Person:Matilda Ware (1)

BIOGRAPHY: Matilda (Ware-Ware) Arbogast (1805-1864)

Matilda Ware married William Ware (no relation) about 1828 in Randolph Co, Virginia. It is unknown what happen to her first husband William. He can not be found in the 1930 or 1940 census as head of household. A record of their marriage can not be found in Randolph Co. nor is their a record of his death. He is mention in the book "Progressive Men of Western Colorado", (1905), A. W. Brown & Co., Chicago, Ill., Ware, Hiram V., 1905 Bio., Garfield County, Colorado. "Hiram V. Ware -- His parents, William and Matilda Ware, were also Virginians, as their forefathers had been for many generations before them. The father was a planter there, a prominent man in local affairs, a Democrat in politics and a Freemason in fraternal life. Both parents were members of the Methodist church, dying many years ago in full sympathy with the organization".

Matilda is found in the 1830 census living in her father's household with her son, William Madison Ware who was abt. 2 months old. Her mother died two years earlier, in 1828 and Matilda is taking care of the household, her father, her younger sister Elizabeth and eight of her younger brothers. Her sisters Ruth and Lucinda have both married and moved out of the house as did Hiram. Harvey is 23 and has probably left home to strike out on his own. He won't get married untill two years later.

During the 1840 census she is the head of her household and raising four children on her own. She now has three sons, Hiram 5, Eugenius 6, William 11 and one daughter Amanda 9.

The 1850 census shows she is living with her five children, William 20, Amanda 18, Eugenius 16, Hiram 14, George 8, two granddaughters, her brother John Newton Ware 22 and a girl named Elizabeth Arbogast, age 18 in Randolph County, Virginia. Her daughter Amanda now goes under the married name of Gilmore. Her granddaughters are Matilda J. Gilmore 3 and Madora L. Gilmore 7 months old. Amanda was married at age 15 to James Paxton Gilmore.

Matilda and her family are living next door to her brother Jacob See Ware and his wife Margaret. She is also close to her brother George Washington Ware and his family. In 1851 she buys 47 acres of land from William Logan and his wife in Randolph Co. [Note #1]

Matilda later married Moses Arbogast in 1854. He was 55 years old and she was 49. Moses and Matilda were found in the 1860 census living in Randolph Co, Virginia. There are five step-children living with her from one of Moses previous marriages. Her son George R. Ware, 18 is the only one still at home. He is listed as a farmer. Moses is also listed as a farmer with a real estate value of $1500 and a personal estate value of $250.

Matilda was mentioned in her fathers will and received a portion of his perishables after paying his debts and funeral expenses. It is my belief that she remained in her father's house after he died because she needed a place to raise her children without the help of a husband. Some of her brothers lived and raised their family's close by and probably offered their help from time to time. Matilda lost two of her son's in the Civil War, George in 1862 and Eugenius in 1863. She resided in her beloved Virginia, near Valley Head until her death in 1864 at the age of 59. She is buried in the Ware's Cemetery in Valley Head, Randolph County, West Virginia.She was the daughter and first child born to Richard & Mary (Wilson)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100365591/Matilda-Arbogast

Matilda Ware F 44 Virginia

William Ware    M 20 Virginia 
Amanda V Gilmore    F 18 Virginia 
Eugenuis M Ware    M 16 Virginia 
Hiram V Ware    M 14 Virginia 
George R Ware    M 8 Virginia 
Matilda G Gilmore    F 3 Virginia 
Madora L Gilmore    F 0 Virginia 
John Ware    M 22 Virginia 
Elizabeth Arbogast    F 18 Virginia 

[Note #1] Randolph Co Deeds 1787-1966, bk 18, pg 422.