Michael Arbogast

MICHAEL ARBOGAST.

Michael Arbogast, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Seneca township, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, August I, 1824, and is a representative of one of the early families of the Old Dominion. His grandfather was Henry Arbogast, whose son, Peter Arbogast, the father of our subject, was likewise a native of Pendleton county. When he had attained his majority he married Sophia Arbogast, who was born in the same locality, and they became the parents of four children: Jesse, who died near Bushnell, Illinois; Phebe, who became the wife of T. J. Windsor; Christina, who married Aaron Carr; and Michael. With the exception of our subject all have now passed away. It was in the fall of 1826 that Peter Arbogast, accompanied by his family, together with Andrew Arbogast and his family, left Virginia for Ohio. The Buckeye state was just then being opened up to civilization. Some districts had previously been settled, but the greater part of the land still belonged to the government and progress and improvement were scarcely known. The party left Virginia with a four-horse team and traveled across the country, fording streams and making their way through almost impenetrable forests until they reached Seneca county. Casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers, Peter Arbogast purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in Hopewell township. This had previously been entered from the government and upon the farm was a log cabin containing one room. There was also a log bam and a few acres had been cleared. It is a part of the farm now owned by Mr. Zarges. Mr. Arbogast resided upon that place until his death, which occurred in 1835. He aided in laying out roads and in organizing schools, always performing his share in every frontier work which has led to the present develoimient and progress of the county. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1861. She had received the constant care and attention of her son whose solicitude was never abated.

Michael Arbogast, the youngest child, was only two years of age when brought by his parents to Seneca county, where he has spent

Google all the years of his childhood and manhood. He aided in the difficult task of clearing the fami and preparing the fields for cultivation, and when the land became arable he bore his part in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. As his father died when he was only nine years of age, he and his mother carried on the farm, together operating the land, with the aid of an ox team. It was in 1855 that he took up his above upon the place where he is yet living. All through the years of an active and useful manhood he has devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits and in the legitimate channels of business he has won a very desirable competence.

On the nth of March, 1852, Mr. Arbogast was united in marriage to Miss Jane R. Stoner, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Reagan) Stoner, and she died June 23, 1882, their union having been blessed with nine children, namely: Alice, who mai'ried Jacob Staib, is now deceased; John F. is a resident of Seneca township; Nettie is the wife of Robert E. Lutz, of Oklahoma; Lewis is a mechanic and resides in Tiffin; Charles resides near Bushnell, Illinois; Rush operates the homestead farm; and three sons passed away in childhood.

Mr. Arbogast put forth every effort to make a comfortable home for his family and to give his children those opportunities by which they were well prepared for the practical and responsible duties of life. He first purchased, in 1854, one hundred and twenty-three acres of land, the improvements on which consisted of a log house and a log bam. He went in debt for the entire amount, three thousand six hundred and ninety dollars, and this was all paid in three years. Fifty acres had been cleared and in course of time his fields were green with the crops that promised golden harvests. As his financial resources increased he added to his landed possessions and within the borders of the home farm are now comprised two hundred acres. He also owns, another farm, of one hundred acres, in Seneca township, and upou both he has made excellent improvements, erecting in 1875 one of the* most pretentious brick residences m the vicinity. He has used the latest machinery for facilitating farm work, has erected good bars and outbuildings for the sheer of grain and stock and has in every

Google way a very valuable and desirable property. He has never sought office, for his attention has been claimed by his business interests. His residence in the county covers more than three-quarters of a century-, ana the present generation cannot realize the changes which have occurred during this period. Mr. Arbogast remembers seeing many Indians in the locality and has driven through Tiffin with ox team many a time when the mud came up to the hubs of the wagon wheels. The flourishing city then contained only a few pioneer cabins and the county gave little promise of its present splendid development. Howe\*er, the pioneers laid broad aitd deep the foundation for its present progress, Mr. Arbogast performing his full share in ihe work of citizenship. He has ever favored reform and improvement, and his labors have been effective in promoting the general welfare. Owing to his father's death he early had to take up the responsible duties of a business career, and industry, economy and honesty have been salient features in his history, enabling him to advance steadily until he now occupies a prominent place on the plane of affluence.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.