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- [S72] Newspaper - Minnesota - New Ulm Review - Chronicling America, Charles Vogtel Death; News; 10 November 1920; Death of Vogtel Accident; viewed online; 28 April 2013.
Charles Vogtel Falls to Death
Dropped from Ninth Floor Window in Radisson Hotel Monday.
Was Victim of Apopletic Stroke, It is Thought. Funeral Today.
Citizens of New Ulm were shocked, Monday, shortly after dinner, when it was learned that Charles Vogtel, secretary and general manager of the Eagle Roller Mill Co. of this city, as well as president of the Marshall Milling Co. of Marshall and of the Century Milling co. of Minneapolis, had been instantly killed by a fall from a window on the ninth floor of the Radisson Hotel in the latter city at 11 o'clock that forenoon. The news spread to all sections of the city like wildfire and the expressions of regret and sympathy for deceased's family, occasioned by the loss of one of New Ulm's most influential and popular citizens, were heard generally.
Left Here Monday Morning.
Mr. Vogtel had boarded the early morning M & St. L train for Minneapolis on Monday, to confer with his son, H.C. Vogtel, acting manager of the Centruy Milling Co. of that city and with other officials of that company, as well as to transact other important business matters. He was met at the depot by his other son, Dr. M.A. Vogtel, who is practicing physician in Minneapolis, and they rode around town in the latter's car until 10 or 15 minutes before 9 o'clock when Mr. Vogtel went to the Radisson hotel. He told his son that he would meet him at the mill office at 10 o'clock, and the latter returned to his medical duties.
Telephoned from Hotel.
Mr. Vogtel called p Attorney Hjalmer Hoidale and P.A. Murphy, secretary and general manager of the Century Milling Co., from his room on the ninth floor of the hotel making appointments with both gentlemen for the meeting at the mill office at 10 o'clock. He also telephoned to Assistant Secretary E. J. Hoagland at the mill office, instructing the latter to defer action on all important business matters, pending his arrival, especially since his son, H.C. Vogtel, had just returned from a trip to Chicago that morning. Mr. Vogtel had considerable telephoning to do which kept him busy in his room for some time.
Terrible News Revealed
At about 10:30 o'clock H.C. Vogtel called up his father at the hotel and was informed that the latter was just preparing to leave for the mill office. An hour later, when he had not yet arrived there, Dr. M.A. Vogtel again telephoned to the hotel, but could not get in communication with his father. He called for Assistant Manager Shaefer, a personal friend of the deceased, to ascertain whether Mr. Vogtel had left the hotel. Mr. Shaefer told him that he had bad news to impart; that his father had fallen out of the window in his room and had been instantly killed.
Wrote Letter to Wife.
While in his room at the hotel, Mr. Vogtel had written a letter to his wife, having addressed, sealed and stamped it. The letter was found lying on a table, ready to mail. In it he told Mrs. Vogtel of his plans to go to Chicago, Monday evening, following the conference of mill officials which he had arranged, but said that he would telephone to her Monday afternoon, if he should decied to make the trip. He complained of becoming suddenly afflicted with a peculiar dizzy spell, which caused him to have trouble in breathing, and wrote that he had opened the window to get a breath of fresh air adding that the discomfiture would soon pass over and he would again feel all right. The handwriting of the letter is perfectly natural and shows no signs of Mr. Vogtel being anything but normal.
Apoplectic Stroke, Belief.
It is believed that Mr. Vogtel suddenly became afflicted with a stroke of apoplexy, either while opening the window again afer writing the letter to his wife or while seated on the window sill, which is only about a foot from the floor, to breath the fresh outdoor air. In this helpless condition it is thought that he lost his balance
(continued on page 4)
and fell out of the window. The fact that his watch stopped exactly at 11 o'clock, indicates that the terrible accident occurred at that time.
Suffered from Nervous Strain.
While not enjoying perfect health for some time, due to a severe nervous strain as the result of overwork in connection with his duties as general manager of the big New Ulm mill and as president of the mills at Marshall and Minneapolis, his physical condition gave no particular cause for alarm and he continued to devote his energies to the multitudinous details of the big enterprises. When advised by his son, Dr. M.A. Vogtel, some two months ago, to retire from the active management of the local mill and recuperate from the effects of the continual nervous strain under which he was working, Mr. Vogtel laughingly told him that he felt as young as ever and could not be happy away from his office. He was greatly taken up with the success of the enterprises in which he was interested an insisted upon attending to all important details connected therewith. He had a wonderful memory for business information and rarely had to consult the books or reports for figures.
Attend Church Program.
Sunday evening, together with Mrs. Vogtel, deceased attended the luncheon and subsequent social gathering at the Congregational church. He conversed freely with those present and apparently was feeling well. That afternoon, he and Mrs. Vogtel together with his brother Herman Vogtel, and the latter's wife, also of this city, had visited with his niece, Mrs. Carl F. Crone, at the Loretto Hospital, and they also enjoyed an auto ride around the city. When he departed for Minneapolis early Monday morning he was in the best of spirits, little realizing the terrible fait that awaited him there.
Was 53 years of Age
Mr. Vogtel was born in Alstadt, Saxe-Weimar, Germany, May 4, 1867, consequently being 53 years old at the time of his demise. He came to America with is parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Vogtel, when not quite three years old, landing in this country April 28, 1870. They came directly to New Ulm and this city has been his home for the greater part of the time since. After attending the local schools, which in those early days were quite primative, he accepted employment in a general store conducted by a man popularly known as "Cheap Charley", in the building that stood on the site of the present overall factory on Center street. A few years later he decided that St. Paul offered better opportunities in his chosen work as a salesman, and spent some two years in a clothing store in that city, later attending a business college there. This gave him new prospects and he accepted a position as a bookkeeper with the Swan Lake Milling Co. at Nicollet, which had been built by William Silverson and his brother, the late Charles Silverson, and remained with that institution until the mill was destroyed by fire, July 26, 1891, whereupon he returned to New Ulm and entered the employ of the Eagle Roller Mill Co. in a like capacity. Imbued with great ambition and a determination to climb the ladder of success, he gradually worked himself up until he became the chief assistant of the late Charles Silverson, at that time manager of the Eagle Roller Mill Co. Upon the latter's death in September, 1912, Mr. Vogtel was elected secretary and general manager of the constantly growing enterprise, which positions he has occupied ever since.
Purchased other Mills.
When Mr. Vogtel and a number of his business associates purchased the Marshall Milling Co. of, Marshall, Minn., in November, 1914, he was placed at the head of.this company. Similar action was taken by the stockholders of the newlyy re-organized Century Milling Co, of Minneapolis, when this enterprise was acquired by Mr, Vogtel and his associates in December 1917. The success of the two latter mills especially is due in a great measure to his keen business foresight and good judgment, as well as to his untiring efforts in attending to the important details connected with their management. He divided his time between the local institution and those at Marshall and. Minneapolis.
Aside from these arduous duties, he was a member of the board of directors of the Citizens State Bank of New Ulm for many years and up to the time of his death. When the Ulm Commercial Club was organized in 1908, he was chosen as a member of the first board of directors and continued in this capacity until last year, when he declined re-election on account of being overburdened with business matters. He was also a member of the park board of this city, at the time of his demise, having been appointed to this office upon the death of the late Otto Schell in 1912.
Married in 1890.
On December 19, 1890, while he was employed in the mill office at Nicollet, he was married to Miss Ida Freitag, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Freitag of that village, who survives him. He also leaves to mourn his loss two sons, Dr. M. A Vogtel and H. C. Vogtel, both of Minneapolis, as well as a brother, Herman Vogtel, of this city, and three sisters namely: Mrs. Chas. Stoll and Mrs. John Hoffmann (residing on North German street) of this city and Mrs. Herman Kiesling of Minneapolis.
Funeral Today.
The remains arrived here yesterday afternoon on the M. & St. L. passenger and were taken to the beautiful home of the deceased on South Broadway, where funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon.
They will be in charge of Charity Lodge No. 98, A. F. & A. M., of which Mr. Vogtel was a member for many years. He was also a member of New Ulm-Chapter No. 57, R. A.M. of De Molay Commandery No. 26, Knights Templar, which organization will act as escort at the obsequies ; of Minneapolis Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons, in which he held the 32nd degree, and of Zurah Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, of Minneapolis.
- [S76] Newspaper - Minnesota - New Ulm Weekly Review - MN Historical newspapers, Marriage of Vogtel-Freitag; Marriages; 17 December 1890; viewed online; 3 November 2013.
- [S138] Website - FamilySearch.org, Viewed and downloaded; 3 September 2023; Marriage license of Charles Vogtel and Ida Freitag.
Name Charles Vogtel
Sex Male
Age 23
Birth Year (Estimated) 1867
Spouse's Name Ida Freitag
Spouse's Sex Female
Spouse's Age 19
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1871
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 17 Dec 1890
Event Place Nicollet, Minnesota, United States
Certificate Number Page 380
Page 380
"Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M5-3Z2M : 9 March 2021), Charles Vogtel and Ida Freitag, 1890.
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Jindra and Chaloupka Families
1867 - 1920 (53 years)
[1] 
