Professor Augustus Stephen Vogt

1861 - 1926  (65 years)

• Name	Augustus Stephen Vogt
  Prefix	Professor
  Born	14 Aug 1861	Washington, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	music, education, story
  Name	A. S. Vogt
  Residence	1871	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Lutheran
  Occupation	1881	Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Music Teacher
  Residence	1891	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Lutheran
  Occupation	1902	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	organist
  Residence	1902	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-113837
  Died	Sep 1926	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I113837	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	John George "George" Vogt,   b. 26 Apr 1818,   d. 9 May 1902, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Marianna Zingg,   b. 1 Jan 1831, Langenthal, Canton Berne, Switzerland ,   d. 28 Jun 1925, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 94 years)
  Married	27 May 1848	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Family ID	F6784	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Augustus Stephen Vogt from Waterloo Region Hall of Fame
  		Augustus Stephen Vogt image from The Year Boo, of Canadian Art 1912-1912
  		August Stephen Vogt image from The Year Book of Canadian Art 1912-1913
  		Vogt,Augustus_Stephen-formal.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  A.S. (Augustus Stephen) Vogt. Choir conductor, administrator, educator, organist, pianist, b Washington, near Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont, of German and Swiss parents, 14 Aug 1861, d Toronto 17 Sep 1926; FRCO, honorary D MUS (Toronto) 1906. He received his early education in Elmira, Ont (where his family settled in 1865), and at 12 became the organist at St James Lutheran Church, playing an instrument made by his father, George Vogt, a pipe organ builder who had left Germany after the 1848 revolution. ....He was the only Canadian organist to perform at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In the mid-1890s he was the music critic for Saturday Night, writing under the pseudonym 'Moderato.' ... Vogt was honoured in various ways after his death. ... In 1936 the Vogt Society was founded in Toronto. The Canadian Encyclopedia https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index. Ruth Pincoe ______________________________ DEATH CLOSES BRILLIANT CAREER OF DR. A. S. VOGT World-Famous Founder of Mendelssohn Choir Is Called In His 65th Year FIGURE IN MUSICAL WORLD A Born Musician, Played Church Organ In Elmira When Only 12 Years Old Dr. Augustus Stephen Vogt, F.R C O., founder of the Mendelssohn Choir, Dean of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto Conservatory of Music, died Friday afternoon at Wellesley Hospital. Dr. Vogt was taken ill on Monday evening with intestinal flu. Cardiac complications developed. Until Friday morning, his physicians hoped for his recovery. Dr. Vogt, who was 65 years of age, had planned to leave in three weeks' time to spend the winter in Europe. Last winter he was in California. H. A. Fricker, Mus.-Doc., F.R.C.O., who succeeded Dr. Vogt as conductor of the Mendelssohn choir was so moved as to be almost unable to express his regret when informed of Dr Vogt's death. "We have lost one of our most important and well-loved figures in the musical world," said Dr. Fricker. Dr. Albert Ham, F.R.O., who has been a friend of Dr. Vogt's for nearly 30 years, always regarded him as the outstanding man for the position of director of the Toronto Conservatory of Music Born Musician A born leader, Dr. Vogt was also endowed with those qualities which distinguished the genius from the ordinary, and he had an unfailing tact to help him over rough spots. He had natural business ability, and was versed in many subjects entirely alien to his professional art. Dr. Vogt was born at Washington, a village in Oxford county. Aug. 14, 1861. His father was a builder ...... (Continued on page 3) To Dr. A.S. Vogt The following poem in the possession of Mrs. George Ruppel, a sister of the late Dr. A. S. Vogt, was written by S.T. Church and read to the famous conductor at a banquet tendered him on May 2, 1907 by the Toronto Glee Club: In Old Oxford County, some twenty leagues West, Where big cheeses flourish, and butter's, the best, And the people are honest 'cause they never quite know How to do up a fellow, before he does you: There a youngster was born-like most of us were, Not a rag to his back, and a scarceness of hair, Not a sign of a purse or one cent to his name, Nor else, to commend him to honor and fame. His advent: occurred without herald or horn, 'Twas taken for granted, like the dawn of the morn, So they wrapped him up warmly in garments of wool, No trouble gave he,--when his stomach was full. Year after year as older he grew, 'Twas clear to be seen what the lad 'meant to do, "He's music'ly bent," the neighbors would say, "He'll stir up the dust some day in some way. As time, moved along with its measured old sway. The lad jogged along 'mid his work and his play, Knowing not what the future held kindly in store, But he knew how to plod, and he plodded what's more. By diligence rare he rose step by step. A toiler was he while other folk slept, He had the good sense to keep his mouth still And grind well the grist that came to his(a) mill. So perfect his (b) megi, and so great the demand --Its fame even spread to the Yankee man's land- That the whole country 'round came in throngs to behold The grind of meal by this ( c ) miller so bold So he kept the mill grinding from year unto year, His smile tells of gladness, his laugh of good cheer, Discouragements never his purposes stop Like the hair on his head, he's come out on top! Let's crow him with honor, this miller of note Of whom critics have criticked their criticisms wrote Extend the glad hand of the teller so wise Who will wear a hat strictly normal in size Let us wish him long life in this land of his birth, Throngs Pay Stirring Tribute To Man Who Developed Great Musical Thought Funeral Held in Toronto Sir Robert Falconer Utters Touching Eulogy; Passing Mourned In Elmira Many fine tributes were paid to the memory of Dr. A. S. Vogt, Mus. Bac., L. L. D., Principal of Toronto Conservatory of Music, and Dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, when the funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Convocation Hall, Toronto and when several thousand citizens from many walks of life paid their last respects to the memory of the man who had done so much to build up the musical life of the city. The members of the Mendelssohn Choir, founded by the late Dr. Vogt, were present and occupied the main portion of the hall, and by the singing of a number of his favorite hymns, they made the funeral service of Dr. Vogt symbolic of the life he had lived in their midst. The body lay in state for two hours prior to the service, during which hundrededs of citizens passed before it to pay their tributes. Great banks of flowers massed the whole front of the hall; and over all there were evidences of deep sorrow on the part of the citizens, who had come so closely in touch with the late Dr. Vogt. Dr. F.A. Moure, of the University of Toronto, presided at the organ, while Rev. Henry Roche and Rev. Henry Marsh, of St. Paul's Anglican Church had charge of the service, and Sir Robert Falconer delivered the address. "Once again the country has been startled by the call which has come of one of its benefactors," Sir Robert said, "he was carried away suddenly, without a word of farewell, and his departure was in keeping with the spirit of his life. I feel he would have wished to go that way, without any lingering illness, and without the troubling thoughts that his later days would not be filled with the strength to enable him to carry on his work or to complete his unfinished duties. A Life of Achievement "Dr. Vogt rounded out 65 years of life, and, despite ill-health in his later years, his powers had not failed to the extent of preventing him carrying on an effective work. In the evening of his life he was able to look back upon a work well done, upon work which, won favorable recognition in the United States and Great Britain, and in other portions of the world." Sir Robert recalled that the late Dr. Vogt had three signal accomplishments. He founded the Mendelssohn Choir, he built up the Conservatory of Music, and he introduced the spirt of music to the University of Toronto. Among the chief mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Vogt Elmira, (the former a brother); Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Janson of Galt, (a sister) and Mr. and Mrs. (ter a sister) Mrs. George Ruppel S.H. Eby of St. Thomas. (the latter a sister).1a Elmira Signet - 1926 Sep 17 Comments: There were details provided for the section that was continued on page 3. The details pertaining to the sisters names were incomplete. ___________________________ Personals: Prof. A. S. Vogt, of Toronto, spent Sunday with his parents in town. Elmira Signet 17 Aug. 1893 p. 4, col. 4

  
  

• Sources

  [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div. 2 Page 4. [S144] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1871, Div. 2 Page 4. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 19. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira B pg 7. [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), 15 May 1902 - Obituary of George Vogt. [S13] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - Wellington District Marriage Register Part 1 1840-1852, Rev'd Jacob Huttner report 120. George Vogt, married to Mariann Zingz. 27 May 1848

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 14 Aug 1861 - Washington, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1871 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Music Teacher - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - organist - 1902 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Residence - 1902 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Died - Sep 1926 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth