Ezra P. Savage

Ezra Perin Savage (April 3, 1842 – January 8, 1920) was an American politician and the 12th Governor of Nebraska from 1901 to 1903. He was the tenth Lieutenant Governor in 1901 serving under Governor Charles H. Dietrich.

Ezra Perin Savage
12th Governor of Nebraska
In office May 1, 1901 – January 8, 1903
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	Charles H. Dietrich
Succeeded by	John H. Mickey
10th Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
In office January 3, 1901 – May 1, 1901
Governor	Charles H. Dietrich
Preceded by	Edward A. Gilbert
Succeeded by	Edmund G. McGilton
Mayor of South Omaha, Nebraska
In office 1877
Member of the Nebraska House of Representatives
In office 1883
Personal details
Born	(1842-04-03)April 3, 1842 Connersville, Indiana, U.S.
Died	January 8, 1920(1920-01-08) (aged 77) Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Anna Chase Rich ​ ( m. 1866; died 1883) Elvira Hess ( m. 1896) Julia McCullough ​ ( m. 1896; his death 1920)

Savage was born in Connersville, Indiana, but his parents moved to Iowa shortly after his birth. He graduated from high school in Davenport, Iowa and then attended Iowa College.

Career

Savage enlisted in the Union Army as a soldier and scout at the start of the Civil War, but he was discharged due to a disability. After the war he returned to Iowa and studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1875.[1] He moved to Nebraska in 1879 and staked a claim in Custer County.

In 1883, Savage was elected to the Nebraska House of Representatives, where he served two terms. After leaving office he moved to Omaha, where he became the first mayor of South Omaha in 1887. He was City Councilman in 1888. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1900.[2] Savage took over as governor of Nebraska on May 1, 1901 after the resignation of Charles H. Dietrich to fill a US Senate seat.

Savage intended to run for a second term as governor, but the criticism which was caused by his parole and pardon of former State Treasurer Bartley, who was serving a prison sentence for embezzlement, influenced his decision to step down from the race.[3]

Family life

Savage married three times: to Anna Chase Rich[4] in 1866, who died in 1883; to Elvira Hess in 1896, and she died in 1899; and finally to Julia McCullough in 1896, daughter of Alexander and Esther McCullough of Pennsylvania. She survived his passing and lived in Tacoma until her death in May 1941.

He had six children, five of them by Anna Rich, and the last, born in 1880 to Elvira Hess.[5][6]

Death

Shortly after serving out his one term as governor, Savage moved to Tacoma, Washington. He died in Tacoma and is interred at Tacoma Cemetery.

References

1. "Ezra P. Savage". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
2. Ezra P. Savage. The Encyclopedia of Nebraska. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
3. Ezra P. Savage. The Encyclopedia of Nebraska. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
4. US Census, birth and death records
5. US Census Reports
6. "Ezra P. Savage". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 18, 2012.

External links

• The Political Graveyard
• Ezra P. Savage papers at the Nebraska State Historical Society
• The Encyclopedia of Nebraska
• National Governors Association

Political offices
Preceded by Edward A. Gilbert	Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska 1901	Succeeded by Edmund G. McGilton
Preceded by Charles H. Dietrich	Governor of Nebraska 1901–1903	Succeeded by John H. Mickey