Biography and Obituaries

Albert C Bogert and his wife Leah Duryea lived on the Bogert farm at Sluckup, an area later called Spring Valley, along Spring Valley Road in Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey.

Albert was an itinerant shoemaker during the winter months and farmed the rest of the year.

The family moved to Paterson in the 1830s.

1850 United States Census: Manchester Township, Passaic County, New Jersey

• John A. Bogert, 22, carpenter
• Elizabeth, 18
• Albert, 1
• Listed living in the same dwelling, but a separate family
• Albert C. Bogert, 69, clerk
• Leah, 69.

OBITUARY

The announcement this morning was that Mr. Albert C. Bogert, aged one hundred and one last April, could not survive the day.

He enjoyed his usual health up to about two weeks ago, when he lost his appetite, with the coming of the warm weather, and since then he has steadily failed. His appetite has always been wonderful for so old a person; he has usually eaten with the relish of a young person three times a day, and this kept up his strength.

This morning he said himself that it was his last day, adding, “Well, I have had a good long life and I’m all packed up and ready to go.” This seems like a fitting end to a quiet, uneventful, godly life which has already extended beyond a century.

Mr. Bogert has for very many years been a member of the First Reformed Church, first in Main Street and afterward in Division Street, to which location it was removed after the fire, and it appears from his conversation that he is not afraid or even reluctant to meet death. His mind is no more impaired than at any time for years back; it seems rather clearer, if anything, and his conversation is brightly intelligent. A more wonderful instance of the preservation of the faculties in extreme old age and weakness has rarely been seen. He knows everybody who approaches him, and talks calmly on any subject to the extent of his strength. His eldest son, and namesake, is with him today. It is a singular fact that his hearing, which has been very poor for a good while, has been almost completely restored, while his eyesight, which has been wonderfully perfect, has failed him and he is very nearly blind.

~ Source: Daily Guardian -Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey - Tuesday, 27 June 1882

Obituary : DEATH OF PATERSON’S CENTENARIAN.

Albert C. Bogert, the centenarian, died last evening a few minutes past six o’clock, after a day every moment of which was expected to be his last. The tenacity with which this aged man held on to life was something wonderful. For many hours he lay with scarcely any signs of vitality, too weak to utter a word and yet apparently perfectly conscious and sensible, feebly raising his hand when he wanted anything.

Six of his seven living children were with him, the absentee being one of his two daughters, whose home is in a distant city. The other is Mrs. Sarah Mason, with whom he has lived for years past, at 4 North Main Street. Dr. T. Y. Kinne has been in attendance on Mr. Bogert during his illness, which has lasted but about three weeks. There did not seem to be any organic disease, but a general breaking up of the house of clay which had already stood so long beyond the allotted span. The important organs of the body were in a normal condition so far as could be determined by ordinary diagnosis, except that they were worn out, and now “the weary wheels of life stand still;” that is all.

For some time past Mr. Bogert could take only liquid nourishment, and for about seven days scarcely anything but water. Everything else whatever appeared to disagree with him, and he did not often desire anything more. He seemed to be perfectly confident yesterday morning that he was commencing his last day, and intimated as much, adding that he was “packed up and ready.”

Many old friends, in addition to his numerous relatives, came in to see him during the day, and many were in the house when death came, painless apparently, and almost imperceptibly, so little was there at the last to opposing his taking possession.

The facts of the birth and uneventful life of the deceased have been so often published on the recurrence from year to year of his birthday, since he became a person of mark because of his extreme old age, that little need be said in this regard now; a very brief sketch will suffice.

So far as known, Albert C. Bogert was for some year past the oldest citizen of New Jersey. Just three months ago today, he celebrated his one hundred and first birthday, having been born March 28, 1781, in Spring Valley, Bergen County, called in the olden time by the Dutch who settled there “Sluck-up.”

His father was a farmer and the son lived for sixty years – a good average lifetime – on the farm where he was born, after which he went out into the world. He had learned the shoemaker’s trade and for many years went about the country after the manner of those days, with his “kit” on his back, making and mending shoes for the farmers, who themselves furnished the leather tanned from the hides of their own beasts.

For a time after he succeeded his father, who died at the age of eighty-one, in the occupancy of the farm, he “farmed it” in the Summer season, and travelled with his “kit” in the Winter. Later, and up to about twenty years ago, he was in the shoe business, making and selling, in this city, a part of the time in company with an elder son.

He married, at about twenty-one years of age, Miss Leah Duryea, the daughter of a neighboring Bergen County farmer, and twelve children were the fruit of this union. Seven of these are still living, their ages ranging from forty-six to seventy-three years. He had thirty-five grandchildren, eighty-six great grandchildren, and twelve great great grandchildren; altogether he leaves one hundred and forty descendants.

He had lost by death five children, thirty grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren, so that he was up to last evening the living progenitor of one hundred and ninety persons, a remarkable fact.

The wife of deceased died thirty years ago. He never took any medicine in his life – not needing any – until quite recently.

He was an inveterate smoker until less than three years ago, when he was aged ninety-nine. Then, the pipe disagreeing with him, causing nausea and dizziness, he one day said to it: “You make me sick and hurt me, and now I’ll hurt you; lie there till I call for you.” Suiting the action to the words he threw down the old clay pipe, which was broken into many pieces, and he never touched tobacco afterwards. He gave the queer, rough looking homemade iron tobacco box which he had carried for fifty years to his eldest son, telling him to give it to his eldest when he gave up the weed, which he advised him to do.

Mr. Bogert voted at every Presidential election since Jefferson’s first candidacy. He was first a Whig, and afterward became a Republican, when that party was formed.

The funeral of Mr. Bogert will take place tomorrow, the services at the house, No. 44 North Main Street, being fixed for two o’clock and at the Division Street Reformed Church at 2:30 P.M.

Friends may view the remains during the forenoon at the house, and an opportunity will also be given at the church.

The venerable Dominie Duryea, of the Second Reformed Church, Rev. Mr. Danner, pastor of the Division Street Church, and Rev. Mr. Wigg, pastor of Grace M. E. Church, will officiate. Doubtless the funeral will be a very large one.

~ Source: Daily Guardian - Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey - Wednesday, 28 June 1882

DEATH NOTICE

• Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey
• DAILY GUARDIAN - Wednesday, 28 June 1882

BOGERT – On Tuesday, June 27th, 1882, Albert C. Bogert, aged 101 years and 3 months.

The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from his late residence, 44 North Main Street, on Thursday, June 29th, at 2 o’clock P.M. and from the First Reformed Church, Division Street, at 2:30 o’clock P.M.

Interment at Sandy Hill Cemetery.

Please Note: Sandy Hill Cemetery closed and all of the bodies were relocated.

Direcitons To His Grave

Upon entering Hackensack Cemetery take the second left. This will put you eventually on the right side of Section H. Once you reach Section H look for the large Haring and Zabriske tombstones that are facing you. Albert's tombstone is in the same aisle as the Haring tombstone is. It is right before the main Williams tombstone. When facing the Williams main tombstone Albert's stone is to the right and a little behind.