"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 76, No 18, p 547, May 4, 1914.
Mrs. Zillah (David) Thorngate, wife of Rev. Royal R. Thorngate of Verona, N. Y., was born Panola, Ill., April 25, 1872, and died at Verona, March 31, 1914. In 1878 she moved with her parents to Harvard, Neb., where she grew to womanhood. After the breaking up of the little Seventh Day Baptist church at Harvard, her parents were the only Sabbath-keeping people left in that vicinity. There they remained loyal lone Sabbath-keepers for about twenty years. She conscientiously kept the Sabbath with her parents, though compelled to associate entirely with young people of another faith.
In 1890 she was graduated with honors from the Harvard High School, and followed teaching until the time of her marriage to Mr. Thorngate in May, 1894. Immediately after their marriage they went to North Loup, Neb., to live, where they could have church and Sabbath privileges. She had given her heart to Christ, some years before, but had not gone forward in baptism because she wanted to be baptized by one of her own faith. Soon after settling in North Loup, she was baptized by Rev. J. H. Hurley, then pastor there, and united with the North Loup Seventh Day Baptist Church.
In January, 1896, they moved to Arcadia, Neb., where they lived over a year and a half and then moved to Lincoln, Neb. Separation from church ties, and life among non-Sabbath-keepers resulted in alienation from their church and people and brought on indifference to the claims of religion. But, though prospering in worldly things, they were far from being satisfied. Thus they lived for a time, both husband and wife longing to come back to the Sabbath and to the people of their fathers' faith without letting each other know their soul-hunger. For three or four years after they had discovered each other's longings for the dear old faith, no way seemed to open for their return, though they sought to find one, until Brother Thorngate heard the call to enter the gospel ministry. Thus the way began to brighten, and his good wife entered with enthusiasm into the work of aiding him to carry our his plans.
During the summer of 1907, while the writer was pastor at North Loup, Mrs. Thorngate visited the parsonage, unburdening her heart and sought counsel regarding the wisest course for them to pursue. If her husband was to enter the ministry, he would need two or three years of preparation in some seminary, and they were perplexed to know where it would be best for him to go. They had not then announced to the world the fact that he felt impelled to enter the ministry, and both expressed the need of encouragement in the matter of taking such a step.
From this interview Mrs. Thorngate went back to Lincoln greatly encouraged, and set about helping her husband get ready for the change. She was happy in the thought that she could uphold him in his purposes and share with him his burdens. And in this spirit she stood by him until the day of her death.
In the autumn of that year they found themselves in Alfred, where they spent three happy years while he was pursuing his studies in the Seminary. There she did what she could in all religious work and greatly cheered him in his struggles for an education. In 1910 they went to Richburg, N. Y., and took up the work together for that little church. About a year later they moved to Verona. Here for nearly three years Mrs. Thorngate performed well her part in all departments of church work. She was always a strong, faithful helpmate to her husband, sharing with him all his perplexities and burdens - just the kind of helper he needed. She loved Verona and its people. She loved the work for which that people had called her husband to ordination, and we well remember how happy she was when, at the association two years ago, the brethren laid consecrating hands upon him and set him apart for his chosen life-work. She often said afterward that the day of his ordination was !
almost as happy a day for her as was the day of her marriage.
She was a good woman, and will long be lovingly remembered by friends, inside the church and out, for her excellent qualities. She gave all she had to give, for Christ and his cause. Many times during the delirium of her last long illness did she imagine herself attending services in the church and taking her part in the work. Sometimes in her delirium she would offer a beautiful and fervent prayer for the church she loved so much and for her yoke-fellows in the work.
Pneumonia in its worst form was the cause of her death, after a life and death struggle of many weeks by friends and loved ones to save her. She leaves a husband, four children, and an invalid mother, Mrs. Rachel David, whose hone was with them, to mourn their loss. There are also two brothers and four sisters living.
On Sabbath afternoon, April 4, her funeral services were conducted at the church by Rev. Riley G. Davis of Syracuse, assisted by Rev. Mr. Schloop of New London, N. Y., and Rev. Dr. Hasskarl of Churchville. Then hew worn-out body was laid to rest in the beautiful city of the dead at Verona Mills.
All our people will sympathize with Brother Thorngate, and many will pray that God will comfort and lead him, and give him the strength to labor on in the Master's vineyard and win precious souls for the kingdom of God.

Census: 1880 Lynn, Clay Co., Nebraska: age 8

"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 144, No 7, p 114, Feb. 16, 1948.
Rev. Royal Roscoe Thorngate, youngest son of Deacon Henry and Lorenda Crandall Thorngate, was born at Brookfield, Mo., March 5, 1872, and died in Oneida, N. Y., January 17, 1948. In 1879, he went with his parents to North Loup, Neb., where he spent his boyhood, and joined the North Loup Seventh Day Baptist Church.
He was married at Harvard, Neb., on May 31, 1894, to Miss Zillah David, and to them were born four children: Roscoe Marion, who died November 22, 1947, Bruce W., Julia, and Geraldine.
In 1907, he entered Alfred Theological Seminary, and for nearly a year was pastor of the Richburg, N. Y., Seventh Day Baptist Church, later as pastor of the First Verona Church, he was ordained to the gospel ministry at the meeting of the Central Association in 1912. It was while he was pastor at Verona that Mrs. Thorngate died on March 31, 1914. He was pastor at Salemville, Pa., from May, 1918, for more than five years.
On June 15, 1922, he was married to Miss Emily Davis and in September, 1927, he with his wife and daughter, Geraldine, went to Georgetown, British Guiana, for mission work. The trying climate and working conditions affected his health so that in May, 1930, he returned to the United States. He had been in ill health since that time.
He is survived by his wife; a son, Bruce W., of Austin, Tex.; two daughters, Mrs. Julia Kagarise of Salemville, Pa., Mrs. Geraldine Leonard of Daytona Beach, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. Belle T. Rood of New Smyrna, Fla.; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and seven nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were conducted at the home, 217 Stone St., Oneida, N. Y., January 21, 1948, by Rev. Herbert L. Polan, Verona, N. Y., assisted by Rev. Marion Van Horn, Brookfield, N. Y., with music by Stanley Warner and Mrs. Eula Sholtz, accompanied by Mrs. Warner. Burial was in the New Union Cemetery, Rathbunville. H. L. P.

Census: 1880 North Loup, Valley Co., Nebraska: age 8

Residence: 1910 Alfred, Allegany Co., New York