Starting out in life on his own responsibility at an early age and working his way upward step by step, Thomas H. Savard has become one of New Haven's best known and most highly respected business men. He is the junior member of the firm of Davis & Savard, engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing goods business at No. 43 Church street, New Haven. They have there one of the largest and finest stores of the kind in the city, and Mr. Savard is now bending every effort to the further development of a substantial business.
     He was born at Crown Point, New York, July 23, 1874, and is a son of John B. and Harriet Savard, both of whom were of Canadian birth and of French ancestry, their respective families having been founded in Canada at a very early day. In early life John B. Savard engaged in the ship building trade, which he followed not only in Canada but also after coming to the United States. Later in life he purchased a farm and continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits in New York to the time of his death, which occurred in 1892. His widow survived him for a considerable period and passed away in New York in 1908. In their family were nine children.
     Thomas H. Savard pursued his education in the public schools of New York, and at an early age started out to earn his own living. His first work was along mercantile lines in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he remained for a year. In 1890 he came to New Haven and entered the employ of Davis & Company, with whom he continued for four years, when he was transferred to Saratoga, New York, to take charge of one of the many stores controlled by the firm. He successfully managed and conducted the business until 1908, when he returned to New Haven and purchased a half interest in the Davis store in this city, at which time the firm style of Davis & Savard was assumed. Since then the business has grown and developed into one of the largest and most exclusive of the men's furnishing goods stores of the city, its standing being an indication of the able maner in which the business has been conducted by the present proprietors. They handle nothing but the best class of merchandise in their line and they have a large patronage among the leading people of New Haven. They demand courtesy always on the part of their employes as well as expert knowledge of the stock, and they aim ever to sell merchandise of trustworthy quality and render perfect store service and delivery. In a word they are guided by the best known business principles. 
     On the 28th of November, 1900, Mr. Savard was married to Miss Julia Godair, of Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of Jerome J. Godair, a representative of a well known French family of Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Savard have three children: John J., who was born in Saratoga, New York, in 1903 and is now attending school in East Haven; Ethel, who was born in Saratoga in 1908 and is also in school; and Thomas, who was born in East Haven, January 23, 1915. They occupy an attractive home in East Haven, which in its furnishings indicates culture and refined taste.
     In politics Mr. Savard follows an independent course. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arcanum and for three years he has been the vice president of the Champlain Club of New Haven. He belongs to the St. Louis church of New Haven, and in every relation of life he displays those qualities which everywhere command respect and confidence. He has worked his way steadily upward through his own effort and is a well known and prosperous business man.