My Genealogy Hound

MARTIN V. B. PAIGE is at present holding the office of Justice of the Peace of Green Ridge. In 1889 he was appointed Postmaster, under Harrison’s administration, and for four years was the popular and efficient incumbent of that office. He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., October 29, 1842, and was the second in order of birth of the family born unto Anson and Mary J. (Flanders) Paige.

The father of our subject was born in Vermont, but left his native state when a young man and removed to New York. His good wife, the mother of Martin, was born in New Hampshire, where she was reared to womanhood and where she became fairly well educated.

Squire Paige had just passed his eighteenth year when the tocsin of war resounded through the land. Being fired with the spirit of patriotism, he donned the blue and enlisted in Company C, Ninety-second New York Infantry, being mustered in at Potsdam, N. Y., in September, 1861. He was in active service for four and a-half years, during that time participating in all of the many engagements in which his regiment took part. After a service of three years he re-enlisted and was transferred to Company D, Ninety-sixth New York Infantry. The same day he was transferred he was taken prisoner by the enemy and for two weeks was confined in Libby Prison. He was then sent to Salisbury, N. C., and for four months was there retained as a prisoner of war. The reader doubtless knows something of the treatment and cruelty to which the Union soldiers were subjected, and the exposures and hardships which Mr. Paige endured greatly undermined his health, and he has not been robust and strong since that time. He was just on the eve of being commissioned Lieutenant of a new company when taken prisoner, but upon rejoining his regiment he was promoted to be Sergeant and on being mustered out was made Commissary-Sergeant. Although the war was at an end some months previously, he was not mustered out until February, 1866, his regiment having been retained to do guard duty.

On returning to New York State, Mr. Paige passed some time in visiting among his relatives and friends. March 4, 1866, he bade them adieu, and, emigrating westward, located at once in Green Ridge. He carried on a farm near this place for a number of years, but owing to ill-health was obliged to abandon this kind of labor, and moved into the village of Green Ridge in 1883. He owns a comfortable home here and with his estimable companion is prepared to spend his declining years in the ease and enjoyment which he so much deserves.

Squire Paige was married, in 1865, to Miss Marilla, daughter of Rufus and Diantha F. (Irwin) Austin. Both the Irwin and Austin families were quite prominent in the East. Mrs. Paige died two years after her marriage, and in 1869 our subject chose for his second companion Miss Mariette P. Austin, a sister of his first wife. Eight children were born of this union, of whom the eldest, Sophronia, is deceased. David E. is a resident of Lamonte, this state. The others are Charles A., Ora E., Dora, Lucia, George H. and Roy, all of whom are at home with their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Paige are members in good standing of the Congregational Church

Squire Paige, although having been in public life for many years, maintains an unblemished reputation as a man of integrity and honor. He is an uncompromising Republican in politics, and for many years served the people as Constable and Justice of the Peace, being the incumbent of the latter office at the present time. While Postmaster he was popular in his official capacity, discharging the duties of the position with characteristic fidelity and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Socially he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and as a Grand Army man belongs to E. D. Baker Post No. 68.