Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

times, which permitted him to assume a
position of prominence in the growing
colony on the east shore of the Hudson,
and also enabled him to be of great serv-
ice to Madame Brett, who had become a
widow and possessed of a family depend-
ent upon her guidance. It is likely that
Madame Brett may have urged him to
settle in Fishkill, realizing that he was a
man who would be influential in wisely
conducting her large afifairs in the Pre-
cinct, and upon whom she could safely
depend. The records testify that he was
a surveyor in Fishkill, and it is known
that he became a man of property, build-
ing a house in the town, where his de-
scendants have continued to possess the
land. Cornelis (3) and Catharine (Tudor)
Bogardus were the parents of twelve
children.
(V) Matthew Bogardus, son of Cornelis
(3) and Catharine (Tudor) Bogar-
dus, was baptized September 10, 1740.
He married Abigail Ferguson, and among
their children was Abraham, of whom
further.
(VI) Abraham Bogardus, son of Matthew
and Abigail (Ferguson) Bogardus,
was born January 28, 1771. He married,
and one of his sons was Samuel, of whom
further.
(VII) Samuel Bogardus, son of Abraham
Bogardus, was born January 16,
1806, and made his home at what is now
the town of Beacon, New York. He was
a man of unusual ability and prospered
greatly in his afifairs, holding nearly all
of the offices in the gift of the township.
He engaged in business as a contractor
and builder on a very large scale for the
time, and in due course became a large
and wealthy land owner. Nearly the
whole of Spy Hill, famous in Revolutionary
annals, was at one time in his posses-
sion. He was also one of the founders of
the Reformed Dutch church at Fishkill-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
274
on-the-Hudson, built the old church edifice,
and held a life pew there. Among
the various ofifices that he filled was that
of deputy sheriiT, and it was to him, dur-
ing his long term of office, that the duty of
protecting the New York Central railroad
at the time of the draft riots in the
Civil War fell. Among his children was
John S., of whom further.
(VIII) John S. Bogardus, son of Sam-
uel Bogardus, was born December 27,
1828, and died June 14, 1903. His childhood
was passed at Fishkill-on-the-Hud-
son, New York, and it was in the schools
of the neighborhood that his education
was obtained. Upon completing his stud-
ies he was taken by his father into the
latter's establishment and there learned
the building and contracting business.
After serving for a time in various minor
capacities, he was appointed superintendent
and general manager, and for a num-
ber of years was in active charge of the
large building operations carried on by
the concern. He later repaired to New
York City to take up the study of archi-
tecture, and in course of time became a
member of the American Institute of
Architects. He then established himself
in the city of Newburgh, New York, and
there for a number of years practiced his
profession and won a wide reputation.
From Newburgh he returned to New
York City and built up an extensive practice
in that place and Yonkers, from
which place he went to Stamford, Con-
necticut, in the year 1881. From that
time until his death, Mr. Bogardus con-
tinued his practice of architecture in this
city, adding greatly to his reputation, and
many of the finest buildings of Stamford
were erected from his designs, namely,
a number of schools, and many of the
handsomest residences here and in the
outlying districts, as well as several im-
portant business blocks.