Major Savage, among other things, was a founder of Tulare County and discoverer of Yosemite Valley. But he also had a darker side based on local lore. He was involved in several events in Valley and Sierra History. Savage owned a Trading Post in what would become Madera County. He was involved in Indian skirmishes, despite "taking" several Indian Wives. It was his
Mariposa Battalion that fought local Indian tribes in the Mariposa Indian War 1850-1851.
The marker and grave is located on the Buck Ridge Recreation Area at Hensley Lake, a flood control reservoir operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Grave site is marked by a 10 foot tall obelisk, "To The Memory of Major James D. Savage" a marker at the base notes Savage's life dates, his founding of Yosemite Valley and the quote, "He blazed the trail for others to follow." Four granite markers tell Savage's story.
THE STONE SHAFT ON THIS HILL MARKS THE GRAVE
OF MAJOR JAMES D. SAVAGE. PIONEER, MINER, TRADER
DISCOVERER OF YOSEMITE VALLEY, HE OPERATED
A TRADING POST ABOUT THREE MILES UPSTREAM AT
A PLACE CALLED FRESNO CROSSING. ONE OF SEVERAL
HE OPERATED IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA DURING
THE GOLD RUSH. HE WAS FRIENDLY WITH THE
INDIANS, LEARNED THEIR LANGUAGES AND TOOK
SEVERAL INDIAN WIVES.
A HEAVY INFLUX OF MINERS CAUSED DISSENTION
WITH THE INDIANS & TWO OF HIS TRADING POSTS
WERE RAIDED LATE IN 1850. THE MARIPOSA
BATTALION A VOLUNTEER GROUP HEADED BY
SAVAGE WAS FORMED TO PUNISH THE INDIANS &
INDUCE THEM ONTO RESERVATIONS.
IT WAS WHILE PURSUING INDIANS, SAVAGE &
HIS MEN DISCOVERED YOSEMITE VALLEY.
SAVAGE WAS NAMED A STATE COMMISSIONER TO
ORGANIZE TULARE COUNTY IN 1852. A DISPUTE
WITH THE INDIANS RESULTED IN SAVAGES DEATH.
HARVEY SHOT & KILLED HIM DURING A SCUFFLE AT
POOLES FERRY ON THE KINGS RIVER NEAR REEDLEY.
SAVAGE WAS BURIED NEAR POOLES FERRY. HIS
GRAVE WAS MOVED TO FRESNO CROSSING IN 1855
& TO THE PRESENT SITE IN 1973. HIS STORY IS
TOLD HEAR BY THE JIM SAVAGE CHAPTER 1852
E CLAMPUS VITUS, WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE
MADERA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MAY 19, 1974.