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David J. Paige

David J. Paige, proprietor of the Slocum House of Oelwein, and one of the old time and popular commercial travelers of Iowa, has been a resident of this county since 1864, and of the city since the fall of 1890. He was born in the township of Gloucester, R. I., on the 6th of August, 1832, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Sweet) Paige, both of whom were born in Rhode Island, and were of English parentage. The parents died in their native State.

The subject of this sketch had but limited school advantages and is a self educated man, having acquired his knowledge of past and present events by reading, study and observation. He entered upon his business career as a merchant's clerk in his native State, and in 1855 went to Chicago, where he was employed in a wholesale tea, coffee and spice house. In 1860 he began to travel as salesman in that line and quit the business only after a thirty year's experience, twenty-seven years of which time were spent in Iowa.

In 1864 Mr. Paige took up his residence in West Union, Fayette County, where he was married on the 21st of September, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Averey Brewer, daughter of J. S. and Charlotte Brewer. She was born in Seneca Falls, N. Y., May 17, 1843, and came to Fayette County, Iowa, in 1857 with her parents. Her father is one of the most highly respected business men and old settlers of West Union, and his sketch is given on another page of this work. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with two children, a son and a daughter - Jessie Elizabeth, who was born in Marshalltown, on the 8th of March, 1876; and David Edmund, who was born in West Union March 16, 1881.

In politics Mr. Paige is a Democrat and socially is a member of Round Grove Lodge, No. 42, I. O. O. F. of West Union. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church. On the 20th of September, 1890, he leased the Slocum House of Oelwein and at once moved to this place, becoming its landlord. Having been on the road for so many years Mr. Paige has had an extensive experience in hotels as a guest, and has had a chance to learn the methods of hotel keepers who are successful in pleasing the traveling public, as well as a chance to learn the faults that should be avoided. Thus he is peculiarly fitted to make a model landlord. He put his house in the best possible shape and then announced himself as ready to receive guests. This House, under the present management, is fast growing in popularity with the traveling public.