JOHN AUGUSTUS "GUS" DOLD was born in New York in 1861 according to the 1900 Federal Census. He generally went by his middle name, and was known to family and friends as "Gus". His father, Thomas Dold, immigrated to the United States from the Kingdom of Wurttemburg, which became part of the united German Empire in 1871.

The 1870 Census and 1880 Census shows the family in Rochester, New York. The 1880 Census lists Augustus Dold at 14 Bartlett Street in Rochester, New York. He was living with his father Thomas and older brother Jacob. ,"Gus" Dold was then working in a printers shop.

The Dold brothers came to Camden not long after the 1880 Census was taken. the 1883-1884 City Directory shows the brothers living at 1108 South 2nd Street. Both were working as laborers. They are listed as John A. Dold and John J. Dold in this Directory. Jacob Dold eventually moved back to Rochester.

The 1884-1885 Directory only shows John A. Dold. He was still living at 1108 South 2nd Street. He was then working as a sashmaker for Thomas Arrison at his business at 216 Liberty Street. He would remain in the employ of Arrison through May of 1894.

On September 6, 1886 John A. Dold marriued Emma Loux in Pennsylvania. The couple went to live in Camden, where John A. Dold worked. The Dolds had one child, George Thomas Dold, born in September of 1887.

The Dold brothers are listed in the 1887-1888 City Directory at 227 Chestnut Street. John A. Dold was still working for Thomas B. Arrison, by this time as a blindmaker. The family remained at 227 Chestnut Street through the compilation of the 1888-1889 Directory. John A. Dold was still following the blindmaker's trade when the 1890-1891 Directory was compiled. By this time he had moved to 247 Mount Vernon Street. He was still at that address when, on May 30, 1894, he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department.

John A. Dold was initially assigned to Engine Company 3. The 1895-1896 City Directory shows the crew at Engine Company 3 as follows: Foreman William Deno; Engineer, Samuel R. Lodge; Stoker, Lewis Buzine; Driver, George Shields; Hosemen, John Ware, and Augustus Dole (John Augustus Dold).

The Dolds remained at 247 Mount Vernon Street as late as 1898, before moving to 257 Mount Vernon Street.

The Dold family moved to 257 Mount Vernon Street by the time the Census was taken in 1900, and remained at that address through at the compilation of the 1906 Camden City Directory. By the time the 1910 Census was enumerated, they had moved to the then-new Parkside section of Camden, taking up residence at 1301 Park Boulevard. The 1918-1919 City Directory shows John A. Dold at 559 Trenton Avenue.

John Augustus "Gus" Dold retired from the Camden Fire Department on February 1, 1919. He was presented with a gold watch upon his retirement. John and Emma Dold retired to the Pocono Mountain region of northeastern, Pennsylvania. The 1920 Census lists them in Chestnuthill Township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Fire Department records from 1931 state that he was living at Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania.

John Augustus "Gus" Dold passed away on March 15, 1936. He was survived by his son, George Thomas Dold, who worked in senior management for the Public Service Gas & Electric Company.