|
Contents
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Louisiana
Missouri
South Carolina
Utah
Washington
Check for
local history books about your town
or search Amazon.com
from here
|
GEORGE WILLIAM VOGEL
(Utah)
Pioneer Personal History
GEORGE WILLIAM VOGEL
UTAH HRS 314
Revised 3-9-37
1. George William Vogel
2. 319 Orpheum Apartments
3. Retired
4. Cooper, prior to Civil War, after Civil War he followed mining.
5. March 21, 1841
6. Piqua, Miami County, Ohio
7. 97 years.
8. Anna W. Lucas, Piqua Ohio. She was his first wife and she died before
he married again. Martha Roberts, June 10, 1896, Salt Lake City Temple.
11. Station Agent for Standard Oil Company in Salt Lake City, Utah.
13. Came to Utah in 1895.
30. Had considerable mining experience in Colorado. Mr. Vogel discovered
the only Aluminum, (Aluminite) mine in Utah. It was located at Deer Creek,
Sevier County, Utah, near Marysvale. This property is called Gold Mountain
Mining District. Mr. Vogel sold his interests to the Aluminum Company of
America, controlled by the Mellon Brothers.
31. About 1875 Mr. Vogel hired out to hunt buffalo for the Dodd's Fur
Company of London at $75 per month. Hunting in the same outfit was famous
Bill Cody, known as Buffalo Bill. He and Mr. Vogel were companions for 27
months while hunting buffalo. All the members of the gang were white men,
and were from different parts of the country. There was a bond of
friendship between these buffalo hunters that was like unto the affection
of brothers. The gang affectionately called Mr. Vogel, "Dutch George".
"Those were the good old days, "he commented. He states, "If anyone had
told us that the buffalo would become extinct, we would have thought them
crazy; there seemed to be millions."
Mr. Vogel explained the manner of the kill: The buffalo gather together at
mud holes on the prairie, and wallow in the mud just like pigs. There
would be hundreds in the herd. If the wind were right, and did not carry
the scent of the hunters to the buffalo, Mr. Vogel could kill 50 buffalo
at a time without moving.
Mr. Vogel explained the manner of the kill. The hunter firing the first
shot would shoot one buffalo, high, through the lungs, to cause profuse
bleeding. The smell of the fresh warm blood and the bellowing of the
wounded buffalo would infuriate the other buffaloes and start them milling
round and round. Then the hunters would shoot to kill.
Half the skill of the hunter depended upon the ability of the man that did
the skinning and upon the pony the hunter was riding. The carcass had to
be skinned while still warm. The skinner could usually handle 50 buffalo
for their hunter while still warm enough to handle.
Mr. Vogel relates that the horses they used were the wild mustang, which
they captured. They were a much kinder horse than the broncos. Instead of
breaking them as the broncos are broke now, they used to "crease them" or
shoot across the neck, where the head and neck are joined without
inflicting a severe wound. Then they would put a sack or blanket over
their heads while the horses were stunned and then put the saddle on. They
would remove the covering and start to train them.
Mr. Vogel said they were a kindlier horse and be being kind they were
easily trained. All the hunters success depended upon the ponies and how
well they had been trained. Mr. Vogel reflects upon the love he had for
his ponies.
On one trip of about three weeks
duration, Buffalo Bill and Mr. Vogel killed within 20 buffalo of each
other. When the actual count was made, Buffalo Bill and 1,716 skins to
show for his work and Mr. Vogel had 1,896.
Kit Carson came down to the panhandle of Texas and got Buffalo Bill to go
scouting with him. The government sent them to South Dakota, for the Sioux
Indians were causing uprisings.
Most of Mr. Vogel's buffalo hunting was done between Nebraska and the
Great Plains which comprised the states of: Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma,
and Texas. Each company had designated hunting grounds.
Mr. Vogel said that at that time there was an abundance of gramma grass
which fattened the buffalo until their meat was very rich.
Mr. Vogel had eaten dried liver for bread when their flour ran short. They
used more liver than any other part of the buffalo carcass. There were no
bull flies at that time so they didn't have the problem of meat spoiling.
They used just desirable parts of the buffalo meats and left the
carcasses.
EXPERIENCES WITH THE ALLEN GANG
The Allen Gang were a bunch of renegade Indians, outlawed from their own
tribe with a white leader named, Allen. They followed Mr. Vogel's Gang
with the desire to rob them of their provisions and skins. The Gang
numbered 63 Indians. The Gang split up into different groups. For
communication with each other they used fire brands at night and looking
glasses in the daytime.
There were 12 members in Mr. Vogel's outfit, 6 hunters and 6 skinners.
This was at Point of Rock, near Big Springs, on the Old Sante Fe Trail,
New Mexico. Buffalo Bill was a member of the party. The Gang closed in and
it looked as if the hunters would be exterminated. Buffalo Bill took
command and ordered his party to try to make the draw. The Indians closed
in on them so the outfit hid themselves behind big rocks, and ambushed the
Indians as they approached. The Indian gang rode without saddle or bridle
only a rawhide rope around their ponies necks. They fired upon the ponies
to frighten them, thereby causing them to throw their riders. Buffalo Bill
gave orders to shoot to kill. The Indians were startled and defeated.
Buffalo's outfit counted 21 dead Indians, the others fled and there were
no causalities among Buffalo Bill's outfit.
Mr. Vogel related seeing Chief Tecumsah's grave. He was buried 5 miles
from Piqua, Ohio. Mr. Vogel related that he was a great warrior. Mr. Vogel
thinks that Sious Indian tribe is the finest tribe he has ever met. He
could communicate with the Indians by signs.
A Member of the Vigilante Group, at Huerfano County, Colorado
Mr. Vogel was a member of a vigilante group in the early 70's, in Colorado
and remembers having seen 4 hangings in one night. Each man hung pleaded
guilty. Mr. Vogel said he and a friend named "Jim" had been very fortunate
in never having drawn a number from the hat, which would have compelled
them to help in the hangings. He was a member of this group for three
years. He had witnessed other lunchings by invitation, but had never
helped in any of them. Huerfano (Spanish) means Orphan.
Mr. Vogel was a great fisherman and sportsman. He loved the Great Out
Doors." "People of today have missed the color and excitement that it was
my privilege to take part in."
DESCENDANTS.
1. Anna W. Lucas Vogel. 1st wife died after seven years of marriage
leaving no children.
2. Martha Roberts Vogel. Was mother of the following children: Mrs. Mary
Vogel Cameron, Salt Lake City, Utah Mrs. Nettie Vogel Kendall, 3200
Harrison Avenue, Ogden, Utah. Dr. George Vogel, 1052 Darling Street,
Ogden, Utah Peter Vogel, Delaware.
Mr. Vogel attended the 56th annual department of Utah encampment at "The
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks." Salt Lake City, Lodge Number 85,
in Salt Lake City, Saturday May 7, 1938. There were 5 members of the Grand
Army of the Republic present at this convention. Mr. Vogel was presented a
card, which entitled him to free meals at any city, whether at home or
abroad, where there was a Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was
very proud of it and stated that he never needed to go hungry.
Mr. Vogel has a Book of Remembrance.
FEDERAL WRITERS PROJECT
Alice G. Mitchell
Ogden, Utah
Weber County
May 9, 1939
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
|