James Savage Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 383-384

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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JAMES SAVAGE, commonly known as "Captain Savage," is an old settler and 
a popular citizen of Bridgewater township. Although he never engaged in 
farming until he settled in South Dakota, he is one of the most 
successful farmers of the above-named township, on the northwest 
quarter of section 28 of which he makes his home and base of 
operations. This township is described as township 101, range 56. 

Mr. Savage is of Irish descent, and was born in Dexter, Jefferson 
county, New York, February 22, 1840. He is the oldest son of a family 
of three children born to Robert and Margaret (Fife) Savage, both of 
whom were natives of Ireland. At the age of fourteen years, our subject 
secured a position as common sailor on the schooner "Wave," and was 
thus engaged for one season. Then followed a life on the lakes for 
twenty-eight years, the last twenty years of which he was master of 
crafts, for twelve years of the "Montcalm," and for six years he was 
master of the "Metropolis." He was well known as a pilot and deservedly 
held the reputation of being one of the best on the lakes. His work was 
singularly free from accident, as no loss of life or damage to the 
vessel was reported during the twenty years that he was master of 
crafts. Finally, however, he grew tired of his seafaring life, and as 
he had a brother in South Dakota, he moved to that state in 18,82 with 
a view to starting farming. Landing in McCook county with his savings 
of twenty-eight years, he purchased the relinquishment to a homestead, 
and although his friends and neighbors declared that he would be 
dissatisfied with agricultural pursuits and return to the lakes within 
a year, he has attained a position among the leading farmers of the 
township. His farm is well improved and well stocked, and is also well 
cultivated each year and returns a liberal recompense to its owner. Mr. 
Savage is a Populist in political views, and the first time in his life 
that he cast a presidential ballot, he supported W. J. Bryan. The 
liquor traffic, in his opinion, should be under the control of the 
government. He also interests himself in matters of local politics, and 
is now a member of the board of supervisors and the chairman of the 
school board.

In 1869, Mr. Savage was united in marriage to Miss Mary Gill, and their 
home has been blessed by the advent of two children, only one of whom 
is now living: George, who died in 1892; and Robert, who is planning to 
follow the occupation of farming.