Peter Dille Arbogast Bio
Monongalia Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II

pg 192

Peter Dille Arbogast, M. D.  In the passage of time, including the momentous 
events of recent years in the world's history that have wrecked personal 
ambitions and overturned thrones, America has never forgotten or failed to 
pay tribute to that noble and substantial friend of other days, the Marquis 
de Lafayette of France.  In a measure, this interest has clung also to those 
brave cavaliers who accompanied him to the unknown land across the sea and 
unsheathed their swords to aid the struggling American colonies to secure 
independence.  Not all of these brave soldiers returned to France, a number 
of them deciding to remain in the goodly land to which duty had led them, and 
here they founded families that generations afterward still bear their 
honored names, and through emulating their response to the call of need some 
of their descendants have wiped out the old-time debt on their native soil.

The Arbogast family of West Virginia was founded in America by two brothers 
who accompanied the Marquis de Lafayette from France in 1777 and fought in 
the Revolutionary war to assist the American colonies.  The Arbogast brothers 
afterward returned to France, but subsequently returned to the state, and 
both married women of German extraction.  The great-grandfather of Dr. Peter 
D. Arbogast came to what is now Pendleton County, West Virginia, where he 
became the father of seven sons, of unusual physical development, all being 
over six feet in stature.

Adam Arbogast, the grandfather of Doctor Arbogast, a leading medical 
practitioner at Morgantown, was born in Pendleton County, West Virginia, and 
was one of the first three men to settle in what is now Pocahontas County, 
and with his brothers assisted in the defense of Fort Seibert when the 
Indians attacked the settlers, who had taken refuge in that old log fort.

Adam Arbogast, son of Adam and father of Doctor Arbogast, was born in 1792 on 
his father's farm in Pocahontas County, and died there in 1874.  He was a 
prosperous farmer, and in addition to the old homestead owned another 
valuable farm.  He married Sarah McDaniel, who was born in Randolph County, 
Virginia, in 1841, and survived until 1917.  Her parents were born in 
Scotland.

Doctor Arbogast was born on the old family farm in Pocahontas County, West 
Virginia, March 19, 1867.  He attended the free schools and later 
Hillsborough Academy following which he taught school for several years.  In 
1897 he entered the University of Virginia, where he completed a medical 
course and was graduated from that institution with his degree June 12, 1901. 
 He entered into practice at Durbin, Pocahontas County, removing in 1903 to 
Gorman, Maryland but returning in 1904 to Durbin, where he continued until 
1911, when, in search of a wider field he came to Morgantown, where he is now 
very firmly established in the confidence and affection of the people.

Doctor Arbogast married, January 31, 1894, Miss Hodie Jane Burner, who was 
born in Pocahontas County and was a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Beard) 
Burner, belonging, like the Doctor, to an old pioneer family of this section. 
 Her great-grandfather, George Burner, and Adam Arbogast and Jacob Yeager, 
all married sisters, and, as the three earliest pioneers, settled for a time 
in Upper Greenbrier Valley, Pocahontas County, and all became people of 
importance.  Mrs. Arbogast passed away on October 14, 1919, leaving five sons 
and one daughter and a wide circle of attached friends.  The eldest son, 
Harry McNeil Arbogast, after spending two years in the University of West 
Virginia, was a member of the United States Army Medical Corps for six months 
during the World war, being connected with the hospital at Fort Lee, 
Virginia.  He married Miss Luella Howell, daughter of Charles G. Howell of 
Morgantown, and they have one son, Richard Dille, who was born on Easter 
Sunday, 1921.

The daughter of Doctor Arbogast, Gertie Gale, is the wife of Lester E. 
Frazier, and they have one daughter, Catherine Jane.  Mr. Frazier is a 
graduated chemist of the University of West Virginia.  He was born and reared 
in Ronceverte, Greenbrier County, but after his marriage moved to Monessen, 
Pennsylvania.

Charles Merle Arbogast, who is an overseas veteran of the World war, was a 
member of the West Virginia National Guard at the outbreak of the World war, 
and as such went first to Fairmont, then to Pittsburgh, then back to Fairmont 
and then to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where he spent a year in practice on 
the rifle range, following which he accompanied the American Expeditionary 
Forces to France.  There he saw active service until military offensives were 
terminated by the signing of the armistice with the enemy, and he returned to 
the United States in July, 1919.  He is now a member of the West Virginia 
State Police.  The three younger sons of the family are:  Hoyt, who was 
graduated from the Morgantown High School in 1919, and Keith Bailey and Grey, 
who are yet in the grade schools.

Doctor Arbogast has never been particularly active in political life, 
although his convictions are sound and reasonable, but he is recognized as a 
dependable citizen who is justifiably proud of his long line of American 
ancestry.  He is identified with a number of professional organizations and 
fraternally is a Mason and Odd Fellow.  He is a member and liberal supporter 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.