OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Seneca Co., Ohio

M. Arbogast

MICHAEL ARBOGAST, who was engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Seneca township, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, Aug. 1, 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. In 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 barn and a few acres had been cleared. It is a part of the farm now owned by Mr. Zarges. Mr. Arbogast resident upon that place until his death, which occurred in 1835. He aided in laving out roads and in organizing schools, always performing his share in every frontier work which has led to the present development 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 all the years of his childhood and manhood. He aided in the difficult task of clearing the farm 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 abode 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 11th 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 married 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 barn. 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 upon both he has made excellent improvements, erecting in 1875 one of the most pretentious brick residences in the vicinity. He has used the latest machinery for facilitating farm work, has erected good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and has in every 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, and 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. However, the pioneers laid broad and deep the foundation for its present progress, Mr. Arbogast performing his full share in the 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.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Seneca County, Ohio - Publ. by Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 344

JACOB S. ARMSTRONG. Among the native sons of Scipio township who still reside within its borders is Jacob S. Armstrong, whose birth here occurred July 28, 1834, his parents being George and Mary A. (Swickard) Armstrong. The father was a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and in 1834 arrived in Seneca county, at which time he took up his abode upon the farm in Scipio township, where our subject was born. His first home was a little log cabin, in which he lived in true pioneer style, bravely meeting all the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the pioneer. Only a few acres of the land had been cleared, but with characteristic energy he began the further development of the farm, which he continued until ill health caused him to return to Jefferson county. There he remained through the succeeding decade and then returned to Scipio township, again locating upon the old homestead. It was his place of residence until 1856, when he went to Reed township, where for twenty-eight years he carried on agricultural pursuits, his life's labors being ended in death in 1884. He was then seventy-three years of age, his birth having occurred in 1811. His wife passed away Mar. 9, 1883. In his business undertakings Mr. Armstrong met with excellent success. He acquired nine hundred acres of land in Reed and Scipio townships and well did he earn the proud American title of a self-made man. His prosperity was the outcome of earnest and diligent effort, guided by sound judgment. His fellow townsmen recognized his worth and ability and frequently called him to serve in township offices, and the Methodist Episcopal church found in him a valued and worthy member. In the family were four children, namely: Jacob S., of this review; Samantha the wife of Alpheus Wall; John G., a resident of Reed township; and Tabitha, the wife of George Wall, who served as a soldier in the One Hundred and Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the civil war.
In taking up the personal history of Jacob S. Armstrong, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Seneca county as a representative farmer. His preliminary education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by study in the Republic Academy, and his business training was received upon the home farm, where he early became familiar with the work of the fields. On the 5th of March, 1861, he gained a companion and helpmate for the journey of life in the person of Miss Sarah Ann Tompkins, who was born in Thompson township, Seneca county, and is a daughter of Isaac and Christina (Scothorn) Tompkins. Her mother was the first white child in Reed township, the maternal grandparents of Mrs. Armstrong having located there in 1824, when she was three years old. Mrs. Tompkins is still living with Mrs. Armstrong, and has reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. Her husband came to Seneca county from New York about 1833 and here met and married Miss Scothorn. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with one child, Lillian, the wife of Daniel Benfer. They reside with her parents and have four children, - Wade A., Glee S., Claude E. and Darl J. The family home is a fine brick residence which was erected by Mr. Armstrong and is one of the largest houses in Seneca county. It is tastefully furnished and is surrounded by a beautiful and well kept lawn. Many excellent improvements have been made upon the farm, which comprises two hundred and eight acres of rich land. In addition to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to the climate, Mr. Armstrong is engaged in stock-raising, and both branches of his business are remunerative.
In politics his views are in harmony with socialistic ideas, as expressed in Populistic platforms. Hs wife is a member of the Baptist church and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, with which he has been identified for more than thirty years. He is also a member of the Grange and is widely known in his native county, where his life has been so honorably passed that his record is well worthy of emulation. There have been no exciting chapters in his history, but his record is that of a man who has ever been true to the duties of citizenship, of friendship and of the home.
Source: A Centennial Biographical History of Seneca County, Ohio - Publ. by Lewis Publishing Company - 1902 - Page 566

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