My Genealogy Hound

JOHN VOGEL, a well-to-do farmer residing in Northampton, is a native of Germany and was born February 17, 1823, in Wurtemberg. His father, George Vogel, was a baker; and his entire life was spent in his native land. At his death he left his widow with a number of young children.

John Vogel was deprived of his father’s care at an early age, and in consequence had little time given him to attend school. When but ten years old he was employed on his uncle’s farm, where he was obliged to work for many hours each day, gaining little more than a hard familiarity with farm labor. After fifteen years spent in this way he married Mary Waltz, and with her sailed for America, March 17, 1847. He landed in New York City after a voyage of thirty-seven days. After he had been in the city four days Mr. Vogel chanced to meet Mr. Porter Nutting, of Northampton, who proposed to employ him in his brickyard at ten dollars per month with board. The offer was gladly accepted. On arriving here, May 14, 1847, Mr. Vogel found himself eighteen dollars in debt. This he soon paid off. He continued in Mr. Nutting’s employment twenty-one years, his wages having risen from ten dollars to one hundred dollars a month, as his services became more valuable. During the last nine years of his connection with the place he superintended the large plant in the capacity of foreman.

Mr. Vogel was not only energetic and industrious, but was very sensible in his expenditures, investing his money in a cosey home, comprising a house and lot, which he bought in 1850, for seven hundred and fifty dollars. The lot contained an acre and a half. Since then he has bought twenty acres of adjoining land, and in 1874 he built his first barn. Unfortunately, this was struck by lightning, and he had to rebuild it in 1883. Besides this property Mr. Vogel has two lots of meadow land, one five and one-half acres and the other seven acres, which he farms. He keeps a few fine horses, has two cows, and a fine Jersey bull, a thoroughbred. In the caring for his land and stock he finds much pleasure as well as profit.

Mrs. Vogel departed this life September 3, 1874, aged fifty-five years, leaving two children, as follows: John, a resident of this city, married to Annie Rocky, and the father of three children, two daughters and a son; while Caroline is the wife of Edward Clark, Jr., the superintendent of the street railway, and has two children, a son and a daughter. In his political principles Mr. Vogel is perfectly independent, and in religion he is bound by no creed; while he belongs to no clan, club, or secret organization.