JOHN AGATE, JR. |
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Main Cemetery -- Area K |
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William and Mary Agate, the grandparents of John Agate, arrived in Pittsford (then Northfield) in 1795 and built a log cabin on Thornell Road. They had seven children, among them John, who produced our subject, John Jr. the fifth of seven children born to John and Emily Beers Agate. At seventeen years of age, John Jr. caught the “wanderlust” and took a trip to Wisconsin where he had some exciting experiences; including meeting a group of Native Americans, who were fortunately friendly and John had no trouble with them. He came back to Pittsford and in 1863, he and his brother William began the malting business, which made them very successful. Their business, along with a large building and two substantial homes, was built on the southern shore of the Erie Canal. In 1910, when the canal was doubled in size, William’s house and the plant were demolished. This action left John’s home on the bank of the canal where it stands today. For many years it was the home of the Ted Zornow family and in 2019 is known as the bed and breakfast establishment called “The Canal Lamp Inn". John was married in 1872 in the small community of Glen Falls, New York to Mary Jane Austin, and together the couple had three children, Elroy, John, and Edith who became Mrs. Gilbert Crump. The Agates lived, in their senior years, with their son Elroy and his wife on Washington Ave. in the village of Pittsford where they had resided for most of their lives. The Agate family were pioneer settlers of Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks. A cabin was built that sheltered the family throughout the summer for many, many years. Mr. Agate enjoyed hunting in the forest and fishing in the clear, mountain lake. He supported the Republican party during his voting years and he often mentioned that the first vote he cast for President, was for Abraham Lincoln. The Agates were highly regarded as long time members and supporters of the Pittsford community. |
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