P E T E R      V O G T    FAMILY

 

Compiled by Robert Buecher, 5400 Pernod Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63139-1537

E-mail:  rgb7847@aol.com

[Revised: 25 August 2007]

 

[This information corrects and updates the family sketch that was published on page 550 of the HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IL, VOLUME 1, published in 1988]

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Peter VOGT was an early settler and long time farmer in Section 16 of Stookey Township, St. Clair County, Illinois.

 

According to the baptism records of the Evangelical Church of Erlenbach (Germersheim), Peter was born on Thursday, 18 September 1800 at Erlenbach, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany.  He was the first child of barber, Friedrich Jacob VOGT and Susanna Elisabetha, nee RUNCK [ca. 1769-1813].  He was baptised on 21 September 1800 as "Georg Peter VOGT", but was known in the United States as Peter VOGT.

 

Erlenbach ([1]) is a small village located between Landau and Kandel in the "Landkreis" [County] of Germersheim.  Erlenbach is 12 kilometers (about 7 1/2 miles) west of the Rhine River and 18 kilometers (11 miles) northwest of the city of Karlsruhe.  The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has microfilmed the Evangelical Church records of this town for the years  1729-1958.

 

A notation on his marriage record at Erlenbach, states that Peter VOGT had served in the German military and had been discharged from service on 21 Dec. 1824.

 

Peter VOGT, a mason, was married to Miss Margaretha Catharina LEPERE ([2]) on 28 December  1826 at Erlenbach.  She was born [3]  at Erlenbach on Friday, 1 March 1805 and was the first child born to farmer Johann Philipp LEPERE [1785-1872] and his wife, Anna Catharina, nee NUSS.  She was baptised at Erlenbach on 6 March 1805 as "Cath. Margar. Lepere", but went by the name of "Margaretha".

 

The Peter VOGT family, including the parents and four children ([4])  emigrated to the United States sometime in 1835.  They may have arrived at the port of New Orleans, although a ship passenger list has not yet been found for them  [5].  It is believed that they may have traveled to the United States with the Johann Philipp LEPERE family, which was also from Erlenbach and Mr. LEPERE was the father-in-law of Peter VOGT.  Both families settled near each other in Stookey Township in  St. Clair County, IL.   Both families were early members of Zion Evangelical Church which was founded in January 1836 near Millstadt.  The two families later belonged to Concordia Evangelical Church when it was founded in 1851 in Stookey Township.

 

The Peter VOGT family is listed as follows in the 1840 Federal Census of St. Clair County, Ill.; page 253:

 

                                    Peter VOGT   [head of family]

 

                        1 male, under 5 years   [son, Philipp born 1839]

                        1 male, 5-10 years                    [son, William born 1834]

                        1 male, 10-15 years     [son, Johann Georg born 1829]

                        1 male, 30-40 years     [Peter born 1800]

                        1 female, 5-10 years    [daughter, Dorothea born ca. 1831]

                        1 female, 10-15 years               [daughter, Catharine born 1827]

                        1 female, 30-40 years               [Peter’s 1st wife, Margaretha born 1805]

 

A complete list of the children born to Peter VOGT and Margaretha, nee LEPERE, will be found at the end of this sketch.

 

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Peter's first wife, Margaretha, died sometime after the birth of her daughter, Esther, in Sept. 1844 but before July 1846.  No exact date or record of her death has been found.

 

Peter VOGT's second wife was Eva Maria HUTMACHER whom he married at St. Louis, Missouri on 11 July 1846 ([6])  The marriage was performed by Pastor F. Picker of the Holy Ghost United Church of Christ in St. Louis.  The witnesses were Michael Hutmacher & Carolina Schade.  Eva Maria Hutmacher was supposedly born on 10 July 1803 at Steinweiler ([7] ).  Eva immigrated to the United States with her mother & siblings on the ship “Viola” which landed at the port of New Orleans on Oct. 30, 1845 ([8]).   Eva died in Stookey Township on 12 Jan. 1866 ([9]) at the age of 63 years and was buried on 13 Jan.  There were no known children born to this second marriage.  Peter may have previously known his 2nd wife, since Steinweiler is only about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of Erlenbach.

 

The VOGT family is found as follows in the 1850 Census [Roll 126; St. Clair County, IL, District 11, Centreville (Millstadt), p. 259 & 260 handwritten numbers, family # 2020]:   Note that the VOGT surname is mispelled as "FIKE".

 

            NO.     NAME                        AGE    SEX     OCCUPATION          NATIVITY

            2020   FIKE, Peter                  50        M         Farmer                         Germany

                                    Eve                  48        F                                              Germany

                                    George             20        M                                             Germany

                                    William             18        M                                             Germany                                                                      Phillip               12        M                                             Ill.

                                    Peter                8          M                                             Ill.

                                    Sis [Esther]       7          F                                              Ill.

 

                                    

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The 1860 Census [Roll 224; St. Clair Co., IL; Township 1 North, Range 9 West (Stookey Township); page 405; family # 864]:  Note again that the VOGT surname is spelled as "FIKE" and that the age of Eva (Peter’s second wife) should be about 57.  Perhaps the digits were reversed.

 

            NO.     NAME                        AGE    SEX     OCCUPATION          NATIVITY

            864      FIKE, Peter                 60        M         Farmer                         Germany

                                    Effa [Eva]         75        F                                              Germany

                                    George             31        M                                             Germany

                                    Estee [Esther] 16          F                                              Illinois

                                    Phillip               20        M                                             Illinois

                                    Peter                18        M                                             Illinois

 

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Peter's third and final marriage was in St. Clair Co., IL, on 14 May 1867 to Mrs. Margaretha (SCHAUMANN) KOCH, widow of John Michael KOCH.  The wedding was performed by Rev. Albert Zeller of Zion United Church of Christ in Millstadt ([10]). There were no known children born to this third marriage, although Margaretha did have several children from her first marriage to Mr. KOCH.

 

Margaretha SCHAUMANN was born on 16 October 1820/1821 at Kruechenbrum, Bavaria, a daughter of Friedrich SCHAUMANN and Anna Margaretha, nee SCHELLER. She came to America with her first husband, Johann Michael KOCH, landing at New Orleans, Louisiana on 13 Nov. 1846 aboard the ship "Emily Taylor" which sailed from Bremen.  She died on 27 June 1904 at her home in Millstadt and was buried with her first husband at Freivogel Cemetery. [11]

 

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The 1870 Census [Roll 280; St. Clair Co., IL, Centerville (Millstadt); page 24; family/house number 180/190] shows the family as:

 

                        NAME                        AGE    OCCUPATION          NATIVITY

                        VOGT, Peter               70        retired farmer                Bavaria  ([12])

                                    Margaret          50        keeping house               Bavaria

                        KOGH [KOCH], Micheal age  7   at home                  Illinois ([13])

 

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The 1880 Census [Roll 247; St. Clair Co., IL; Millstadt; page 31; line 50] lists only Peter and his 3rd wife in their household.

 

                        NAME                        AGE    OCCUPATION          NATIVITY

                        VOGT, Peter               79        Private life                    Bavaria

                                    Margaretha       59        wife                              Bavaria

 

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Peter VOGT died at 2:30 P. M. on Friday, 26 November 1880 at his residence in Millstadt.  Peter reached the age of 80 years, 2 months, and 8 days.  His survivors are numbered as being 5 of his 9 children, 40 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. ([14]) His death certificate was filled out by Dr. John A. Vogel of Millstadt, who listed the cause of death as "apoplexy".  Dr. Vogel further stated that the “deceased had been afflicted for years with spinal irritation and in the latter days with astma [asthma]; saw him only once when dying.”  On the line for “Nationality and place where born” was written “Erlbach, Bavaria, Germany”.  On the line for “How long resident in this state” was written “since the year 1835”.  Burial was on 28 Nov. 1880 at Concordia Cemetery  ([15]), north of Millstadt.  The undertaker was his son-in-law, Peter Strauss of Millstadt.

 

The will of Peter VOGT was written & signed on 26 Jan. 1877 and filed on 6 December 1880 with the Circuit Clerk of St. Clair County, Illinois, in Book G, pages 299 and 301-307.  The original will was written in German and both the one in German and an English translation are found recorded in the probate records.  Only the English translation is found below.  Corrected or additional information is found between brackets and was supplied by Robert Buecher in May 1998.

 

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T R A N S L A T I O N

 

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF PETER VOGT, DECEASED

 

Centerville ([16]), St. Clair County, State of Illinois

 

    This the 26th day of January 1877, have I the undersigned Peter Vogt, in consideration of my advanced age and the perishibness [?] of this human life, declared the following as my Last Will and Testament.

 

    After the payment of all my lawfull debts, all my remaining estate of whatsoever it may consist, shall be devided in the following manner:

 

    All my household furniture shall be the property of my beloved wife Margaretha, also one Note of $ 500.00 executed and signed by Mistres Maier, Wilhelm Vogt and Karl Waelti on the 29th May 1871; also one Note of $ 500.00 executed the 8th of December 1873 by Peter Vogt Jr. and payable to Margaretha Vogt.  Should the first named and by Mrs. Meier executed Note be paid during my lifetime, and I should loan the money otherwise, then my beloved wife shall receive a like sum.

 

    Further shall my wife, whom I hereby appoint my Executrix, six months after my decease, pay the following sums to my following named Children and grandchildren providing she is able to collect the existing Certificate of indebtedness.

 

    1. To my son Wilhelm Vogt $ 150.00

    2. to my son Peter Vogt $ 150.00

    3. to my Karl Weygandt, son of my daughter out of her first marriage $150.00

    4. to Margaretha Leiderlinden [Beiderlinden], now intermarried with Walter, daughter of my daughter Dorothea, out of first marriage $150.00

    5. to my daughter Esther, intermarried with Wagner $150.00

    6. to Phillip, Elizabetha and Anna Vogt, children of my deceased son Phillip Vogt, each the sum of $50.00 at their maturity.

 

    As my oldest son George Vogt has allready received assisstance from me, I have herein omitted him.  Further shall, after my decease, the following certificates of indebtedness, which I now hold, be delivered to the respective persons to whom the same are made payable, providing that all interest due on them are paid, to wit:

 

    One Note dated May 13th 1867 for $1000.00 signed by Peter Vogt and Wilhelm Vogt payable to Dorothea, intermarried with Huwe my daughter, one Note of the same date, amount and signatures to my son George Vogt, one Note, same as the two preceeding ones to my daughter Esther, intermarried with Wagner, one Note of the same date and like amount signed by Phillip Vogt, but now payable by Peter Vogt Jr., to my daughter Katharina, intermarried with Strauss.

 

    One Note for $600.00 dated December 18th 1873, executed by Peter Vogt, shall become the property of the three above named children of my deceased son Phillip, as soon as they arrive at maturity. 

 

    As I have paid the sum of $150.00 to one Louisa Ebersohl for Adolph Weygandt first husband of my daughter Katharina, and not charged, she shall be required to pay the same sum without interest to my Estate.

 

    As allready above mentioned, I appoint my beloved wife Margaretha to be Executrix of this my last Will without being required to give security and she shall be the sole heirs of my Estate which not allready bequeathed in the foregoing distribution.

 

    This the twentysixth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven, have I in presence of the undersigned witnesses and being of sound mind & memory and under no constraint signed the foregoing as my last Will with my own hand.

 

                                  Peter Vogt  {Seal}

 

Witnesses.                                          

        Joseph Veile

      Andreas Boehm

 

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    On the 10th day of January, One thousand Eight hundred and Eighty, I have made the following Codicill to my Will made by me January 26th 1877.

 

    The sum of $1000.00 which I have bequeathed in the foregoing Will to my beloved wife Margaretha, shall in case they are in my hands and should have the misfortune that my wife should die before me, go to her son Johann Michel Koch, and further shall in that case all my personal property, not otherwise disposed of, go to my daughter in Law Maria Vogt, in consideration of her Kind nursing and attentance to me.

 

    Further do I declare the foregoing in the presence of witnesses, as a Codicill to my foregoing Will and have signed the same in good sound mind and memory.

 

Witnesses:  Joseph Veile                         Peter Vogt  {Seal}

            Andreas Boehm

 

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In the Name of God, Amen !

 

    I, Peter Vogt, in Millstadt in St. Clair County in the State of Illinois being of sound mind and memory, although of the age of 79 years and in consideration of this frail and transitory Life, ordain the following as a Codicill to my last Will and Testament & the same shall be as valid as my Will heretofore made.

 

    Namely I ordain and hereby direct that my daughter Katharina Strauss, intermarried with Peter Strauss can not and shall not receive anything from the inheritance which I or my heirs may receive from my deceased sister Appolonia Wiest of Cincinati in the State of Ohio, but that her son Charles Weygandt instead of his mother shall have the same rights to an equal share of the above said inheritance as my own children, and to which I hereby fully authorize him, in consideration of the said Charles Weygandt having heretofore been prejudiced in his rights.

 

    In order to make the foregoing valid I have signed the foregoing in presence of the undersigned witnesses, this 31st March 1880.

 

                                                Peter Vogt  {Seal}

 

    The above instrument was signed in the presence of us by Peter Vogt and declared by him as a Codicill to his foregoing Last Will and Testament, and at the request of the Testator and in his presence we have signed our names thereto this 31st day of March 1880.

 

                                                John F. Breidecker  {Seal}

                                                Ch. Bangert Jr.     {seal}

 

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The following  8 (eight) known children were born to Peter VOGT and his first wife, Margaretha, nee LEPERE: 

 

1.)  Katharine VOGT

                born:  24 Aug. 1827 at Erlenbach

                died:  15 Feb. 1903 in Millstadt, IL

                married:  (# 1.)  Adolph WEYGANDT on 16 May 1850 in Millstadt, IL

                                (# 2.)  Peter STRAUSS on 30 Aug. 1855 in Millstadt, IL

 

(2.) Johann George VOGT was born at Erlenbach on 12 Sept. 1829 and died at Belleville on 15 April 1900.  He was married at least 4 times.  His first wife was Charlotte HECKEL/HAECKEL, whom he married in St. Clair County on 3 June 1856.  She died sometime between 1864 and 1867.  His second wife was Ottilie OLDENDORPH to whom he was married on 23 April 1867 by the minister of Concordia Church, Stookey Township.  The third wife was Mrs. Maria VOGT, nee KOCH, the widow of his brother, Peter (Jr.) (1842-1878).  The fourth wife was Mrs. Christina BRUNNER of St. Louis. 

 

(3.) Dorothea VOGT was probably born in Erlenbach ca. 1831-1834 and died in St. Louis, MO on March 30, 1908.  Her first marriage was to Jacob BEIDERLINDEN on 18 Jan. 1851 at St. Louis, MO.  Her second marriage was to Benedict HUWE on 9 Jan. 1857 in St. Clair Co., IL.  An article in the BELLEVILLE ADVOCATE of 17 Dec. 1886 stated that Dorothea filed for divorce from Benedict, charging him with "cruelty & drunkeness".  After her divorce, Dorothea resided in St. Louis until her death. 

 

(4.) William VOGT was born at Erlenbach on 11 Oct. 1834 and died on 13 April 1912 at Columbia, Ill.  He was married to Juliane "Julia" WAELTI on 9 Dec. 1856 in Stookey Township, St. Clair Co., IL.  She was born at Bubikon, Switzerland, on 16 March 1840 and died at Columbia, IIl., on 8 Jan. 1925. 

 

(5.) Friedrich VOGT was baptised in St. Clair Co. on 25 June 1837 by Rev. J. J. Riess (the minister of Zion United Church of Christ, Millstadt), and is presumed to have died as an infant or young child sometime before the 1840 Census

 

(6.) Philipp VOGT was born in Stookey Township on 16 April 1839 and died there on 13 June 1872.  He married Maria KECK on 10 May 1864 in Stookey Township

 

 

(7.) Peter VOGT (Jr.) was born in Stookey Township on 8 April 1842 and died near Millstadt on 25 Nov. 1878.  He married his step-sister, Maria KOCH, on 23 Jan. 1866 in Stookey Township. 

 

(8.) Esther VOGT was born in Stookey Township on 4 Sept. 1844 and died in St. Louis, MO, on 12 July 1924.  She married Charles WAGNER at Millstadt on 15 May 1866.  The family moved from Millstadt to St. Louis sometime after 1875.  After the death of Charles in 1885, she married Fred KUSE on 31 Aug. 1888 at St. Louis, MO. 


[1]  In July 1993 after the reunification of Germany, its postal code number was "76872 Erlenbach bei Kandel"

[2]  Her name is incorrectly written on that record as "Anna Katharina LEPERE”

[3]  Erlenbach Evangelical-Reformed Church; Family History Library Microfilm # 0193838; Taufen 1805; page 210.   She was christened as "Cath. Margar. Lepere" but on most records she is listed as "Margaretha" or "Anna Margaretha" Lepere.

[4]  The 4 children were: Katharina (born 1827);  Johann Georg (born 1829);  Dorothea (born ca.  1831); and  William (born 1834).

[5]  There are many missing New Orleans passenger ship lists for the years 1835 and 1836.

[6]  The marriage is recorded with the Recorder of Deeds for the City of St. Louis in Book 3, page 334 [bride’s surname is mispelled as “Hatmarker”].  It is also recorded in the marriage records of Holy Ghost United Church of Christ, St. Louis, page 301

[7]  Her birth year of 1803 and her birthplace of “Steinweiler” is found in her burial record at Concordia United Church of Christ, Stookey Township.  The exact birthdate of “10 July 1803” was sent in an e-mail message in April 2004 from a Hutmacher researcher (Harry Weber of Iowa City, IA).

[8]  "Passenger & Immigration Lists: New Orleans, 1820-1850" on CD-Rom # 358 by Family Tree Maker & Broderbund, 1999.  [Ship list found on National Archives Series M259, roll # 24]

[9]  Martha Mae Schmidt, Church & Cemetery Records of Concordia United Church of Christ, R. R. 3, Belleville, IL 62223 (compiled & published in 1986), deaths p. 165

[10]  This marriage is recorded in the marriage records of Concordia United Church of Christ in Stookey Township and in the records of Zion Evangelical Church, Millstadt, IL.  It was also recorded with the Clerk of St. Clair County, license # 2488. 

[11]  Information found in her obituary published in the Millstadt Enterprise, Friday, July 1, 1904, page 5

[12]  he is listed as being a citizen of the U. S. although his naturalization record has not been found

[13]  Michael was a child from Margaret's first marriage to John Michael Koch

[14]  Martha Mae Schmidt, Church & Cemetery Records of Concordia United Church of Christ, R. R. 3, Belleville, IL 62223 (compiled & published in 1986), deaths p. 177

[15] No tombstone has been found for him but his great-grandaughter, Ida (METZGER) WEISSENBORN (1889-1973),  told her grandson (Robert Buecher) in the early 1970’s that it was "in the old section and close to the edge of Concordia Road".  His death certificate calls the cemetery  “Flickingers Graveyard 3 miles North of Millstadt”.

[16]  Centerville/Centreville was the original name for Millstadt when the town was founded in March 1837.  On Sept. 14, 1878, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Centreville passed a revised ordinance which changed the name of the village to “Village of Millstadt”.