- Henry THORNGATE was born in
Cattaraugus County, N.Y., September 29, 1829, and died
- at his home in North Loup, Neb., April
15, 1925, aged about ninety-five and one-half years.
- In early manhood, while living in New
York, he was converted and became a member of the
- Persia Seventh Day Baptist Church.
Among the members of the church were the family of Elder Oscar
BABCOCK, Porter CRANDALL, C. P. ROOD, and
others who were early settlers of North Loup, Nebraska.
- In 1845 the THORNGATEs, ROODs,
BABCOCKs, and CRANDALLs moved to
- Wisconsin, first settling near Milwaukee;
later they moved to near Milton, and still later to the central
part of the state. Here, near the little village of Dakota,
Henry THORNGATE and Lorenda CRANDALL were united
in marriage by Rev. George C. BABCOCK. Here, too, a
Seventh Day Baptist Church was organized of which Mr. THORNGATE
was a member.
- On June 23, 1861, with his brother,
David, he enlisted; and his regiment was part of the famous
- Iron Brigade, made famous because of
its ready service, the physical endurance of its men, and their
courage on the battle field. In the Battle of South Mountain
Mr. THORNGATE was severely wounded, and because of his
wound was given an honorable discharge.
- After his discharge, he returned to
his home in Wisconsin, and here he lived until 1866, when his
- family, together with those of several
others, moved to near Brookfield, Mo. At that place a Seventh
Day Baptist Church was organized, Mr. THORNGATE becoming
a constituent member. He was chosen to serve the church as
deacon, though he was not ordained.
- In 1879 he moved to North Loup, Neb.,
where he became a member of the church of his faith
- and was chosen and ordained a deacon.
He held various official positions in his church; serving as
moderator, treasurer, clerk, and trustee at different times.
For many years he served as a teacher in the Sabbath School.
- He held important offices in the civic
life of the community where it was said of him that he was
- just and was anxious that justice should
be done at all times.
- Funeral services were held at the Seventh
Day Baptist church in North Loup, Neb., conducted
- by his pastor, Rev. Herbert L. Polan,
and the body was laid to rest in the Hillside Cemetery. [p.
57]
-
- Courtesy of Jon Saunders
|
