Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-12-27
PIONEER WOMAN
HAS PASSED AWAY
Mrs. Thomas w. Savage Lived q
Useful Life and Faced the Hard
ships of Early Days.

Margaret Elizabeth Savage, wife
of Thomas w. Savage, died at the
family home near this city last Sat
urday evening, after an illness of
nearly seven weeks, aged So years.
Deceased was born In Ireland and
when a child came to Boston, Mass,
with her parents. She was educated
in girls school in that city and
when still quite young went to Cali
fornia to visit an aunt and uncle re-
siding at San Jose. The journey was
made by boat via the isthmus of
Panama At San Jose she met
Thomas Wallace Savage, who was
conducting hotel there, and after
a short courtship they were united
in marriage in 1871. After a couple
of years they came 20 this state and
in 1877 located on the homestead two
miles west of Pullman, where they
have since resided.
1t was wild country then, their
nearest neighbors being b. #. Taylor,
who lived two miles north, and the
Mckenzie family, who were residing
in a log cabin where this city Is To-
Gated. The Nez Perez war had just
ended and the settlers were still in
dread of the Indians. The Savage
homestead was a favorite camping
ground and watering place for the
Indians of several tribes when on
their way to visit one another, and
there were many trying experiences
for the young bride, whose early life
had been spent in Boston, among
very different surroundings. But
she rose to the occasion and faced
all the hardships and dangers with
eheerfulness and courage. There was
one incident to which she frequently
referred, which illustrates the trials
of those early days. Her husband
was away and she was alone with her
two little children, when party of
several Indians came to the house
and asked for food. She supplied
their needs and then stood in the
yard and watched them mount their
ponies. AS they started to ride away
one of them unslung his rifle. She
thought that he was going to kill
her and sank on her knees but the
brave simply took out the ramrod
and used it to pick up a bandana
handkerchief which he had dropped.
Chief Pu Pu Mox became a staunch
friend of Mrs. Savage and always
stopped at the cabin for visit when
he was passing through this section.
1t was lonely life and Mrs. Savage
often remarked that the hill beyond
their home seemed to her like the
end of the world. This same hill
later became a part of the ranch and
has produced many fine crops OF
wheat
Deceased was a devout and active
member of the Roman Catholic
church and almost the first Holy
Mass celebrated In this section of
the county was held at the Savage
home, where the missionary priests
always found hearty welcome and
the best entertainment that the lin
tied resources of a pioneer family
would permit. AS the country be-
came settled and neighbors moved
In Mrs Savage's circle Of friends
widened, for everyone who knew
her became a friend.
She devoted her life to rearing her
seven children and to helping those
who needed help. All OF the chill
dren were given good education in
first class schools. Five are still liv-
ing, two boys, Wallace NJ. and John
e., and three girls, Mrs. Marie Ham,
ilton, Mrs. Frances Curtis and Miss
Katherine.
Funeral services were held at the
local Roman Catholic church Mon
day morning at 1890, Father Fltz-
gerald officiating. The remains were
taken to Cotton, where Father Fret
conducted services. which were at
tended by great many Of the earlier
residents OF the county. The body
was inferred In the family lot In the
Cotton cemetery by the side of her
two children.