Matt Savage served as a scout in the Union Army during the Civil War, and then for a short while became a miner before joining cattle drives from Texas to Abeline, Kansas. Once he had made a few of these drives as flankman, Savage decided to set up his own cattle driving crew.
Savage recruited the constantly squabbling Clay Dixon, former union army soldier, and Jim Grant, former confederate army soldier, as his first members of the Dogiron Crew. Luther Jones, Daniel Ortega and a man known only as “Red” joined on as well.
Savage had to prove an old friend, “Biscuits” Baker innocent of horse theft in order to free him from jail. Baker then joined the Crew as a cook.
Savage formed his cattle drive in the Texas Big Band county and worked his way up the Texas trail to Abeline, facing a variety of dangers on the way.
It is not clear whether Matt Savage was related to Brian Savage (Scalphunter).