The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-10-22
John Houston Savage.
From the McMiEnvilie New Era, Oct. S.

|
The people of Warren county, last
Monday, as well as the people Of other
counties in public meetings, having de-
cIared Col. Savage their choice for
United States Senator, as successor to
Hon. W. G. Brownlow. and as it seems
there is everywhere a popular tide IN
his favor which in all probability may
bear him onward to that high position,
we deem it due to the people to pub.
lish a more extensive notice OC his past
history, especially his political ana
military services, than has yet Appeared
in the press.
Col. Savage is the 0 Of George
Savage, who was n native OF Virginia,
ud.emigratGd to Tennessee about the
year 1909. lie was q soldier of the
war Of 1872, and after peace in 1873,
moved from East Tennessee to Nc
Minnyille, which is Col. Savage's ma
tive town. His'mothcr was Elizabeth
Kcnncr, daughter Of Rodham kenner,
who lived near Rogersville, and repre-
scnted Hawkins county in the Legisla-
ture when that body held its sessions
in Knoxville.
About 1919 Col. SIS father moved
TO the farm west Of McMinnville, where
he lived until his death, which occurred
in 1878.
John, like other boys at that time,
worked upon the farm during crop
time and was sent to q country school
during the winter months. He acquired
the reputation of an Industrious farmer
boy and a promising student, and was
sent to the Academy at McMinnville O
couple of sessions. At the time OF
Gen. Gaines proclamation for voiun-
tecrs to maintain the neutrality OF the
Texas frontier, Col. S. had built him Q
cabin on the bluff of the liver running
near his fathers house, and was en-
gagged in q course of historical and lit
erary reading preparatory to the study
otlaw. He then volunteered in a com
pany raised in Warren county BY Gen
John b. Rogers, and alter forty days
service was Observation-Disclosures hav
ing in the meantime triumphed at Sar
Jacinto.
Soon after o call was made by the
PresiGent-Gen. J~aekson-for volun-
teer3 to defend the Florida frontier
against the Seminoles. A company
was raised in Warren and rendered
but not received, in which Col. S
was Il private When the rejection g
the company was made known, Col
s., with four other boys of Warren
S. G. Smart, Il. H. Price, Il. NJ. Mer
Ger, Joseph Robinson and the late Col
=, NJ. Armstrong, of Overton county
all under age, went TO Fayetteville
and joined Gen. Robert Armstrong;
brigade, July 4, 1896, entering sucl
companies as would receive them
Savage, Smart and Robinson entered
Captain G%rundy's company, frer
Nashville, and were soon after trans
ferrcd to Capt. William Lauderlale'.
company Of spies, and after marching
over Florida, and meeting the Indians
at various points, crossed the Gulf
and were discharged at New Orlean:
in January, 1857.
Col. 5. returned to his home, com
pleted his intended historical and lite
rary course, read law and commenced
the practice Of his profession a. Smith
vile, DeKalb county, in December
1889, leaving McMinnyille to avoil
practicing before his brothcr-in-law
the late Andrew j. Marchbanks. whic!
he deemed injudicious.
He was soon greeted by the people
as q rising nan He vas elected by
Tie Legislature of 1871 Attorney Gen
eral, to succeed Gen. Cullum, whose
term expired in October, 1912. Colo
mel S. held this office four years. Hi,
administration was marked for fair
ness, efficiency and economy, and tn,
popularity Of The incumbent. He wa,
also nominated Polk elector in 1874, i
is said upon the suggestion of Mr.
Polk himself, and was opposed BY
Hon. Thomas l.. Bransford, one of the
abIest debaters of the Wing party
This canvass was conducted with such
ability as lett Col. Savage at the heac
Of the Democracy in the mountains
and it is due to say that a warm friend.
ship was maintained bctweeu himself
and Colonel Bransford until the death
of the latter.
In 1916 Col. Savage raised a compa-
ny Of volunteers for the Mexican war.
which was not accepted.
In 1877, contrary to his wishes, his
friends pressed him to become q candi.
date for Congress against Samuel Tur-
ney and the Hon. II. L. W. Hill. He
resigned the office If Attorney General,
took the stump, but only a few speech.
cs had been made when President Polk
appointed him Major of the 18th Regu
lar Infantry, recruiting in Tennessee.
Illinois, and Louisiana, and of which
VIM. Trousdale was CoIsnel, and Gov.
I. .. Herbert, Of Louisiana, Lieut.
Colonel. Major Savage took an active
part in recruiting the regiment. He
made the acquaintance OF President
Pierce at Vera Cruz, and was after
wards his warm supporter for the
Presidency. Major Savage was in the
battles Of Centreras, Cherubusco and
Moline del Rey, and was severely
wounded in the right leg at that place
by a fragment of a hombshell thrown