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.14%0ERAL I7RITMS FROZECT
Alice G. Mitchell
Ogden, Utah
Weber County
May 9, 1939
Pioneer Personal History
GEORGE WILLIAM VOGEL
UTAH MIS 314
Revised 3-9-37
1. George Vogel
2. 319 Orpheum Apartments
3. Retired
4. Cooper, prior to Civil War, after Civil Jar he followed mining.
5. March 21, 1841
6, Piqua, Miami County, Ohio
7. 97 years.
8. Anna 7. 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 Air
Company of London at $75 per month. Hunting in the same outfit was
famous Bill Cody, known as Buffalo Dill. He and Mr. Vogel were
companions for 27 menthe 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 bufalo 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 seamed to be
Mr. Vogel explained the miner 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 rabit,
and did not carry the scent of the hunters to the buffalo, Mr. Vogel
could kill 50 buffalo at a tire without moving. IMENK MUM MIX
W. 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
George William Vogel Page 2.
of the wounded buffalo would infuriate the other buffaloes and start
them milling round and round. Then the hunters would shoot to kill.
Ralf 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 overing and start to train
them.
Mi. Vogel said they were a kindlier horse and be being kind they were
easily trained. All the huneers sueoess depended upon the ponies and
bowmen they had been trained. Mi. 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 had 1,716 skins to show for his work and We. Vogel
had 1,996.
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 Mi. Vogel's buffalo hunting was donw between Nebraska and the
Great Plains which comprised the states of: Nebraska, Kansas. Oklahoma,
and Texas. Each company had designated hunting grounds.
Mt. Vogel said that at that time there was an abundance of gramma
grass which fattened the buffalo until their meat was very rich.
Ur. 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 neat 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 Mt. 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 grows.
Par communication with each other they used fire brands at night and
looking glasses in the daytime.
There were 12 members in Mi. 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
George William Vogel Page 3
Bill took oommand and ordered his party to try to make the draw. The
Indians closed in on them to 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 causualities among Buffalo
Bill's outfit.
Mr. Vogel related seeing Chief Tecumseh's grave.. Be was buried 3
miles from Piqua* Ohio. Mr. Vogel related that he was aEreat warrior.
Mx. Vogel t:inins that the Sious Indian tribe is the finest tribe he
has ever mt. He could communicate with the Indians by signs.
A, Member of the Vigilante Group, at Huerfano County, Colorado.
Vogel was a member of a vigilante group lathe 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 in-
vitation, 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 1. Lucas Vogel. let 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.
W. 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, 1958. There were 5 members
of the Grand Arm 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 nook of Remembrance.