Hamilton Savage, Sr. Family
By Barbara Savage Stell

Hamilton Wadsworth Savage, Sr., was born on December 2, 1896, to Greenberry and Amanda Jane Franz Savage. Greenberry was the son of Norman Savage, a rancher and Methodist Circuit Rider preacher, and Marinda Adams Savage. Norman often preached at Trespalacios, and in 1854, he deeded two acres to the Trespalacios Baptist Church for the cemetery which was later known as Hawley Cemetery. Norman came to Matagorda County in 1829 with his father, Emilius, and his mother, Mary, as part of Stephen F. Austin's settlement. Amanda Jane Franz was the daughter of Conrad Franz, who had immigrated to Matagorda County from Wiessenbach, Germany, in 1845 at the age of fourteen.

On February 27, 1898, Amanda Jane died leaving an infant daughter, Jane Gober, and eight other children: Hamilton Wadsworth, Theressa Lucille, Morris Odus, Mae Marinda, Frederick Sheppard Robbins, John Edward Stewart, Galen Mizpah and Mary Beulah.

Greenberry was a rancher, and as was the custom, helped others with their cattle. After Amanda Jane's death, he often took young Hamilton with him. Among those he helped with "cow work" was Fredrick McCulley Robbins. It was during that time that Hamilton met his future wife, Eva Elizabeth Robbins. Eva was he second daughter of Freddy McC. Robbins and Eva Eugenia Parker Robbins. Eva was born on October 8, 1898, on the Robbins Ranch west of Matagorda, and grew up in the octagon-shaped stone house called "Tadmor." Tadmor had been built by Eva's grandfather, Fredrick Wells Robbins, and his brother, Chester Hamlin Robbins, some years after Fredrick came to Texas with his father, Samuel.

The Robbins children, Eva, Eugenia, Parker and Palmer helped with the ranch work, cared for a herd of goats, tended the orchard and did other ranch chores. During the school months a teacher lived with the family and taught the children, as the only access to the town of Matagorda was by boat down the Colorado River.

Hamilton served in the United States Army during World War I, and after the war, on November 2, 1921, Hamilton Savage and Eva Robbins were married and established their ranch operation near Wadsworth on part of the original Savage Ranch. From their early beginning they expanded their ranch to become one of the largest in Matagorda County. Hamilton and Eva were both dedicated to their ranch and cattle. Because of this dedication, in 1958 Hamilton received the first "Cattleman of the Year" award given by the Bay City Chamber of Commerce to an outstanding cattleman. In 1984, nineteen years after the death of her husband, Eva received the same award at a ceremony attended by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was the first woman to receive this prestigious award. Prior to the award, Eva participated in a ceremony at Texas A & M University honoring pioneer cattle men and women and preserving early Texas brands. Also, in 1983, Mrs. Savage was invited to attend a program sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture presented her with a certificate of honor for a century of continuous ownership and operation of a family ranch. Their original ranch acres were the location of their home and ranch headquarters which Eva continued to operate after the death of Hamilton in 1965.

Hamilton and Eva were longtime members of the First United Methodist Church in Bay City, and Hamilton served on the official board for many years during his lifetime. He was also a lifetime member of the Wesley Class.

Hamilton and Eva were the parents of two children, Hamilton Wadsworth, Jr., and Barbara Lorraine. Their family also included numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages 465-466
 

Copyright 2014 - Present by the Savage Family
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