Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Adgate, Jessie (Megarah) 1978
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Ionia County News, 3 Nov 1978

Jesse Adgate was one of the first 4-H leaders.

Funeral services for Mrs. Jessie Adgate, 88, of David highway, Lyons, for 41 
years superintendent of 4-H departments at Ionia Free Fair, will be held 
Saturday at 1:30 p.m. from the Neller funeral home in Portland.

Mrs. Adgate, who taught in Bay City and Ionia County rural schools for many 
years, was one of the first 4-H Club leaders in Ionia when the 4-H program was 
organized under Ralph Helms in 1923.

From 1927 to 1932 when Ionia County had no county agent, she was paid mileage 
by the Board of Supervisors to supervise and maintain the 4-H club program.

From the Ionia Free Fair of 1928 through the Fair of 1961, Mrs. Adgate served 
as superintendent of the 4-H club department.

She began teaching at 17 years of age in Knox rural school, west of Portland.  
She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1912, and taught in the Bay 
City school system for several years.  After returning to Ionia county, she 
married Elmer Adgate, who died in December 1964.

Among the rural schools in Ionia county which she taught were Collins, Coon, 
Gibbs, Berlin Center, and Barr schools.

Mrs. Adgate was born in her home on David highway February 11, 1890, the 
daughter of Edwin and Eliza Megarah and except for teaching in Bay City was a 
lifelong resident of Portland and Orange townships.

She is survived by four sons:  Leland Adgate, Portland township supervisor, of 
Lyons; Dr. Wayne Adgate of Grand Ledge; Neil Adgate of Muir, and Laurence 
Adgate of Lyons.

Three daughters also survive:  Mrs. Kenneth (Eleanor) Day of Portland; Mrs. 
Norris (Margaret) Signs of Grand Rapids; and Mrs. Michael (Phyllis) Jones of 
Grand Rapids.

One brother, Arthur Megarah of Portland, 23 grandchildren, and five great 
grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Neller funeral home in 
Portland, with Rev. Bernard Cotton officiating.  Burial will be in Portland 
cemetery.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Gerald Day, Than Barden, John Adgate, James 
Adgate, Patrick Adgate, and Michael Adgate.


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