The names of two sisters, Ardella and Anna Bogardus, whose married names, Engle and Sisson, in a measure conceal their identity, will long be remembered for deeds of charity and benevolence. They were daughters of John Yost Bogardus, granddaughters of John, and great-granddaughters of Ephraim Bogardus. They are lineal descendants of Rev. Everardus Bogardus, whose life is fully described in the Bogardus line of Mary Sabina (Bogardus) Gray, accompanied by portraits of six generations of the Bogardus line. Mrs. Ardella Bogardus Engle descends from Dominie Everardus Bogardus and Anneke Jans through their fourth and youngest child Pieter.
(II) Peter Bogardus, "mariner," was baptized April 2, 1645. He resided in Albany, New York, until near the close of his life, when he removed to Kingston, New York, where he died in 1703. In 1673 he was one of the magistrates of Albany, and was commissioned with others to treat with the "Five Nations" and to look after the defence of the town. He made his will February 3, 1701-02. He married Wyntie Cornelise Bosch, daughter of Cornelis Teunese and Maritje Thamase (Mengael) Bosch. Children: Evert; Shibboleth; Hannah, married Peter Bronck; Marie, married Johannes Van Vechten, of Schaghticoke; Anthony; Rachel; Ephraim (see forward); Petrus.
(III) Ephraim, son of Pieter and Wyntie Cornelise (Bosch) Bogardus, was baptized August 14, 1687. He married, September 23, 1720, Agnietje De Garno. Children: Petrus, Catharina Wyntie, Ephraim, (see forward); Jacob, Catharina (2), Maria and Anna.
(IV) Ephraim (2), son of Ephraim and Agnietje (De Garno) Bogardus, was baptized August 7, 1726. He married and had issue.
(V) Ephraim (3), son of Ephraim Bogardus (2), was born about 1750. He married and had issue.
(VI) John, son of Ephraim (3) Bogardus, was born in 1781, and was one of the pioneers of the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, which he served as supervisor. He served in the war of 1812 as a private. He owned a good farm in Berne, still in possession of the Bogardus family. He married in 1800, at the early age of nineteen years, Anna Dietz, a descendant of Colonel Johan Jost Dietz, founder of the family in Albany county, who was born in Switzerland, and was one of the first settlers in the town of Berne, going there between 1750 and 1760. Children of John and Anna Bogardus: Adam, Maria, Elizabeth, Catherine, Cornelia, Margaret, Ephraim, Barbara, Caroline and John Jost, all of whom married.
(VII) John Jost, son of John and Anna (Dietz) Bogardus, was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, May 16, 1829. He was a farmer, and a member of the Lutheran church. Politically he was a Republican. He died October 19, 1864. He married, in 1856, Martha C. Engle. Children:
- Ardella, married Wheeler W. Engle, of whom further.
- Anna, born March 8, 1860; married Noel E. Sisson, of whom further. Mr. Sisson left his fortune at his widow's disposal, and she used it for human betterment. She was a woman of most remarkable characteristics. She had wonderful talents, possessed a philanthropic spirit and a purely unselfish nature. She wanted all to have life, and have it abundantly. The people she helped during her life were legion. There was not a charity in Albany that has not been benefitted by her timely aid. The First Christian Church of Albany is largely due to her generosity. She made possible the erection of the new church edifice by a first gift of $15,000. She died September 7, 1908. Her sister, Mrs. Ardella Bogardus Engle, survives Mrs. Sisson, to whose memory she has placed a beautiful memorial window in the First Christian Church of Albany. As a more lasting and practical memorial to the sister to whom she was devoted, Mrs. Engle has endowed the "Anna Bogardus Sisson" chair of presidency at Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio. Nothing could be more fitting and in keeping with the spirit of Mrs. Sisson than these memorials. While her life was of such a character, and her influence so great as to need no memorials to keep her memory green, yet that her name is indissolubly connected with the college will prove an inspiration to all who come to know her noble spirit, and her name will grace, sanctify and baptize with a spirit of consecration the chair that will bear it.
Mrs. Ardella Bogardus Engle, the surviving sister, resides in Albany, but has her summer home on the old Engle homestead in Berne, She has the benevolent spirit of her sister, who trusted implicitly her business sagacity and left many unfinished plans that have been carried to completion by Mrs. Engle. Neither of the sisters was blessed with children.
Wheeler W. Engle was a son of Adam, an a grandson of Christopher Engle, who was a farmer of Berne, Albany county, New York, and one of the prominent men of that town. He married Judith Weidman, daughter of one of the old families, and reared a large family; one son, William H., was a prominent member of the Schoharie county bar and a leading citizen and lawyer of the town of Middleburg.
Adam, son of Christopher and Judith (Weidman) Engle, was born in Albany county, New York, and became one of the leading farmers of the town of Berne. He married Martha Kniskern, who bore him two children.
Wheeler W., elder child of Adam and Martha (Kniskern) Engle, was born in the town of Berne, March 31, 1861, died August 13, 1909. He was educated in the common schools, and after leaving school followed the occupation of a farmer in the town of his birth. He was a well informed man of studious tastes, having a great love for books. His reading covered a wide range, giving him more than an ordinary knowledge of a great variety of useful and profitable subjects. He was a man of genial nature and well liked by all who knew him. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and a Republican in politics. He married Ardella Bogardus and died without issue. (See Bogardus.)
Noel E. Sisson was born in "Hunters Land," Albany County, New York, January 23, 1821. His father was a farmer with a large family, and life was a struggle for a livelihood. The lad was of rather slender physique and, thirsting for an education, left home and began work in a store in Hunters Land. His employer, who had been a schoolmaster, agreed to teach him and furnish books as compensation for his services. The lad, who was now fourteen years of age, soon found that the promised instruction was mainly manual and not mental, but he remained a year, spending all his spare time with such books as he could secure. He then left the store, walked the entire distance to Johnstown, New York, where he secured employment, and found a way to enter the academy there. He made good use of his time in the next few years, working hard out of school hours at various employments, teaching school in the country, and at last felt that he had exhausted all the opportunities Johnstown then offered. He came to Albany, where he became familiar with the art of photography. He was now twenty-four years of age, and after careful preparation, he opened a photograph gallery at the corner of Maiden Lane and Broadway. He succeeded beyond his expectations and soon enlarged his business, adding a line of photographic supplies, and built up a large business, which he continued for fourteen years. About 1859, Donald MacDonald, a Scotchman and a friend of Noel E. Sisson, after returning from a trip abroad, came to him and solicited the loan of a thousand dollars which he wished to invest in a plant for making gas meters. MacDonald's brother was engaged in that business in the old country and had convinced him that it was one that could be conducted profitably in Albany. The loan was made, Mr. Sisson having confidence in his friend, and being always willing to lend the hand of assistance. Later another loan was applied for and granted; MacDonald had his plant in operation in a small way, but needed capital. He finally offered Mr. Sisson a half interest in exchange for sufficient money to meet the demands of his growing business. The arrangement was made, and the firm of D. MacDonald & Co. was formed in 1859, and still continues. The elder MacDonald died and his place in the firm was taken by his son. The little plant of 1859 grew to a stately building running through from Lancaster to Chestnut street, and in 1897 was giving employment to two hundred men. Financial success came to Noel E. Sisson in abundance and his wealth was freely used for the best purposes. He was interested in many other Albany enterprises. He was a director of the First National Bank of Albany, and of the Commerce Insurance Company; president of the Gas Light Company of Bath, Steuben county, New York, and other lesser concerns. He was a charter member of the Fort Orange Club and a Republican in politics. During his latter years he spent much time at his pleasant home on Lancaster street, working amid his flowers and in his garden. He was plain and unpretentious, industrious and persevering, of genial manners, sturdy, honest and extremely scrupulous in keeping his promises, generous and liberal to old friends and worthy charities, regarding his wealth as a sacred trust. He married (first) Emmeline, daughter of Dr. Griffin, of Middleburg, Schoharie county, New York. Children:
- Eleanor, married Daniel C. Bennett.
- Frank N., was associated with D. MacDonald & Co., as salesman and representative at Columbus, Ohio; later with Welsbach Co.; married Minnie Brayton, of Albany, New York.
Noel E. Sisson married (second) Anna Bogardus, who survived him without issue. (See Bogardus.)