DR. NORMAN SAVAGE
Dr. Norman Savage was born on March 7, 1826 in New York. He came to Matagorda in 1829 or 1830 with his parents, Emelius and Mary Savage, probably on the ship "Little Zoe". They were in the Stephen F. Austin Colony. As early as April 30, 1831, Emelius had a league of land on the west side of the Colorado and in 1836 acquired land on the East side.
Norman married twice. First to Mary Ann Smith on June 17, 1850 and later to Miranda Adams.
We do not know the details of Dr. Savages' medical training, but he was both a doctor and a Methodist Minister. He traveled by horse or went in a buggy visiting the sick, performing marriages, burying the dead, and preaching the gospel. He was a continual source of comfort to the early settlers who were working to carve a way of life from the wilderness. Because he received no money for his services, he sold pickled beef and made saddles for a living. He went to places like Ashby, Demings Bridge, Caney, Red Bluff or wherever people lived.
In 1839, Dr. Savage brought the first herd of beef cattle to this area. The native Longhorn cattle were poor beef producers.
Dr. Savage served the people well until his death on May 5, 1879.
Wharton County was not established until 1846, therefore it is believed Dr. Savage doctored and ministered to early settlers in the present Wharton County area.
