The Five Lives of Paul Vogel From Alsace to Payson Ray Burhop, author of "The Twenty-Illinois Infantry Regiment", "Okahumpka", "Chicago Burhop Family, Hanover to Chicago" and "The McCormicks of International Harvester" now turns his attention to the true story of the five lives of Paul Vogel. Paul's first life in Alsace, France was followed by his life in Chicago as an immigrant. His third life involved very intense service in the Civil War in a German speaking regiment. His fourth distinct life was as a bull-whacker, muleskinner, and wagon master moving freight to and through the West. His fifth and longest life was experienced in Payson, Arizona where he was a builder, miner, rancher, farmer and orchard developer. Throughout his life Paul Vogel was faced with many dangers from sailing across the ocean, moving to an unknown country, Civil War battles in the Union Army, Apache uprisings, robbers, feuds, mining risks, and explorer of the wild west.
About the Author: Ray Burhop is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has lived in Florida for over thirty years. During his career, he served as a Project Engineer for a large manufacturing corporation and later became the President of Burhop Associates, Inc. a consulting company for the packaging industry. Interest in the Civil War and in American History led Ray to the publishing of his first book entitled "The Twenty Fourth Illinois Infantry Regiment". His grandfather's experience in the building and first voyage of the Titanic generated Rays interest in this great ship. Ray became the Chief Docent for the Titanic exhibit during the nine month stay at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Fl. Ray was associated with Cracker Country, the living history museum at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL., serving as a tour guide, docent and "unofficial volunteer historian". The railroad depot originally located at Okahumpka, Florida is a very dominate feature at Cracker Country. The Director of the museum at Cracker Country suggested Ray initiate research on the depot and the town. The result was the publishing of, "Okahumpka, The History of a Florida Cracker Community". This was followed by the book of the Burhop family entitled "Chicago Burhop Family Hanover to Chicago" which traces the Burhop family from the birth of Gerke Burhop born in 1550 through to Herbert, Edwin, Henry and Lucille Burhop in the Twentieth Century. Presently Ray is serving as a volunteer tour guide at Paquette's Historical Farmall Museum in Leesburg, Florida where he became quite involved in the history of International Harvester, and of Cyrus McCormick. Ray's next book was entitled, "The McCormicks of International Harvester." Now Ray Burhop is offering "The Five Lives of Paul Vogel" which is the true story of an immigrant from Alsace, France who immigrated to Chicago, served in the Civil War and finally ended up in the wild west of Payson, Arizona as a gold miner, rancher, bull-wacker, and wagon master.