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Biography of Jacob J. Vogt from "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York" (pages 338-340)

Jacob J. Vogt, a retired farmer and real estate dealer, and prominent citizen of Suspension Bridge, is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Rudy) Vogt, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1812.  His grandfather, Martin Vogt, Sr., was a native of Switzerland, where he lived and died.  The Swiss people live in villages, around which are located their farms and vineyards, and in one of those pretty villages, named Frankindorf (meaning Franklin village), situated in a picturesque valley with the irregular outline of rugged mountains plainly visible in the purple distance, dwelt Martin Vogt.  He was a prominent man in the community and served for many years as mayor (schultheis) of his village.  He was largely engaged in grape culture and the manufacture of wine.  He married and had two sons: Martin (father), and Henry, who succeeded to his father's office and estate, and continued in office until his death.  Martin Vogt (father) was born in the canton of Basle, Switzerland, in 1787, and when only thirteen years of age, in 1800, he emigrated to America and located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1828, when he removed to Niagara county, which was then mostly a dense forest.  Here he lived until 1836, in which year he went to Maccutcheonsville, Wyandotte county, Ohio, and after a residence of nine years there, removed in 1845 to Bellevue, that State, where he died January, 1849.  He married Elizabeth Rudy and had a family of six sons and two daughters, his wife dying on June 18, 1849.  In politics Mr. Vogt was a Jacksonian democrat, and took an active part in the public questions of his day.  He was a member of the German Evangelical church, and was prominent in his denomination, being deeply concerned in the advancement of all religious interests.  In business he was a man of great energy and enterprise.  While in Philadelphia he ran a line of freight wagons between that city and Pittsburgh before the canal was constructed, and on going to New York purchased seventy-five acres of forest land from the Holland Land Company, and by hard work, converted it into a fertile farm, which is now owned by the construction company, and known as the Cunningham farm.  After removing to Ohio he was also engaged in farming on an extensive scale, until old age terminated his activity. John Rudy, maternal grandfather of Jacob J. Vogt, was born in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland, and emigrated to America in 1787, locating at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1814, when about eighty years of age. He was a silk weaver by trade, and followed that occupation in Switzerland, but after coming to America was engaged in managing a cotton factory in Philadelphia. He married, and reared a family of seven children: Frederick; John, who was a minister of the German Reformed church and died in the city of New York while serving there as a missionary; Jacob, a comb manufacturer of Philadelphia; Adam, died in Philadelphia; Henry, Magdaline, and Mariah.
Jacob J. Vogt received his education in the common schools of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and came with his parents to Niagara county, this State, when sixteen years of age. For many years he engaged in the cultivation of the soil and fruit farming, meeting with good success, but has also dealt considerably in real estate, and now owns a fine farm of two hundred and four acres in the town of Niagara, this county, his deed for which was procured from the State and signed by Governor Hunt. In 1885 he retired from active work and removed to Suspension Bridge, where he has since resided. In politics he was formerly a whig, but is now a democrat, and has served as commissioner, assessor, and overseer of highways for many years, giving general satisfaction in all his official relations. He is a member of the German Evangelical church, of which he was a trustee for twenty years, until his recent resignation.
On April 17, 1834, Mr. Vogt united in marriage with Catherine Beaber, daughter of Philip Beaber, by whom he had a family of six children: Christina, married William E. Sheoffer, a farmer of Lockport, this county; Elizabeth, married Wm. P. Metnze; Catherine, Fanny, Mariah, and Jacob. Mrs. Vogt was a French lady of refinement, and was born in Alsace, France, and emigrated to America with her parents in 1826, and settled in Erie county, this State. She died June 30, 1884. Mr. Vogt lived with her for over fifty years. He was again married in August, 1886, to Mrs. Henrietta (Schliner) Swatze.
As will be seen by the date of his coming into Niagara county, Mr. Vogt is one of her early pioneers, and has spent a long life of faithful work within her borders, aiding to develop the county and advance her material interests. In his occupation on the farm and as an operator in real estate he has been quite successful, and now enjoys a handsome competence and is honored and respected by his friends and fellow citizens. He is to give $4,000 on a new church, provided the congregation gives $4,000, which they are now at work on. He has given in all about $20,000 to churches and charitable objects.

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