THIS SERIES OF CACHES ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE VIA THE BUTLER FREEPORT TRAIL. There is plenty of parking at each trailhead. DO NOT DRIVE ON THE TRAIL, you may hike or bike to each cache.
The Vogeleys
Vogeleyville was a small village in Summit Township where William Vogeley ran the Vogeley Coal Company from 1911 to sometime in the 1930’s when the union between deep mined coal and the railroads ended. George Vogeley, Sr., Wiiliam’s father, was a native of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, born August 5, 1793. He immigrated to the United States in 1836, first settling in Pittsburg, where he followed the shoemaker's trade for three years. He then moved to Butler County and settled in Saxonburg. He opened a general store and also carried on his shoemaker trade. He subsequently engaged in the hotel business in that village called the Vogeley House today known as the Hotel Saxonburg. He ran the Vogeley House about twenty-five years. In 1866 he retired from active business and moved to Butler where he died on February 22, 1871. Mr. Vogeley was married in Germany, to Anna E. Mardorf, who became the mother of eleven children, as follows: Conrad, who died in Pittsburg, in 1883; Christopher, who died in Allegheny County, in 1871; John, who died in California, in 1871; William, who died in Butler, in 1873; George, who lived in Butler; Edward, who died in California, in 1850; Anna, widow of Frederick Holeman; Annie G., who died in infancy; Mary E., who also died in youth; Charles C., lived in San Francisco, and Hannah, wife of Frederick Weigand. Mr. Vogeley was for many years a leading citizen of Saxonburg. In early life he was connected with the Evangelical Church of Saxonburg. After locating to Butler he united with the Reformed Church, of which he was an active member for many years. In politics, he was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican.
William Vogeley, fourth son of George and Anna E. Vogeley, was born in Germany December 10, 1822. He received a limited education in his native town. He worked for his father at Saxonburg coming to Butler in 1842. He purchased what was then known as the Rising Sun tavern, a log structure, which stood upon the site of the Vogeley House which he subsequently erected. He conducted business at the Vogeley House in Butler up to 1867, when he retired from active life. Mr. Vogeley was interested largely in real estate, was also extensively engaged in farming, and operated an early coal mine on his farm. He was a public-spirited citizen, and took an active interest in local affairs. He was one of the original members of the Reformed Church of Butler and contributed liberally towards the erection of the old church building on Mifflin Street. He was one of the first directors of the Butler Savings Bank Mr. Vogeley married Mary E. Oesterling, daughter of John Oesterling, of Summit Township, a native of Germany. Their family consists of eleven children, six of whom died in youth, and five grew to maturity, as follows: David E., who was teller of the Butler Savings Bank, and died in 1875; Annie, wife of W.H. Ensminger; Mary, wife of W.F. Metzgar; Amelia, wife of W.A. Stein, and Theodore. Mr. Vogeley died, October 5, 1873.