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Submitted by Cheryl (Scheurer) Van Wormer, a descendant of William and Sarah (Tuttle) Adgate.
WILLIAM AND SARAH (TUTTLE) ADGATE.
WILLIAM ADGATE, holds a position of influence in Ionia County, particularly in the township of
the same name, in the affairs of which he is conspicuous as a leader on the side of progress.
He occupies a fine estate on section 32, which includes two hundred and eighty-five acres of
land, two hundred and fifty of which are under the plow. The present residence of the family is
a fine brick structure, built five years since at a cost of $3,000. On the land there is a house
built by Mrs. Adgate's father over forty years ago, in which a death has never occurred. All
the improvements upon Mr. Adgate's farm are firstclass and so carefully is the property managed
that throughout its extent it presents an appearance of the most attractive neatness and order.
Mr. Adgate traces his descent from two Revolutionary soldiers, both of whom belonged to
old New England families. Grandfather Adgate, whose given name was Thomas, survived the contest
and lived to be ninety-seven years old. Grandfather Porter also fought during the entire
struggle. The patriotic spirit of the Adgate family was further manifested by Abel Adgate, the
father of our subject, who was an infantryman in the War of 1812. That gentleman was born in
Connecticut and so too was Olive Porter, who became his wife. They were married in New Jersey
and for a time resided in Orange County, N. Y., and then took their place among the pioneers of
Sullivan County. He used to carry on lumbering upon the Susquehannah River. He went into
Cortland County about 1829, remained there until 1838 and then came to Oakland County, this
State.
In the fall of that year Abel Adgate bought property now occupied by our subject; he did
not take possession of it until 1841, but spent the interval in work upon different rented farms.
This tract was partly improved, but the only building was a log shanty. The family took
possession of their new home March 3, and clearing was at once begun. Wheat was sowed on twelve
acres the first season, and a frame house was built ere long. Mr. Adgate was a Whig, and was an
advocate of education and bestowed as good privileges as he could upon his children. He died
October 3, 1842, at the age of fifty-six years and five months. His widow survived until
November 7, 1871, and reached the age of eighty-four years and three months. For many years she
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In Sullivan County, N. Y., William Adgate was born November 20, 1829. He is the only
survivor of a household band that numbered seven brothers and sisters. He was nine years old
when his parents came to this State, and he began life's labors for himself at the age of sixteen
years. He operated half of the homestead, the rest being under control of his brother. Prior to his marriage his mother kept house for him and he cared for her until her demise. In the summer of 1854 Mr. Adgate went to Iowa but made only a short trip, after which he settled in Orange Township, Ionia County, and made that his home five years. He then traded his farm for one in Berlin Township, but four years later sold out and returned to his old home, where he has remained during a period of twenty-seven years.
The marriage of our subject and Sarah Tuttle was solemnized January 7, 1854. The bride
was born in Portage County, Ohio, May 1, 1838, but in her early girlhood became a resident of
Ionia County. She received a common-school education and a thorough training in housewifely
arts, and grew to a noble womanhood. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of the
following children: Phebe A., born January 21, 1855; Franklin April 20, 1858; Mary J. September
9,1861; Flora E. December 9, 1863; John W. June, 1866; Lewis, June 29, 1868; Nellie January 8,
1876. Phebe married Fred Scheuer(*)(sic) and has four children, and her home is in Orange
Township. Franklin married Lizzie Fleming, has one child, and lives in the same township as his
sister Phebe. Mary is the wife of Frank Taft, and has four children; their home is on section
33, Ionia Township. John married Nellie Wilson and lives in Berlin Township. All the sons and
daughters of our subject are well educated in accordance with their years, and Nellie is now a
student in the Ionia High School. Flora is a graduate in the musical department of Albion
College and has a large class in Ionia and Portland. She plays the organ in church.
The parents of Mrs. Adgate were Nelson and Sophia (Pangborn) Tuttle, the father born in
Massachusetts December 24, 1800, and the mother in Ohio about 1802. They were married in the
latter State and remained there until 1846, then settled upon the farm that is now the home of
their daughter. Here Mr. Tuttle(**) died in 1865. She was the mother of eleven
children, five of whom are now living. Mr. Tuttle made a second marriage, and lived until
August, 1890. His memory is honored by all who knew him and probably no resident was more
sincerely loved and respected than he. He was a member of the Methodist Epsicopal Church and a
Class-Leader for over seventy years. He also acted as Steward and Trustee, was for years
Superintendent of the Sunday-school and did an immense amount of church work. He was a liberal
supporter of churches and did what he could to advance all elevating movements. He built the
first Methodist church south of Grand River about 1855. For years he was a member of the School
Board. He never neglected his duty at elections, but conscientiously deposited a Whig ticket
until the disorganization of the party, after which he was an earnest Republican. It was his
privilege to vote for two Harrisons for President of the United States.
Mr. Adgate is the leading contributor to the support of the neighboring Methodist
Episcopal Church and both he and his wife work earnestly and faithfully for the cause of religion
both in church and Sunday school. Mr. Adgate is one of the Trustees, is Chairman of the Board,
and is also a Class-Leader. He has been a professing Christian twenty-one years and his wife
united with the church thirty-five years since. Mr. Adgate was a Republican for years but since
the prohibition movement sprang into life he has voted in its favor. He has a character above
reproach and as an agriculturist is second to none in the county. He carries on mixed farming
and feeds about three hundred head of sheep. His elegant home is the seat of a whole-souled
hospitality that is dispensed with graciousness by his good wife.
(*) (sic: The last name of Scheuer should have been spelled as SCHEURER.--Cheryl)
(**) (This must have been a typo from original text which should have been "Mrs." Both Sophia
and Nelson along with some of their children were buried at the Tuttle Cemetery in Ionia, Ionia
County, MI.--Cheryl)
This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES,
MICHIGAN." Chapman Brothers. Chicago, Illinois. 1891. Pages 413-414.