Michael Arnspiger ^{1 4 5 6 7}

   Other names for Michael were Michael Arnsberger ⁸ and Michael Arnsparger.¹⁰

  General Notes:

Source: Web Site: Descendents of George Heinrich Ernstberger
(http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?&db=joarnspiger)
According to the book, "Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, Hoover Families", compiled by Dr. W. W. Houser, Michael and wife Esther had four sons who died in infancy. No record of these children has been found. Both the 1810 and 1820 US Census do seem to verify that statement. In 1810 he has 3 males under 16 and in 1820 he has 3 males under 16 but none over 16. In the graveyard where Paul Arnspiger's headstone was discovered, there is a stone next to it that reads "1827 Aug 10 J. Arnspiger". I believe this may be one of Michael's sons.
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Publication: "The History of Jessamine County, Kentucky", page. 18-19
In 1802 there was a quarter race on the track, and in the hearing of the crowd, Major Netherland announced that on a certain day (naming it) there would be another race for a purse of $50.00, one mile heats, which was "free for anything with four legs and hair on". At that time there was working on a farm a young man named Michael Arnspiger who had broken a bull to the saddle, which he rode to mill. He immediately put the bull in training and for several days gave him turns around the race track. He used spurs on the bull and when these were dug into his sides, he was accustomed to bellow. On the day of the race Arnspiger appeared on the ground with his bull. He had placed a dried hide of an ox on the bull's rump, and he carried a tin horn in his hands. He demanded of the judges the right to enter his animal, to which the owners of the horses vehemently objected, but Arnspiger answered by appealing to Major Netherland if he had not said that the race was free to "anything with four legs and hair on". Maj. Netherland admitted that he had, and explained that the bull had a right to enter. When the drum was tapped, Arnspiger blew his horn, planted his spurs in the sides of the bull, which bounded off with a dreadful bellow, with the ox-hide flapping on his sides and presenting a spectacle, combined with the noise, that had never been seen on the race track before. The horses immediately flew the track, and Arnspiger galloped home a winner. The losers contended that they were swindled out of their money; that Arnspiger should not have been allowed to blow the tin horn, or use the ox- hide, and that but for this he could not have won the race. Thereupon Arnspiger offered to take the ox-hide off and leave his tin horn at the stand and run them from end to end. Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Netherland were judges at the next start. Arnspiger again planted his spurs into the sides of the bull with redoubled fury. The loud bellow that followed drove the horses from the track despite the exertions of the riders, and Arnspiger pulled in the second $50 purse. With the money thus obtained he purchased a blacksmithing outfit, working for many years at his trade near Wilmore, and died there in the sixties, in the 85th year of his age.
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From the book, "The Kentucky Bluegrass Kentuckian" by Thomas D. Clark. Although Michael was not Irish, the remainder of the account coincides with the account of the History of Jessamine County.

"Down near the Kentucky River in Jessamine, the famous old pioneer soldier colonel Benjamin Netherland offered a $50 prize for the best one mile heat "free to anything with four legs and hair on". This was a challenge to the rollicking Irishman Michael Arnspiger. He pretended to take Colonel Netherland's offer literally and proceeded to train a bull to run in the race. On the day of the great contest Arnspiger appeared at the race path astride his bull. His equipment was outlandish enough to frighten every horse in the country. Across his long-horned charger's back was thrown a dried bull's hide which gave him a hideous appearance. Arnspiger carried a tin horn and wore long sharp-pointed spurs. Every time he dug the spurs into the bull's side, the animal sent up a bloodcurdling bellow. The horsemen gathered around the post with their nervous mounts to challenge the right of the eccentric Arnspiger to enter the race, but the judges ruled that it was "free to anything with four legs and hair on". When at last the flag was dropped and the jockeys headed down the path, the devilish Michael dug his spurs in the bull's side, blew his horn and set forth. The bull bellowed like Gabriel's trumpet, the horses took to the woods, and Arnspiger trotted home astride the bull - winner of the purse."
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Source: Web Site: Descendents of George Heinrich Ernstberger
(http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=joarnspiger&id =I50)
Michael presented and swore to, in Court, his list of taxable property for this year. It was ordered to be certified to the auditor Sheriff for collection. He was summoned to Court for delinquent submission of his property list for 1827. The Commissions of the county Court appointed Michael to view the right of way Thomas Reynolds proposed, to alter the Frankfort Road and report to the Court.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Blacksmith. ⁹

• He worked as a Farmer. ⁸

• He appeared on the 1790 US Census in Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, PA in August 1790. ¹¹

17701790 US Census
Page 259, Roll 9
Turkeyfoot Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
2 males under 16....(any two: Henry, Christopher, or Michael)

(If one of the young males was Michael, then he was living at home with his parents.)
.

• He appeared on the 1830 US Census in , Jessamine County, KY on June 1830. ⁶

1830 US Census
, Jessamine County, Kentucky
Males
40-50: 1 - Michael Arnspiger

(Living with wife and 6 children.)
.

• He appeared on the 1840 US Census in , Jessamine County, KY on June 1840. ⁷

1840 US Census
Page 239, Roll 116
, Jessamine, Kentucky, United States
"Michael Arnspigor"
1 Male 50-60..(Michael Arnspiger, age abt 59)

(Living with wife and 4 other undetermined young females.)
.

Michael married Esther Bowman, daughter of Joseph Bowman and Nancy Howser, on 19 August 1804 in , Jessamine County, KY.^{1 2 3} (Esther Bowman was born about 1785 in , Jessamine County, KY ¹ and died on 16 April 1849 in , Jessamine County, KY ^{1 5 8}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1830 US Census in , Jessamine County, KY on June 1830. ⁶

1830 US Census
Page 217, Roll 38
, Jessamine, Kentucky, United States
1 Male 40-50..Michael Arnspiger (age about 49)
..1 Female 40-50..(Esther Bowman, wife, age 45)
..1 Male 20-30..(Unknown. This could have been one of Michael's brothers.)
..1 Male 15-20.. (Gabriel, age 18)
..1 Female 15-20..(Delilah, age between 10-20; or Nancy, age between 10-20)
..1 Female 10-15..(Delilah, age between 10-20; or Nancy, age between 10-20)
..1 Female 5-10..(Sarah, age 7)
..2 Females under 5..(Rose, age 5; Malinda, age 2)

9 Total in household
.

• They appeared on the 1840 US Census in , Jessamine County, KY on June 1840. ⁷

1840 US Census
Page 239, Roll 116
, Jessamine, Kentucky, United States
"Michael Arnspigor"
1 Male 50-60..Michael Arnspiger (age abt 59)
1 Female 50-60..(Esther Bowman, age about 54)
2 Females 15-20..unknown
1 Females 10-15..(probably Malinda Arnspiger, age 12)
1 Female under 5..unknown

6 Total in household
.

  Marriage Notes:

Family Archive #002, Marriage Index: IL, IN, KY, OH, TN, 1720-1926, "CD- ROM," Michael's last name on marriage license was spelled "Arnspiger."
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