Portrait and Biographical Record, Pgs. 131, 132 HUNTER SAVIDGE was a well-known resident of Spring Lake, Ottawa County. He was born in Columbia County, Pa., April 6, 1828, and was of English descent. His parents, Benjamin and Esther (Hunter) Savidge, were both natives of New Jersey, and had a family of thirteen children, of whom our subject was fifth in order of birth. He remained in the Keystone State until he had attained his majority , and acquired a good education in the public schools. Having arrived at man’s estate, Mr. Savidge resolved to try his fortune in the West and emigrated to Rockford, Ill., where he carried on contracting and building until 1856. That year witnessed his arrival in Spring Lake, where he embarked in the manufacture of lumber. In 1861, the partnership of Cutler & Savidge was formed, which became one of the most extensive and best-known lumber firms in the West. When Mr. Savidge was about nine years of age his parents removed to Northumberland County, Pa., where his father worked at his trade of a mechanic. Hunter there learned the business, and at the age of eighteen was a most proficient workman in that line. He then gave his attention to mechanical work and to school-teaching, but on his removal to Rockford abandoned the latter and took up contracting and building. We thus see that his previous work made him well fitted for the business in which he now engaged as a partner of D. Cutler. They prospered from the beginning, and Mr. Savidge became owner of a large amount of valuable property and was sole proprietor of the famous hotel, the Spring Lake House, one of the most popular summer resorts of northwestern Michigan. On the 12th of February, 1857, Mr. Savidge married Miss Sarah C., daughter of Lyman Patten, who resided near Grand Rapids, Mich. They became the parents of three children: William, now of Detroit; Esther, wife of N. Robins, Jr., of Grand Haven; and George P., who is pursuing a scientific course of study in the Sheffield School, of Yale. Mrs. Savidge is still living in Spring Lake, where she has a palatial residence, handsomely furnished and beautifully and pleasantly located upon a site which commands a picturesque view of the city. She is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a lady whose many excellencies of character have won for her the love of all. Our subject was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of this community, and was connected with many leading interests besides the lumber business. At the time of his death he was a Director of the National Bank of Grand Haven, President of the Ottawa County Booming Company, a Director of the Grand River & Greenville Log Rolling Company, and his wealth, the income from these various concerns, was estimated at a half million. Socially, he was connected with the Masonic fraternity and Odd Fellows’ society. In politics, he was a Democrat, but was never a politician in the sense of office-seeking. However, he made an excellent run in 1868 for State Senator, and though the Republicans were greatly in the majority he was defeated by only a few votes. He was a public-spirited man, generous and benevolent, and never failed to respond to any call for aid in public improvement. Churches, schools and charities always found in him a valuable friend, and the poor and needy were never turned from his door empty-handed. In cool, clear judgment he had few equals, never losing perfect control, no matter what the emergency. His advice to a man in an emergency, was "Cut down your expenses and keep cool." He had the respect of all with whom business or social relations brought him in contact, and his word was as good as his bond. He passed away April 11, 1881, and in his death the community lost one of its best citizens, his associates a faithful friend, and his family a loving husband and father.