MICHAEL ARBOGAST

ARBOGAST, PIERCE

Posted By: Mona Sarratt Knight (email)
Date: 7/20/2009 at 20:18:24

Source: The History of Appanoose County, Iowa, Containing A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, etc., A Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Records of its Volunteers in the late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Appanoose County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc.; illustrated; Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878.

MICHAEL ARBOGAST, farmer and stock grower, Sec. 17; P.O. Numa; born in Pendleton Co., Va., in 1826; when but 5 years of age, his father, Michael, Sr., a farmer of that county, died. After receiving an education such as was to be acquired at the common schools of that day, at the age of 19 married Miss Mary A. Pierce; she was born in Pendleton Co., Va., in 1826; in 1850, came to this county, having $150, where he entered forty acres of land and went to work at splitting rails, for the first two years, and in 1853, with an ex team, took the overland route to California; there farmed at $65 per month, working fourteen months for one man, mining three monthsl after two or three years, he returned via New York; on arriving home, he commenced farming, and has added to his farm until he now has 400 acres, valued at $25 per acre. They have twelve children, four being twins - Francis J., Emily K., George M., John and James, S.A. Douglas, Martha E., Elsworth, Columbus, Charley and Eddy, Mary. Members of the Christian Church; he was formerly a member of the M.E. Church; was baptized by that organization in 1866, by immersion; their three oldest children are also members of the Christian Church. Has held the office of School Director for four years; is now Constable.