Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-11-24
THOMAS ". SAVAGE
WAS EARLY SETTLER
,ocated Present Farm Home Neal
Pullman 3S Years AgO-Died
in Spokane


4 nr of Thomas w. Savage, early
4 doneer substantial citizen and pro-
4 srossiye farmer, was written last
I rriday. when acute Bright's disease
4 added another victim to its long list
Vdhuman tolls and brought,to a close
n life that was filled with happiness,
\ good fellowship and industry. Lo-
eating on farm two miles west of
&Pullman 3S years ago, when as-i-
Hnlture in this region was in its in
fancy and Pullman as a village had
not been conceived, Mr.. Savage bent
IN his then uncertain task of digging
a. livelihood out of the Palouse soil
with the determination that char
3gcterzed his every effort and was
one of the first to point the way for
thousands to Pullman and the Pa
buse country as one of the greatest
sgicutural regions on earth.
Throughout his long years of resi-
/ ience near Pullman Mr.. Savage add
ed daily to his list OF friends through
bis eompanionable disposition, hon
gty and integrity; he nursai 30
yrudges, did no man wrong and had
no enemies.
4 When failing health began to sap
the energy which had made possible
the successful, thrifty life, and after
death had called his ,helpmate of
nearly half century, Mr.. Savage re-
Hctantly ceased active farming, and
for the past two or three years has
lived almost continuously in Spo-
iane where he made his home with
bis daughter, Mrs. Ortis Hamilton.
FreQuently, however, he made trips
10 Pullman, and was always wei
coined by horde of staunch friends,
deserving tribute to the honor of
Inc esteemed pioneer. He died at
The home of Mrs. Hamilton Friday
and the body was shipped to Cotton,
where is was laid to rest Tuesday
beside the remains of the loving wife
VINO preceded him to her great re-
RSard. The funeral, held from the
aholic church, was largely attend
ed, many friends going from Pull
man to pay their final respects.
Ihomas Wallace Savage was born
London, England, August 10,
"4z, being "A years of age at the
ame OF his death. At the age of
seven years he accompanied his par
elts to the United States and settled
VI farm near Utica, New York. His
early boyhood days were spent on
ais farm, and in the neigh boring
'0nool districts he received his edu-
Suon' At IL years of age he began
'orklng at the butchers trade in
ouca, later spending several years
asa street railway conductor in New
iOfk City. In April, 1863, he en-
nS'ed In Company E of the 18th
view York regiment, serving in the
feueral army until the close of the
var when he received his discharge
- new York City. Becoming con-
nced that the Pacific Coast offered
BUSINESS opportunities superior to
nose OF New York City, he removed
/" california in 1866, settling in San
s'se' Where he engaged in the breed
us OF thoroughbred horses until
ao'z' when he became proprietor OF
'ue motel at the San Jose race track,
'ontinuing thus employed until 1877,
'ueh ne removed to Washington. He
unnamed for a time in Walla Walla,
uu the following spring came tc
"Ai'man county and located a home
''sau OF 80 acres, preempting an ad-
"lohal quarter section under the
1lOer culture act, the whole COM
pislng the present Savage farm two
'"nes west of Pullman.
MI. Savage was systematic in his
@ihiing methods and soon had the
'u'lre acreage under high state oil
UeiVatlon. He was one of the first
"ners to realize the importance OF
SWersity of crops to conserve soil
fertility.
IN the early days Mr.. Savage paid
considerable attention to the breed
.e OF fast horses, and produced some
the best track stock of the North
Est In that day. One colt of his
~'ang and training, prince AL
,. Oat made a trotting record o.
on May 10, 1870, Mr.. Savage tool
= MS wife Miss Margaret E. Casey
a. ceremony being solemnized in
,ulornia. Seven children were borr
me union, five of whom survive
a1se are Walter. of Pullman; Ma