VOGEL CENTER FOUNDED

THE WATERFRONT - JANUARY 27, 1965, taken from the John Vogel Diary.


EDITORS NOTE:

        The following article was taken from a Muskegon paper of about 1907. It was given to us by Miss Mary Hoekwater of Falmouth, presented in interest by the Waterfront.


FOUNDER OF TWO COLONIES


John Vogel, twice founder of Dutch settlements in Michigan, a Muskegon lumberman and a veteran of the civil war, died at 2:30 this morning at his residence, 258 Terrace street. He had just passed the age of 68 years. Cancer of the stomach was the cause of his death.


It was last February that the first intimation of Mr. Vogel’s breaking health came. At that time he returned home from Mississippi. Thinking that his ill-health was caused by nothing more than an attack of the grip, six weeks later he went south again to resume his business in timber estimating.


By June, however, he had become so poorly that he was once more obliged to abandon his work in Mississippi. After returning his condition grew still worse and a month ago he became confined to the house.


Besides his widow, Mr. Vogel leaves the following children: Mrs. John Vanderwerp, Otto Vogel, Miss Effie Vogel, John G. Vogel, and Miss Mary Vogel of Muskegon, Mrs. William T. Baker of Grand Haven and Miss Gertrude Vogel, Frank C. Vogel, Mrs. Louis Cotie and Mrs. Arthur H. Dunn of Chicago. All of these were present at the time of his death excepting Mrs. Dunn, who arrives this afternoon.


There are also fourteen grandchildren, Mrs. John VanRhee of Drenthe is a sister and Mrs. Arie Hoekwater of Vogle Center, a half-sister.


Two brothers of Mrs. Vogel are here, called by his death. They are Gerrit Herweyer and Leonard Herweyer of Vogal Center.


It was at Griesen, Nieuw Kerk, province of South Holland, in the Netherland, that Mr. Vogel was born September 8, 1839. He came to this country in 1854 and his life became a long and active career. After working at the carpenter trade at Holland, Zeeland and Grand Rapids, he enlisted in the civil war on September 18, 1861 and served through the entire war.


Mr. Vogel had enlisted as a member of Company D., Second regiment, Michigan cavalry. After three years of service he enlisted again with the most of his regiment in March, 1864.


On two occasions he was slightly wouinded. It was not until November 30, 1864, that his service was seriously impaired. On that date he was severly wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. For many months he lay in the hospital until his official discharge from the army was received by him for disability on August 1, 1865.


His work of colonization followed. Going after the war to the Netherlands to visit his parents, he succeeded in inducing some of his relatives and others to come to this country. At once they settled at what then was North Holland.


Mr. Vogel purchased as interest in a sawmill there, but he met with a heavy reverse when it was destroyed by fire in February, 1867. It was a total loss, as there was no insurance.


Founded Northern Colony


Another colony was then established by him in the northern part of the state. With renewed courage he started on a prospecting tour with a view to a new Dutch settlement.


It was thus that what is now Vogel Center was formed on a homestead that Mr. Vogel took up in Missaukee county in November 1867.


The following spring, accompanied by his family, he went to occupy the homestead and from time to time induced others to settle in the same vicinity. In 1871 he assisted in organizing Clam Union township and later in 1872, Missaukee county. The business that he followed included both mercantile, with a general store, and lumbering.


In the early years of the organization of Missaukee county many township offices were held by Mr. Vogel. During one term of four years he served as judge of probation for Missaukee county.


Engaged in Lumbering


In his residence in Muskegon, Mr. Vogel was very actively engaged in lumbering and timber estimating. At one time he was a stockholder in the Ducey Lumber company, when it owned a sawmill at North Muskegon. He also had been employed at different times by that company. Torrent & Ducey, D. A. Blodgett and others.


For the last five years he was engaged in partnership with his son in the business of timber estimating under the firm name of John Vogel & Son. They operated principally in the south, in Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana and Kansas.


Mr. Vogel’s marriage was on June 23, 1867, at North Holland. Mrs. Vogel was formerly Miss Bertie Herweyer.


(NOTE: there is also a picture of Mr. Vogel with this article)


©  2004 -2020 of transcription by Barbara Lesser

©  2004 - 2020 of html coding and graphics Donna Hoff-Grambau

Volunteers hold copyright to the material they have donated for this site.  Not to be copied and used in any format to any other site or in any other media. 

THIS SITE IS PART OF THE MIGENWEB PROJECT

MIGenWeb Official Notices and Disclaimer

This server space page is provided by Michigan Family History Network genealogical server.