John E. Page

Who was John E. Page?

John Edward Page was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.

Born in Trenton, New York, Page was the son of Ebenezer and Rachael Page. He was baptized into the Church of Christ, established by Joseph Smith, in Brownhelm, Ohio in August 1833 by missionary Emer Harris. After his conversion, Page was ordained an elder. He relocated to Kirtland, Ohio in 1835, and joined the growing body of church members in that region. Page served two missions in Upper Canada, the first beginning in May 1836 and the second in February 1837. By his count, he baptized 600 persons.

Page was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in July 1838. In August 1838, he moved his family to Missouri, settling in Far West, Caldwell County. Life was difficult for the new Missouri settlers. Page left personal accounts of attacks by mobs of Missouri residents, both while with the wagon train and while residing in Far West. He noted that he "buried one wife and two children as martyrs to our holy religion, since they died through extreme suffering for the want of the common comforts of life."