My Genealogy Hound

VOIGT BROTHERS.
Voigt Brothers, prominent business men of Topeka, whose large retail and wholesale baking establishment is located at No. 1121 East Sixth avenue, Topeka, are sons of Herbert and Mary Ann (Rupple) Voigt. William Albert, the senior member, was born October 28, 1873, in Cowley County, Kansas, and John Theodore, the junior member, was born at Topeka, May 19, 1881.

Theodore Voigt, the paternal grandfather, was a very highly educated and respected school teacher in Germany. Paul Rupple, the grandfather on the maternal side, was also a man held in esteem in Germany and at one time was elected mayor of the city of Darmstadt. Later he came to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. His death took place September 23, 1867.

Herbert Voigt was born in 1831 in Prussia and came to America a lad of 14 years, in 1845, settling in Wisconsin, where he followed the trade of stone-mason and brick-layer until 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, 33rd Reg., Wisconsin Vol. Inf., under General Fitch, and was discharged August 9, 1865, at Vicksburg. While in the army he had a sunstroke which prevented his working at his trade and in 1866 he came to Kansas, from Wisconsin, and settled at Topeka. Later he married and went to farming on 160 acres in Cowley County. This land he cleared and there he built a log house in which four of his oldest children were born. He died June 4, 1895.

The mother of our subject was born at Frankfort, Germany, in 1843, and came to America in 1850 with her father and to Kansas in 1866, being the first people to come to Topeka by train. Mr. and Mrs. Voigt had eight children, namely: Charles, Lizzie, Henry, William Albert, Frances Lena, Edward, John Theodore and Alexander. Charles died in infancy. Lizzie is the wife of W. T. Landis, of Auburndale, now baker for the Royal Bakery at Topeka, and formerly baker for the State Insane Asylum. They have six children. Henry and Edward died in infancy. Frances Lena is the widow of Mr. McClure, a printer, who died March 9, 1897, and is buried at Topeka. Alexander is a stenographer at Topeka and is also learning the electrical business.

On September 1, 1892, William A. Voigt, in association with his father, purchased the present bakery business from Orvil H. Thompson, and John T. Voigt learned the business here and on November 20, 1893, was taken into partnership. The business is conducted under the firm name of Voigt Brothers and they control a large trade, supplying Bedwell’s private insane asylum, in addition to the larger part of the residence district in the Second Ward. They have a well-equipped plant, deal both wholesale and retail and their goods are noted for excellence and variety. Both members of the firm are men of exemplary character.

William A. Voigt was married August 7, 1895, at Topeka, to Annie E. Snyder, who is a daughter of James M. and Mary E. (Lazarus) Snyder, natives of Pennsylvania, and they have four children: William Robert, Howard Murry, Mary Irene and Charles Albert. Mr. Voigt is one of the leading Republicans of his ward.

John T. Voigt was married December 14, 1904, at Topeka, to Lucy Emeline Hawkins, who is a daughter of William Deville and Mattie (Routhe) Hawkins, natives of Bluffton, Indiana. The father was born in New York and later came to Kansas where he engaged in work at the carpenter’s trade for some years. He still survives but his wife died July 3, 1884, and was interred at Bluffton. Like his brother, Mr. Voigt is a stanch Republican.