James D. Savage was born in 1817 in Cayuga County, New York, and moved to Illinois as a child. Described as strong, shrewd in business, and adept with languages, he arrived in California in 1846, volunteered for John C. Fremont's California Battalion, and fought in the Mexican-American War. After the war, he moved to the San Joaquin Valley, settled among local Indian tribes, learned their language, became accepted among them, and was even selected chief of several tribes, earning the nickname "El Rey Tularenos." Legend says he took from 3 to 33 chiefs' daughters as wives. When prospectors and wealth seekers flooded into the valley, he established trading posts where he traded for gold and made huge profits. Despite his relationship with the Indians, he joined a band of men to fight them after several attacks and rumors of war, and Governor John MacDougal commissioned him as a major in the California Militia, forming the Mariposa Battalion to fight the Indians. In 1851, a tentative surrender agreement was reached. While trailing renegades, Savage and his men ventured into Yosemite Valley, becoming some of the first white men to enter it and behold its beauty. On the 16th day of August, 1852, Savage rode to Campbell's trading post near Poole's Ferry on the Kings River, where newly elected Tulare County Judge Walter Harvey was inside. Savage had publicly denounced Harvey for his part in the massacre of innocent natives by white squatters, and Harvey was reported to have declared that Savage would never return alive if seen there. Savage called Harvey out and said, "I understand Major Harvey, that you say I am no gentleman," to which Harvey replied, "Yes, I have frequently made that statement." Savage slapped Harvey, dropping his pistol, and Harvey then shot the unarmed Savage at least four times, mortally wounding him. Harvey was tried but never convicted of the murder. Although differing accounts of the event exist, Savage died that day, remembered as a pioneer, entrepreneur, explorer, soldier, and hero.