Civil War veteran honored after 146 years
Civil War veteran John Everett Page is honored after 146 years of his enlistment as a private in the Confederacy.
The way it came about is by a young man’s quest to learn about his heritage and an extension of his high school senior project.
Ian Kelley of Rose Hill is a senior at Wallace-Rose Hill and was torn on what he should choose as his
Sons of the Confederate kneel and pay honor to a Civil War veteran at a grave marking ceremony for John Everett Page, born April 17, 1845 and died May 22, 1925. Ian Kelley’s quest to find his ancestor became real to him in his senior year at high school during his quest to walk the life of a Confederate soldier, becoming involved in re-enactments across North Carolina. (L-R) Alan Page Hilburn Sr., South East Brigade Commander, North Carolina Division, Army of North Virginia, Sons of Confederate Veterans; Ian Kelley, infantry with Sons of the Confederate; Commander E.W. Frederickson, Commander of Burgaw, Carolina Group of Pender County and Second Lt. Harrellson Light Artillery; Jeb Stuart Smith, SCV of Kenansville, Company F, 26th Regiment. (Staff photo by Sheila C. Young)
senior project. His mother, Wendy Kelley, who is an art teacher at Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary, simply told her son to follow his heart and write about something he loved.
That came easy for Ian as he decided his topic would be about the Civil War. In November 2008, he talked to W-RH history teacher Fred Burroughs, who is a historian on the Civil War. Ian decided he would make a book about the daily life of a Civil War soldier and donate it to the W-RH library.
He further decided to really live the life of a soldier and enlisted in the Cape Fear Living History Society where he re-enacted many battles that had previously been fought, such as in Bentonville, where he discovered his ancestor had fought.
In order to qualify to be a member of Living History Society, Ian had to have a direct descendant of someone who served in the Civil War. He found out his third generation grandfather John Everett Page was a member of the 51st Regiment North Carolina – Company C Hoke’s Division – Houston’s Company – Clingman’s Brigade.
This sent Ian far beyond the scope of his project as he began to enjoy the re-enactments.
One journey sent him to Fort Fisher. It was then he began talking to other Civil War buffs and one asked if his ancestor had a grave marker. That Ian could not answer. He later asked family members, who also had no idea. They only knew where he was buried. That sent him and his mother on a quest to the local cemetery. Within minutes, almost instinctively, upon arriving, Ian proudly found his ancestor. He had a gravestone, but no military marker.
Over the past months, calls and forms were made to get John Everett Page his marker of service to his country. Finally, they were able to get in touch with the right people. A metal marker, bearing the Southern Cross, was paid for out of money Ian had earned in his after school job. It was a proud moment. A ceremony was set and held on Sunday, May 23, 85 years almost to the day since Page’s death, and the grave is now flanked with the Southern Cross.
Haunting Moments
As the weeks got closer for Ian to finalize his project, his mom seemed a little anxious one night. Out of nowhere she remembered some old photos buried in her closest. They had been there at least 20 years. John Everett Page, with his long white beard, was in those photographs. At the time Wendy Kelley, who received them through a family member, had no idea. She collected antiques and the old frames as well as the photos were in good condition.
“To this day I don’t know what made me think of those pictures. I took them over to my mother’s and she identified one person that took me by surprise, John E. Page.
“Before that day, this unknown man with his long white beard, solemn but pleasant face that I had admired so many years ago was that of John E. Page….whose great-great-great-grandson recognizes him today wearing his own Confederate uniform, dark beard, with a solemn yet pleasant face. DNA has linked them to this point,” said Kelley at the ceremony.
Ian told those that gathered he was honored to stand before them as a very proud young man with strong beliefs about his heritage.
“I have always loved my family heritage, their contributions to North Carolina, Duplin County and to the South.
“I have always loved reading about the great Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the life of a Southern soldier. Little did I know that this grave marking ceremony would have never happened if…
“First, I did not love Civil War history;
“Second, participated in re-enactments with the Cape Fear Living History Society over the last year and a half;
“Third, having to do a senior project at W-RH with the guidance of my mentors, Fred Burroughs and Thomas Whitfield, both of Wallace.
“Finally, and most importantly, having long conversations with my great-grandmother Ruby Florence Usher Ramsey about our family history.” Ramsey died last May. She had lived to be 95 years old and was a treasure trove full of stories.
“All these factors have lead me to stand along with Commander Carlyle Herring and proud members of the Confederate States of America Armory of Kenansville.
“It gives me great pleasure to dedicate this Southern Cross of Honor to my ancestor,” said Ian Kelley.
During the Memorial Service Lt. Commander Chip Hardy, Commander Carlyle Herring, Alan Hilburn, Adjutant Gerald Wilson, all Sons of the Confederacy, said words about being a Confederate veteran.
The credo of the Confederate Army was very fitting for that moment and still is today as we celebrate Memorial Day: Nurture the living, care for the wounded, and honor the dead.
The Salmon Family also went through the same historical hunt, with Kilby Salmon, my great, great granfather. Kilby enlisted at Teachey, through Capt. McMillan. Mustered in with the NC 37th Inf. Co. E. at Wilmington NC. After active duty, Kilby was transfered to a reserve unit in Kennansville under Capt. Broadhurst. The strange thing is that my 1st cousin Chris Nathan Batts of Wilmington, great great grandfather, Nathan Batts, was also in the same reserve unit.