Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Professor Augustus Stephen Vogt

Professor Augustus Stephen Vogt

Male 1861 - 1926  (65 years)

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  • Name Augustus Stephen Vogt 
    Prefix Professor 
    Born 14 Aug 1861  Washington, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Interesting music, education, story 
    Name A. S. Vogt 
    Residence 1871  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1881  Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Music Teacher 
    Residence 1891  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1902  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    organist 
    Residence 1902  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-113837 
    Died Sep 1926  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I113837  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

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

  • Photos
    Augustus Stephen Vogt
    Augustus Stephen Vogt
    from Waterloo Region Hall of Fame
    Augustus Stephen Vogt
    Augustus Stephen Vogt
    image from The Year Boo, of Canadian Art 1912-1912
    August Stephen Vogt
    August Stephen Vogt
    image from The Year Book of Canadian Art 1912-1913
    Vogt,Augustus_Stephen-formal.jpg
    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 
    1. [S130] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1881, Div. 2 Page 4.

    2. [S144] Census - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - 1871, Div. 2 Page 4.

    3. [S2057] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1891, Pg. 19.

    4. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira B pg 7.

    5. [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), 15 May 1902 - Obituary of George Vogt.

    6. [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
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 14 Aug 1861 - Washington, Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1871 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Music Teacher - 1881 - Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1891 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - organist - 1902 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1902 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Sep 1926 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth