Full name: William Oral Savage
Gender: Male
Birthdate: December 3, 1911
Birthplace: Sugar City, Fremont, Idaho
Blessing: June 2, 1912
Residence in 1920: Archer, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1930: Sugar City, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1940: Sugar City, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1950: Nampa, Canyon, Idaho
Death: December 24, 1986
Death place: Orofino, Clearwater, Idaho
Cause of death: Heart attack
Age: 75
Burial date: December 29, 1986
Burial place: Riverside Cemetery at Orofino: plot 6, section K, row 17
Father: William Albert Savage
Mother: Caroline Clark
Gender: Male
Birthdate: December 3, 1911
Birthplace: Sugar City, Fremont, Idaho
Blessing: June 2, 1912
Residence in 1920: Archer, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1930: Sugar City, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1940: Sugar City, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1950: Nampa, Canyon, Idaho
Death: December 24, 1986
Death place: Orofino, Clearwater, Idaho
Cause of death: Heart attack
Age: 75
Burial date: December 29, 1986
Burial place: Riverside Cemetery at Orofino: plot 6, section K, row 17
Father: William Albert Savage
Mother: Caroline Clark
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Oral Savage
Age: 8
Birth Year: abt 1912
Birthplace: Idaho
Home in 1920: Archer, Madison, Idaho
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Boarder
Father's Birthplace: USA
Mother's Birthplace: USA
Able to Speak English: Yes
Attended School: Yes
George S Weekes 50 Head
Mary A Weekes 49 Wife
Charles Weekes 23 Son
Elmer Weekes 21 Son
Ester M Weekes 19 Daughter
Earnest S Weekes 16 Son
Calvin Savage 10 Boarder
Oral Savage 8 Boarder
Neighbors: Fannie McIntire, Eva S McIntire, Beatrice E McIntire, Cathrina A McIntire, Robert P McIntire, Charles Briggs, Ellen Briggs, Isaac Briggs, George E Briggs, Henry Whittaker, Bessie P Whittaker, Henry B Whittaker, Jacob E Whittaker, George E Whittaker, Bessie R Whittaker, John Knippel, Jacob Knippel, John Knippel, Henry Knippel, Willie Knippel, Sammey Knippel, Lida Knippel, David Knippel, Luke Briggs, Margaret A Briggs, Francis Briggs, Aramith R Briggs, Naomi F Briggs, Lester L Briggs, Mary L Briggs, Eldon L Briggs, Charles O Jeppson, Roxey L Jeppson, Thomas C Jeppson, Olan H Jeppson, Gerald J Jeppson, Orrin B Jeppson, Ann Jeppson, Alice Jeppson, Myron B Jeppson, Alvira Jeppson, Evelyn Jeppson
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Oral Savage
Birth Year: abt 1910
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 20
Birthplace: Idaho
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Sugar, Madison, Idaho, USA
Street Address: Austin Avenue
Dwelling Number: 84
Family Number: 87
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: No
Father's Birthplace: Utah
Mother's Birthplace: Utah
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Laborer
Industry: Odd Jobs
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
William A Savage 64 Head
Lloyd Savage 25 Son
Calvin Savage 23 Son
Oral Savage 20 Son
Neighbors: Reed T Croft, Arnold Croft, Millo J Ostler, Lucy H Ostler, Maxine Ostler, Christian Schwendiman, Ada S Schwendiman, Estella Schwendiman, Leah Schwendiman, Beulah Schwendiman, Lyle C Schwendiman, Julius Ray Schwendiman, Beth Schwendiman, La Rue Schwendiman, John J Ladle, Emma B Ladle, Ralph B Ladle, John Eldon Ladle, Joseph W Ladle, John F Meuser, Luella Meuser, De Etta Meuser, John C Meuser, Clara L Meuser, Beatrice Meuser, Kenneth L Charles, Vivian M Harris, Pontell Harris, Morris L Harris, Oscar G Mckinley, Mary V Mckinley, Mary V Mckinley, Oscar W Mckinley, Byron L Waldram, Violet R Waldram, Venese Waldram, Marie Waldram, Ruth Waldram, Lu Deen Waldram, Gwen Waldram, Faye Waldram, Byron L Waldram, Hal G Waldram, Henry W Eddington, Ann Eddington, William D Eddington
1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Oral Savage
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1913
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Idaho
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Sugar City, Madison, Idaho
Street: Austin
Inferred Residence in 1935: Sugar City, Madison, Idaho
Residence in 1935: Sugar City
Occupation: Farm Hand
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 6th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 50
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 26
Income: 250
Income Other Sources: No
William A Savage 75 Head
David Lloyd Savage 36 Son
Oral Savage 27 Son
Neighbors: E Allen Ricks, Gladys C Ricks, Margaret Ricks, Ola Ricks, John D Montague, Nellie B Montague, Wallace D Montague, Blair G Montague, Donna Montague, Glen Montague, David Montague, Marceline M Doman, John E Doman, Alice Doman, Darwin R Holman, Ethel Holman, Max Holman, Blair Holman, Lueen Holman, Doyle Holman, Larry Holman, Deanna Holman, Glen G Holman, Thelma Holman, Charllottie Smith, Hilbert Smith, Letha E Smith, Delmo R Smith, Lyle R Smith, Darlene R Smith, Doyle Smith, Elmer Roberts, Verla S Roberts, Neil S Roberts, Albert L Holman, Mary R Holman
1950 United States Federal Census
Name: Oral Savage
Age: 38
Birth Date: abt 1912
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Idaho
Marital Status: Never Married (Single)
Relation to Head of House: Patient
Residence Date: 1950
Home in 1950: Nampa, Canyon, Idaho, USA
House Number: W
Apartment Number: M
Dwelling Number: V21
Occupation Category: Other
Institution Name: State School Colony
Institution Type: Mental Deficients Epileptics
Robert S. Rhodes 29 Patient
August H Rice 34 Patient
Keith B Rice 5 Patient
Wayne Rice 30 Patient
Harry Richardson 21 Patient
Robert G Richey 23 Patient
Edgar Riggs 56 Patient
Richard Rinaldi 19 Patient
Bert Ringer 65 Patient
Herbert Robeson 35 Patient
Joseph C Robinson 20 Patient
Dewey Rogers 41 Patient
Lee Roman 43 Patient
Leslie Roscoe 29 Patient
Loren W Rose 35 Patient
Merrill L Rothwell 32 Patient
Arnold L Rookstool 38 Patient
Roy E Rouse 12 Patient
Herbert Ruff 29 Patient
Charles E Sams 10 Patient
Oral Savage 38 Patient
Frederick S Sayles 37 Patient
Leo Schaff 16 Patient
Gilbert Schindele 29 Patient
Harry Schroeder 49 Patient
William H Schultz 53 Patient
Michael C Schumaker 7 Patient
Teddy A Sells 13 Patient
Joe Severs 62 Patient
Melvin Seevers 52 Patient
Kendall Shane 11 Patient
Richard Shay 30 Patient
Edward L Shobe 1 Patient
George Short Jr 20 Patient
Don D Sigmond 15 Patient
Darwin G Sims 22 Patient
John E Skinner 23 Patient
Lee R Skinner 23 Patient
Charles M Smith 37 Patient
Forrest D Smith 16 Patient
Frances W Smith 19 Patient
Robert E Smith 20 Patient
Samuel Smith 45 Patient
Vernon M Smith 25 Patient
Victor D Smith 32 Patient
Edward Sneed 36 Patient
Terrell Sommers 15 Patient
Harry Stamm 34 Patient
Lawrence Stamm 45 Patient
Ernest Springstead 24 Patient
Biography
His obituary was printed in the Lewison Tribune on Saturday, December 27, 1986:
Oral Savage, 75, resident of Orofino
OROFINO - Oral Savage, a lifelong Idaho resident, died Wednesday at the Orofino Care Center of a heart attack. He was 75. He was born in Sugar City in eastern Idaho Dec. 4, 1911. He lived at the Idaho State School and Hospital in southern Idaho until 1970, when he was transferred to the Winchester Midway Home. He moved to the Idaho County Nursing home at Grangeville several years ago, and early this year to the Orofino Care Center. He never married, and has no known relatives. A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Riverside Cemetery at Orofino. Pine Hills Funeral Chapel at Orofino is in charge of arrangements.
MyHeritage did an article about him:
Oral’s story was a loose thread that no one could quite tie. He was born in 1911, and when his mother, Caroline Savage, died during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918, the family was torn apart.
By the time of the 1920 census, he was living with the local bishop’s family — the Weekes family. By 1930 and 1940, he was back with his father. Then, in 1950, he showed up in the census at the “State School & Colony for Mental Deficients & Epileptics” in Idaho.
There is a family rumor that William was badly beaten in an orphanage, resulting in brain damage. While I haven’t found any documentation to confirm this, it’s notable that no other family members experienced similar issues, suggesting it likely wasn’t genetic.
Discovering what happened to William Oral left a lasting emotional impact. Our family had been wondering about him for years. Solving that mystery brought a sense of peace, and I was grateful to play a part in that.
