. He is a member of the Congregational church, which he and his wife joined in 1875, and has served as a church official. Though he has lived nearly three-quarters of a century, he continues in active occupation upon his farm; and much of his leisure time also is spent out of doors. He takes much interest in a varied collection of fish with which he has stocked a pond on his estate, and he may be often seen engaged in feeding his finny pets.