The William Savage family

William Savage came to Cass County, Texas with his wife, Martha and seven of his nine children sometime between June of 1880 and August 1881. Today, one hundred and eighteen years later, many of his descendants still live in Cass County.

William Savage was born in Abbeville County, South Carolina in 1831. He was the second son of John Savage and Rebecca Grimes. John Savage was born in Laurens County, South Carolina about 1807. About 1828, John Savage married Rebecca Grimes who was also born in South Carolina. She was born perhaps in 1810.

Around 1835, John Savage moved with his wife Rebecca, their four children and John’s parents, William and Nancy, to northern Alabama. The family settled in the community of Coal City, which is in St. Clair County, Alabama. There were ten children born to John and Rebecca Savage. Many of their descendants live in the area, some in the twin county seats of Pell City and Ashville, Alabama.

On 18 May 1851, William Savage married Mary Frances Jones, with John W. Graham officiating. Mary Frances was the daughter of .Wiley P. Jones and Mary Savage Jones, both born in South Carolina.

William and Mary Frances Savage were the parents of four sons. The first was James H. Savage who was born in July 1853. The next child was John JW. , born in 1854, then William W., born about 1857 and the last child born of that marriage was Jeremiah Allen, born in June of 1859. Mary Frances died sometime between 1860 and 1865.

After the Civil War began in 1861, William Savage enlisted as a private in Co. G, 18th Regiment, Alabama Infantry. He served for one year, then re-enlisted and served for two more years. On 20 June 1865, he was paroled as a prisoner of war at Talladega, Alabama. William and five of his brothers fought for the Confederacy. Two of his brothers, Andrew and Jeremiah, were wounded in the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863.

William Savage married Martha Edge on 16 April 1865. Martha was the daughter of Obadiah Edge and his first wife, Nancy. Martha was born in Georgia on 30 July 1843.

In 1866, the first child of William and Martha Savage, Amanda, was born. Her parents were still residing in Alabama. In 1867, William and his family moved to Bedford County, Tennessee, where William’s older brother, Marshall had settled several years before.

Three more children were born to William and Martha Savage while they were in Tennessee. George Washington Savage was born 14 November 1869, then Isaac 0., who was born 22 July 1873, followed by Thomas Jefferson, born 14 December 1875.

Sometime after 1875 and before 1877, the Savage family moved back to St. Clair County, Alabama, where another son was born. He was named Andrew Jackson Savage, born 31 March 1877 in Coal City.

Today Coal City, Alabama is named Wattsville. There is a country lane there known as Savagetown Road.

The last child of William and Martha Savage was a daughter whom they named Victoria Arlona. She was born in September 1881 after the Savage family had moved from Alabama to Cass County, Texas.

In 1882, William and Martha Savage purchased property in the Springdale Community in Cass County, Texas. The first land was bought from William B. Lee, then some acreage from Elias Crow. Later other property was bought. Today that land still belongs to descendants of William and Martha Savage.

Martha Savage died on 28 February 1896. On 28 April 1900, William married for the third time, Mrs. Sallie E. Porterfield. He then moved with her to Miller County, Arkansas. William Savage died in Queen City, Texas on 11 March 1906 at the age of 75.

When the Savage family moved to Texas, three of the sons of William’s marriage to Mary Frances Jones stayed behind. John H. settled in Tennessee. James and Allen remained in St. Clair County, Alabama, married and raised their families there.

The third son of William and Mary Frances was William W. Savage. He came with his father to Texas. There is no record of him ever marrying. He died in 1927 and is reputed to be buried in the Springdale Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

The eldest child of William and Martha Savage, Amanda, came with her parents to Texas in 1881. She married William Daniel Crow 7 October 1887. Amanda and William Crow had two daughters, Emma and Bunie. Amanda died in 1892.

George Washington Savage was the oldest of the sons of 38 Dyess Air F ACROSS 39 singer of 19 William and Martha. On 7 July 1 TX-born sportscaster of Cards” ( Oliver, et al. 41 a giver to c 1892, George married Mary 5 TXism: “blind as 42 agcy. that h _ ___” Missouri Roberts. Mary Missouri economica 6 racehorse’s father distressed was born 22 July 1869 in 7 in Wood County 43 flexible wat on U.S. 69 44 TXism: “if it Georgia. Her parents were James 8 portable and Martha Cole Roberts. George and Mary Savage were the parents of nine children, six of whom lived to be adults. In 1900, in December, George and Mary packed all their children and their household goods in a covered wagon and moved to Parker County, Texas. George died 17 February 1955 and Mary Missouri died on 28 February 1960. They are buried in Parker County, Texas.

Isaac 0. Savage, the second son of William and Martha, was known as Ike. He married Mary Bell Graves in 1898. Ike and Mary had three children The first was Ethel, who was born in December of 1899. She married Dawson Bartlett. They had no children. Ethel died 27 November 1994. The second child of Ike and Mary was George, who was born 21 December 1901. George’s wife was Laura. They had no children. George died 7 March 1985. George is buried in the Queen City Cemetery, Queen City, Texas.

The third child of Isaac and Mary Savage was Estell M. Estell was born in 1905. He married Ila Young. Estell and Ila had several children, but only two, Donald and Ronald, lived to be adults. Estell died in 1976. Ila died 30 May 1995. Mary Bell Graves Savage was born 6 June 1878 in Arkansas and died 15 August 1957. Isaac 0 Savage died 13 August 1930. Isaac and Mary and Estell and Ila are all buried in Springdale Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

Thomas Jefferson Savage was the third son of William and Martha. Tom, as he was known to most people, married Ardella Dodd 10 July 1898. Ardella was born 13 February 1878, the third child of John Edward Dodd and Sarah Jane Brown. Ardella Dodd was the granddaughter of Willis Henderson Dodd, who came to Lafayette County, Arkansas in 1858. Willis H. Dodd was a well-known resident of what is now Miller County, Arkansas.

In 1900, Tom and Ardella moved to the Courtland Community of Cass County where they bought a farm and built a house. Several of their children were born there. The oldest child was Luther, who was born 9 July 1899. Luther died 10 October 1903. On 15 November, a daughter, Gracie was born. She died 27 January 1907. Their third child was jewel Edward, born 1 July 1909. A fourth child was born and died before 1920. The last child, a son, was Jesse Thomas who was born 26 April 1921 .

In 1920 Thomas J. and Ardella Savage sold their property in the Courtland Community and bought a larger farm and built a new house in the Springdale Community. Tom and Ardella worked hard and created a successful life for their family on their new farm The two sons, Jewel and Jesse grew to manhood there.

Thomas Jefferson Savage died on 4 January 1930. Ardella Dodd Savage died 13 January 1954. They are both buried in the Courtland Cemetery with several of their children.

Jewel Edward Savage married Lillie Mae Jones of Miller County Arkansas on 14 April 1931. They had three children, James Lloyd who was born 11 May 1932, Margaret Louise, born 14 June 1934 and then Frances LaNell, born 9 December 1941. Jewel died on 20 November .1975. Lillie Mae died 9 November 1988. Both are buried in Spring-dale Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

Jesse Thomas Savage, youngest son of Tom and Ardella married Lillie May Humphrey of New Orleans, Louisiana. They have four children, David, Thomas, Mitchell, and Jeannette. Jesse died 5 December 1975. Lillie May, his wife, still lives in the family home built by Tom and Ardella.

The youngest son of William and Martha Savage was Andrew Jackson. He married Callie May Nichols, daughter of John Nichols and Flora Freeman Nichols. Callie May was born 24 May 1887. Andrew and Callie were married on 24 December 1905. They moved to Parker County, Texas. Andrew and Callie had seven children Andrew Jackson Savage died 4 January 1945. He and Callie are buried in Streamwood Cemetery, Parker County, Texas.

Victoria Arlona Savage, the sixth child of William and Martha married Arthur Virgil Davis 5 April 1899 in Cass County, Texas They had two daughters, Ruby born 10 May 1915 and Opal, who was born 5 November 1917. Ruby married Autry Crane and Opal married Johnny Moore. Victoria Arlona “Lonnie” died in 1918. She is buried in Good Exchange Cemetery, Cass County, Texas

As in many families, some of the descendants of William and Martha Savage have moved to other parts of the country. There are many, though, who have chosen to remain in Cass County and have put down deep roots.

Such is the legacy of William and Martha Edge Savage.