Joseph John Savage
SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998
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CRAWFORD COUNTY
Joseph John Savage was born near Norfolk, Va., in 1833, and is a son of James
and Charlotte (Smith) Savage. The father was of English descent, born in
Nansemond County, Va., in 1806, and was a farmer by occupation. He was married
in Edgecombe County, N. C., and soon after moved to that county. In 1848 he
moved to Arkansas, and for a year lived at Pine Bluff, and then located in
Bradley County. In 1859 he located five miles below the county seat of
Crawford County. He died in 1862. The mother was born in Edgecombe County, N.
C., and had six children, four of whom are living: Dr. M. T., of Halifax, N.
C.; Henrietta, wife of Dr. William Grady, of Corsicana, Tex.; Della A., widow
of J. M. Wright. of Alma, Ark., and Joseph J. The latter was reared upon a
farm in Arkansas, and in 1859 came to Crawford County. In 1862 he enlisted in
Capt. Wallace's company, Col, King's regiment, participated in the battle at
Prairie Grove, and was afterward captured in Sebastian County and taken to St.
Louis and from there to Alton. He was retained eighteen months in all, and
discharged in March, 1865. March 4, 1866, he married Elizabeth Amanda Driver,
daughter of William and Nancy (Franklin) Savage, and born in Washington
County, Ark., in 1844. To them twelve children were born, of whom seven still
live: Nettie, Moses Thomas, James William Benjamin Franklin, Lottie Jordan, Lee
Constant, Walter Sumner and Russell Alexander. After his marriage Mr. Savage
lived two years in Halifax County, N. C., and then returned to Crawford,
locating on the old plantation five miles east of Van Buren. In 1872 he bought
the property, now owns 400 acres of bottom land, and is a well-to-do citizen.
Himself. wife and five children belong to the Presbyterian Church, which he
joined in 1882. His grandfather was a Methodist preacher, and would never
accept remuneration for his preaching. In politics he is a Democrat, and his
first presidential vote was cast for Buchanan in 1856.