An early ancestor of the Savage family of Covington County, Ala., William Savage, of Duplin County, N.C., appears to be the father of Nathan Love Savage. Nathan Love was born in that county in 1760 and later was married to Elizabeth Ann Shell who was born in the same year. Among their children was a son named James William Savage, Sr.

James William Savage Sr. was born in 1802 in North Carolina. He was married in 1824 in Pulaski County, Ga., to Charlotte Regan. He and his family were residing in Coffee County, Ala., in 1850 according to the federal census. Various family trees on Ancestry.com show they were the parents of the following children: Robert, b. 1829; Nathan Love II, b. 1832, d. 1860, m. Sarah Jane Brown (1829-1887); Daniel Regan, b. 1835; Mary, b. 1838, d. 1932; James William Jr., b. 1840, d. 1918, m. 1860 Elizabeth Ann “Eliza” Boles (1838-1917); Martha, b. ca 1842; William, b. ca 1846; and Catherine, b. ca 1847.

This family line will be following through the son, James William Savage Jr. He was born in 1840 in Dale County, Ala. In 1860, he was married to Elizabeth Ann “Eliza” Boles, the daughter of Elijah Boles (1808-1894) and Lucinda Carter (1898-1888). Elijah was born in Jones County, Ga., and Lucinda, in South Carolina. The first child of James William and Eliza Savage, James Elijah Savage, was born in 1861 in Elba of Coffee County, Ala.

Later that year, 1861, James William Savage Jr. enlisted for service in the Confederate Army. He was a private in Phalen’s Company or Battery (Old Fowler’s Battery), Alabama Light Artillery. He survived the war and returned home to resume his life, and he and his wife had at least seven more children. He is most likely the James W. Savage who homesteaded 130 acres of land in the same area of the Chapel Hill community as his son, Daniel Savage, did in the same year, 1894. Also, the James Elijah Savage who homesteaded 134.60 acres in the Carolina Township in 1892 is most likely another son of James William.

James William and Eliza Savage were the parents of the following children: James Elijah, b. 1861, d. 1934, m. (1) Nancy Morning Jordan (1868-1895) (2) Eva A. Mims (1873-1952); Daniel Regan II, b. 1866, d. 1950, m. 1891 Martha Minerva Leonard (1860-1924); Francis Marion, b. 1867, d. 1945, m. 1905 Eva Wallace (1881-1965); William Jasper, b. 1869, d. 1937, m. 1891 Emma Crausby/Crosby (1871-1935); Martha Augusta “Gussie,” b. 1872, d. 1954, m. 1893 Clyde Earvin Bass (1871-1951); Marlin Hickman, b. 1875, d. 1944, m. Carrie Augusta “Gussie” Adams (1884-1939); Chambus Chamberlain Vera Veal, b. 1877, d. 1935, m. 1900 Nancy A. Moody (1878-1975); and Clement Elmer, b. 1878, d. 1963, m. (1) 1901 Mauda Alice Dean (1886-1906) (2) 1908 Mary Lutisha Carver (1888-1973).

The second son, Daniel Regan Savage, and his first wife, Martha Minerva Leonard, were the parents of the following children: Ada Arminta, b. 1891, d. 1987, m. George Wesley Dunn (1886-1937); Hiram Aubrey, b. 1892, d. 1966, m. Ira Lilla ?; Alice Irene, b. 1894, d. 1918, m. George Wesley Dunn; and Ella Mae, b. 1896, d. 1987, m. M.D. Harrell (b. 1884). During the years his children were being born, Daniel homesteaded 118.07 acres in an area south of Chapel Hill in Covington County in 1894. Following Martha Minerva’s death in 1924, Daniel was married to Mary Elizabeth Eason, daughter of William Eason (1852-1913) and Annie Geohagan (1853-1934). William Eason came to Covington County as a child. Ada Arminta was married to the widower of her sister after Alice Irene’s death.

The next son, Francis Marion Savage, was married in 1905 in the McRae Precinct of Covington County to Eva Wallace. They lived in Walton County, Fla., in 1910 and in Paxton, Fla., in 1920. They were the parents of the following children: James Rubin, b. 1907, d. 1910; Beatrice, b. 1908, d. 1910; William Francis “Willie,” b. 1909, d. 1982; Ethel L., b. 1911, d. 1990; and Marion Alba “Alder,” b. 1912, d. 1928.

The next son, William Jasper Savage, was married in 1891 to Emma Lou Crosby. They lived in the George Precinct of Covington County in 1900, in Watkins Precinct in 1910, and in Florala in 1920 and 1930. They were the parents of the following children: William Aaron, b. 1892, d. 1978; Alfred Omega, b. 1895, d. 1972; Elizabeth M. “Eliza,” b. 1899, d. 1963; Addie Lena, b. 1902, d. 1977; and L.B. b. 1904, d. 1965.

Another son, Marlin Hickman Savage, was born in 1875 as one of the youngest sons of William James and Elizabeth Ann “Eliza” Savage. He was married first to Carrie Augusta “Gussie” Adams. They were the parents of the following children: Infant girl, b.&d. 1905; Robert D., b. 1906, d. 1957; Opal, b. 1908, d. 1976; Joel, b. 1911, d. 1916; Emmanuel C., b. 1914, d. 1916; Curtis R., b. 1917, d. 2000; and Theron Bagell, b. 1920, d. 2008.

The Marlin Hickman Savage family resided in Florala, Ala., in 1910, and they later moved to the Paxton area of Walton County, Fla. In 1926, Marlin H. and Gussie became charter members of the Smyrna Baptist Church northeast of Florala. The 1940 federal census records list the family still in Walton County, with only Marlin H. and two children, Curtis R. and Mary Lucille, in the household. Marlin H. Savage died in 1944 and was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Florala.

Next to the youngest son, Chambus Chamberlain Savage, was married in 1910 in Rose Hill, Covington County, to Nancy Ann Elizabeth Moody, daughter of Richard Edward Moody (1834-1912) and Amanda “Manda” White (1841-1910). The couple began their marriage in the Lakewood community of Walton County, Fla., and they later returned to Covington County where they were residing in Opp in 1930. They were the parents of the following children: Ellis Edward, b. 1903, d. 1987, m. Martha ?; Mertice, b. 1907, d. 1995, m. (1) Lorenza Claude Conner (1903-1960) (2) ? Hamisak; Reull Richard, b. 1910, d. 1983, m. Flossie Green; Oma Mae, b. 1913, d. 1984, m. Cecil Hobson Cotter (1914-2004); Eunice, b. 1916; Gladys, b. 1918, d. 1987; Alpha, b. 1923; and two unidentified daughters.

Although the specific family who built it is not known to this writer, the Old Savage Home as it was called in Evergreen has a reputable history right up to the present. It is believed to have been built between 1873 and 1890 as a home for the Savage family. It was of Victorian style and featured the usual rooms with three large bedrooms and three bathrooms. It was located across the street from the Conecuh County Courthouse. The Savage family lived there during the early 1900s and also operated a mercantile business across the street from the house.

During the late 1920s, a Mrs. Patrick Burt, resided in the Savage house and opened it as a white-collar boarding house for businessmen traveling from Montgomery to Mobile. Some years later a Beasley family lived there and was followed by a few others. Then the house stood vacant until Ricky and Laura Oswald of Andalusia purchased it in 2000. They had the house moved in three sections to Covington County and located on Straughn School Road (Co. Hwy 43) about one mile south of Straughn School. After spending 14 months restoring it to its original grandeur, the Oswalds opened it as Sweet Gum Bottom Bed and Breakfast. The business was recently closed, and the house is now their personal residence.

The sources for this story include Ancestry.com. The Heritage of Covington County, Alabama, and Wyley Ward’s Original Land Sales and Grants in Covington County, Alabama.

Anyone who may find an error in the above story or who has additional information on the Savage family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.