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Tuesday, August 21, 2018

In Memory of Curney Page, Wilson County's Fourth Soldier to Died in France, 1918

“In Memory of Curney Page,” in The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., August 12, 1918

Eloquent Tributes to the Young Man from Toisnot Who Have His Life For His Country

There was a notable gathering in the church at Rosebud in Wilson county yesterday afternoon.

The people came from far and near to do honor to the memory of one they delighted to honor, for the message came a few days ago that their friend and countryman had, on the sunny slopes of France in the midst of the bursting shot and shell given his life that civilization might live and humanity might be free and the accursed Hun be kept form the shores of America.

The impressive services were conducted by Rev. George W. Ferrell, pastor of the Free Will Baptist church at Rosebud where Mr. W.H. Page, father of our fallen hero, has his membership.

Miss Stockard of Raleigh, guest of Miss Lucille Moore, was at the organ and a number of appropriate hymns were sung.

Mr. Ferrell introduced the speakers with appropriate remarks preceding which he read a Scripture lesson and stated that the purpose of the service was to honor the memory of our friend who had left our shores and made the supreme sacrifice for you and I.

He then introduced Dr. E.G. Moore of Elm City, one of the most eloquent and ornate speakers in this state, and the physician of the family. We reproduce in full his tribute to young Page. It is too complete and beautiful to make notations from:

A record of the death toll from Wilson county by reason of the war is being faithfully kept by Mr. Dempsey Bullock of Wilson and he is preserving a copy in the Register of Deeds office that it may remain in authentic record in the years to come. How long a list may be enrolled there or whose names shall appear upon its pages no one can foretell, but it is safe to say that we may expect an additional number to those whose names have first appeared.

While we deeply mourn the loss of those three who left Wilson county in the vigor and strength of young manhood as volunteers in the great struggle of war and met their fate upon the field of battle, yet we may console ourselves that the casualty list has been so small and the wounded have been so few. Lieut. Robert Anderson of Wilson was the first from Wilson County to surrender his life to the guns of the enemy. The second was Lieut. Leroy Capps from Lucama and the third Lieut. Cliff Bissett of Wilson and the fourth was Private Curney Page from Toisnot township. Already have suitable exercises been observed in memory of the first three and it is but proper and right that each fatality whether a private or a commissioned officer should be observed by appropriate exercises and remembered by the people at home.

It was the thought of Mr. Bullock to preserve the names of those who died while in service and we would honor him for this historic record and for his service in this patriotic duty; but to Mr. John Gold of the Wilson Times must be accredited the splendid idea that public notice and expression of sympathy should be accorded each fallen boy from Wilson County regardless of his army rank or his position in life at home.

Thus Wilson County according to residential township will in the future be designated with the privilege as well as the duty of observing with suitable exercises those of her boys who may fall a victim to the ravages of war.

This occasion marks the third memorial exercise in the county and the first one in Toisnot township.

We deem it fitting to congregate at this place, amid the environments of his childhood and his friends and acquaintances to give expression to our sorrow at his loss and his fate.
Curney Page was born in Toisnot township July 17, 1892 and was therefore 26 years of age. His father was Wm. H. Page. His mother was Katie Forbes.

Curney Page belonged to the class of citizens who by reasons of circumstances was not given the advantages of early scholastic training and his opportunities were limited to intervals of attendance upon the public schools whose efficiency does not measure up the standards which the present day afford. It is reasonable to say that his requirements consisted only of a common school education, which handicapped him from the attainment of positions either in civil or military life which might have brought him greater distinction. 

The elementary branches however were taught and he wrote a legible hand and expressed himself with surprising clearness. I happened to see a (??) a week prior to his death in which he sent messages of cheer to his family and assured them of his good health and good spirits, looking forward to the next year when he would probably be home and assist in the cultivation of the crops. This letter reached here only a few hours before the telegram announcing his death and its expression was but characteristic of his life, hopeful and courteous. While not connected with any branch of the church, he was an honest, courteous and upright young man, respected by his associates and he sustained an honorable reputation in the circle of his acquaintances. He was doubtless not informed as to the causes or the necessities of the war and little dreamed he would ever set foot on foreign soil, and when the call came for volunteers from Wilson county he tendered himself to the county authorities and was assigned to Camp Jackson for training. Serving his time as a Private in Co. A 120th Infantry division, he was sent with this Company with the American Expeditionary forces in France. He did not dread to go nor did he fear the dangers that confronted him, but with heroic courage he answered the call with resolute footstep, marched into the face of the enemy unafraid and undismayed.

Greater knowledge may some possess who have greater training in the tactics of war. No greater honor should they possess and no greater courage do they exhibit and in point of hardship and personal sacrifice does not compare with the great army of privates who bear their burdens alone and fight their way in the darken trenches and on the gory field of battle. 

When one of these be stricken let us bow in reverence and respect to the memory of a fallen brave and especially so to one of our young neighbors who no less than other heroes, gave his life in answer to his country’s call and in defense of his countrymen’s honor.

Far away from home and friends, his lifeless body lies entombed, and no more will his young and manly form be seen in our midst again. His unmarked grave “somewhere” in France holds his mortal remains, no longer in the world beyond his spirit, waiting for his crown.

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