Skip Navigation

THOMAS TUNSEL PAGE


Thomas Tunsel Page, of Holden, W. Va., who is prominent in secret order work and in politics, is a native of the Old Dominion. He was born at Airpoint, Roanoke County, Va., on July 16, 1877. His father, Lee Page, was a farmer and was born in slavery. He was the son of Isaac Page, and Martha Gregory. Isaac Page was sold to the Salt Works on the Kanawha River. The mother of our subject was, before her marriage, Sophia Hopkins, and she was a daughter of Reuben and Delia Hopkins. Delia Hopkins belonged to the Powhatan tribe of Indians, and Reuben Hopkins was the son of Joe Terry. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Page has an interesting ancestry.

He was married on August 23, 1900, to Miss Bessie Beauford, daughter of James and Polina Beauford. They have a fine family of seven children. Their names are Theodore R., Thomas G., Olga T., Thadius B., Thelma B., William H., and Horatio T. Page.

As a boy Mr. Page attended the public schools of Virginia and went to the Petersburg Normal one year. In 1897, he moved to West Virginia and was employed as a stationary engineer for a number of years. Later he moved into Kanawha County and finally, in 1908, settled at Holden, where he has since resided and has come to be one of the best known colored men in that part of the state.

He is a member of the Baptist church and was at one time Superintendent of the Sunday School. He is also active and prominent in the work of the secret orders and benevolent societies. In the Masons he is Secretary; in the Pythians he K. of R. & S., and D. D. G. C.; in the I. O. O. Red Men he is Sachem, P. Sachem and member of the Grand Council of West Virginia; in the Court of Calanthe he is P. W. C.; in the Mosaic Templars he is D. G. M.; and is identified with other smaller orders.

It is as a politician, however, that he is best known, and devotes considerable time to party work and organization. He is, of course, a Republican, and has been elected a delegate from his county to every State Convention of his party from 1900-1922. He was the only colored delegate that has ever been sent from Logan County. He has been the ardent friend of education in his county and has been a school trustee since 1898. Since that time great progress has been made in the facilities for the education of colored children, and Mr. Page has done his part.

Mr. Page has studied conditions among his people as he has gone about his work and he believes that education, cooperation and the securing of property would do much to promote the progress of the race.

He considers the greatest factors in his own success have been "square and honest dealing with all men and the application of the Golden Rule."


History of the American Negro Index

History Center

West Virginia Archives and History