MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 13 



WILLIAM SMITH SAVIOR. 



Mr. Sayei- was born on a farm, called the "Saver Honieslead," near 

 Wayne. I)uPa<j,e connty. Illinois, January 13tl!, ISKi. From eliildhood 

 to his "Academy days" he passed on the fai-m. He received no other 

 schoolini»- dnrinj^ the tirst ten years of his life than that furnished l)y a 

 companionable, intelligent mother, who directed his studies. After his 

 tenth year, he attended the country school till he entered the "Elgin 

 Academy" in 1S92. Three years later, he gradual ed from the Academy 

 and entered P.eloit College. 



His college days proved a formative stage in his career by developing 

 within him a taste for the association of a college, fl-iends, study, cul- 

 ture — all the features which are constituents of a college atmos]»here 

 — and a basic and intuitive love for his home. His home became the re- 

 treat for his college chums, his mother, their foster-mother. Both col- 

 lege and home were linked together in his mind and in his life, as in- 

 sejjarable suj)iJorts to action. Throughout his career, these two factors 

 were prominent, even foremost. His graduation from Beloit occurred 

 in 1899. And)ition of a noble type was aroused in him, and instigated 

 by his parents, he undertook special work in the University of Chicago, 

 choosing bacteriologv and chemistrv for his chief lines of studv. In 

 1901 he Avas ])laced in charge of a lalwiratory at Grafton, Illinois, by 

 Dr. E. O. Jordan; for the ]mrpose of exanuning the waters of the Chicago 

 Drainage Canal. With the discontinuance of this work in January, 

 1902, he returned to the University to pursue the course of study, he 

 had begun, until the autumn of 1902. At this time, he quit the T^ni- 

 versity, but before leaving he had completed all of his work, except the 

 thesis, for his doctorate degree. He entered the employ of the Kennicott 

 Water Softener Company as a chemist. He remained with this firm 

 for four years, and in the s])ring of 1907 he was called to the Bacteri- 

 ological Laboratory of the Michigan Agricultural College to undertake 

 research work. His attention was at first centered upon the "Keeping 

 Qualities of Butter," and, conjointly with Dr. Otto Rahn and Miss Bell 

 Farrand, issued the results of the first year's investigations in bulletin 

 form from the Exijeriment Station. 



All of his training directed his tastes into the field of soil investiga- 

 tions. It became possible for him to satisfy his desires with the de- 

 parture of Prof. Walter O. Sackett for Foil Collins, (\ilorado. Mr. 

 Sayer picked up the thread where Mr. Sackett dropjted it, and centered 

 all of his force in this work. 



Mr. Sackett also turned over the office of Secretary-Treasurer of The 

 Michigan Academy of Science to him at the same time, with the con- 

 sent of the council. At the annual meeting of the Academy, he was 

 again made Secretary-Treasurer, as a recognition of his faithful and 

 efficient services. 



While canoeing on the Red Cedar river, a sport very fascinating to 

 him, on the 'MHh of April. 1909, he was thrown into the river and 



