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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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REV. CHARLES AGER. For a period of thirty years or more this gentleman was a faithful and eloquent minister of the Gospel, and in the Baptist Church occupied a position among the most prominent preachers of the denomination. He has now retired from active ministerial duties, although he occasionally preaches and displays in his discourses the fervor and zeal of younger years. The spirit of piety and earnestness in the cause of religion has ever been among his prominent characteristics, and has been an important factor in his success as a pastor.

At Albany, N. Y., Charles Ager was born to C. C. and Elizabeth (Bradshaw) Ager, natives, respectively, of Windsor, Vt., and New York State. His early years were spent upon his father’s farm, and he was a student in the schools of Albany and the academy at Schoharie C. H.; subsequently he entered Colgate University, from which institution he was graduated with the Class of ‘56. After having completed his studies, he accepted the position of teacher in the Union schools of Cassopolis, Mich., which he held during 1858 and 1859. In the year last named he went to Goshen, Ind., and there engaged in preaching as pastor of the Goshen Baptist Church.

The year 1860 witnessed the ordination of Rev. Charles Ager as a minister in the Baptist Church, and his first pastorate was in Goshen, where he remained for three and one-half years. From that city he removed to South Bend, Ind., where he officiated as minister of the Baptist Church for a period of three years. Thence he went to Aurora, Ind., and for thirteen years was the pastor of the Baptist Church at that city. He resigned the charge there in order to accept the pastorate of the church in Goshen, to which he had ministered in former years. Three years were spent in that city, and thence in 1882 he came to Niles, where he has since resided. From September, 1883, until February, 1889, he supplied the pulpit of the Baptist Church in Cassopolis while living in Niles, it proving to be exceedingly pleasant work to minister to those who had in years before been his pupils in the High School of Cassopolis.

The marriage of Rev. Mr. Ager occurred on the 18th of November, 1858, and united him with Miss Mary A. Sherrill, the daughter of Marcus and Amanda M. Sherrill. Mrs. Ager was born in New York State, but at the time of her marriage was residing in Niles. She is the mother of one child, Katharyne. The domestic life of this family is one of unusual felicity and happiness, and their position in the community is one of influence. While Mr. Ager has never mingled in politics, yet he has decided opinions of his own on all matters of public importance, and gives the influence of his ballot to the Republican party.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

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