Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 19

Many corporate interests have felt the stimulus of the sound judgment of August H. Vogel and profited by his cooperation. He is now connected with a number of the important business interests of the city and since 1888 has been one of the executive officers of the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company, acting throughout this entire period, covering a third of a century, as secretary, general manager and vice president. Mr. Vogel is a native son, having been born in Milwaukee, December 16, 1862. His parents, Frederick and Auguste Vogel, were natives of Germany and emigrated to the new world in 1846. Frederick Vogel, Sr., was associated with Guido Pfister in founding the present Pfister & Vogel Leather Company, thus establishing one of the important productive industries of the city. He was likewise active and prominent in public affairs, serving as a member of the common council in 1856, while from 1874 until 1876 he represented his district in the general assembly.

Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, August H. Vogel attended the Milwaukee University School and was a student in the Milwaukee high school until 1878. He continued his education in the Adams Academy from 1879 until 1881 and in 1882 matriculated in Harvard University, where he pursued a four years' course, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1886. Returning at once to Milwaukee, he entered the banking business in connection with the Merchants Exchange Bank, of which he was an employee until 1888. In the latter year he became actively associated with the business of which his father was one of the founders and which from the beginning has been conducted under the name of the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company. Through the intervening period of thirty-three years August H. Vogel has been the secretary, general manager and vice president of the company and his thorough knowledge of every phase and branch of the business has enabled him to so direct his labors as to make the undertaking one of substantial success. As the years have passed he has extended his efforts into various other fields and is now a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the vice president and a director of the Savings & Investment Association of Milwaukee, the vice president and a director of the Johnson Service Company of Milwaukee, vice president and director of the Western Leather Company, vice president and director of the Eagle-Ottawa Leather Company of Chicago, Illinois, and a stockholder in still other concerns. His judgment is sound, his discrimination keen and he readily recognizes and utilizes the opportunity that comes through the constant changes which occur in business life.

On the 16th of February, 1892, in Milwaukee, Mr. Vogel was married to Miss Anita Hansen, daughter of Theodor L. Hansen of this city. Their children are six in number: August H., who wedded Virginia Cumner; Theodore F., who married Kathryn James; Hugo C; Rudolph E.; Elizabeth A.; and Anita. The religious faith of the family is that of St. James Episcopal church, in which Mr. Vogel is serving as senior warden, and he is also identified with various church activities, being president of the Martha Washington Home and president of St. John's Home.

In his political views Mr. Vogel has always been a stalwart republican, and while never an office seeker, he has done much, efficient public service as the occasion and need have arisen. He served as a member of the Milwaukee County Council of Defense in 1917 and 1918 and was regional advisor of the resources and conversion section of the war industries board. He acted as chairman during the first Liberty Loan campaign and as a member of the executive committee during the second, third and fourth Liberty Loan campaigns. He is now a trustee of the Milwaukee Citizens Bureau of Municipal Efficiency and his deep interest in educational advancement is shown in his service as a trustee of the Milwaukee-Downer College and trustee of the Milwaukee University School. He also enjoys the pleasures and companionships of club life and has membership in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, University, Milwaukee Country, Chenequa Country and Pine Lake Yacht Clubs. The interests and activities of his life are varied, making his a well-balanced character, and his most effective work has ever been done on the side of public progress and Improvement as well as in the advancement of business Interests.