Joseph Kirkendall Bogert was the brother of Eliza Bogert in my direct line.

This essay is from the Genealogical and Family History of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania (1906), Volume 1, by Horace Edwin Hayden. Published by New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company.

JOSEPH KIRKENDALL BOGERT, deceased, a man highly respected by all who knew him, at the time of his death filling efficiently the office of postmaster of Wilkes-Barre, and editor and proprietor of the Wilkes-Barre Leader, was born at New CoJumbus, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1845, fourth child and second son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ranton) Bogert.

He attended the public school at New Columbus and subsequently the Male and Female Academy. Early during the war of the Rebellion, when eighteen years of age he enlisted, June 23, 1863, in the Twenty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, and during the invasion of the state by the southern army performed duty with it in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and participated in a sharp skirmish with Fitz Hugh Lee’s forces near Harrisburg, June 30, 1863. The regiment was mustered out of service July 27, 1863, and Mr. Bogert re-enlisted in the United States Signal Corps, April 4, 1864. He was first assigned to duty in the campaign against hostile Indians in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Indian Territory, under orders from headquarters Army of the Border, General S. R. Curtis commanding, and later took part in the campaign against General Price from the New to the Arkansas rivers, on the Missouri and Arkansas border. There were engagements at Little Blue and Big Blue, on October 21 and 22, respectively, and later elsewhere on the route. The campaign ended, he was sent to the Department of the Northwest, and took part in the Indian expedition up the Platte and Powder rivers, which extended from July 1 to November 4, covering over two thousand miles of previously unexplored territory, and was attended by many hardships and dangers. Mr. Bogert was finally mustered out of service December 9, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, his military career being noted for gallant conduct and efficient services. On his return from the army he resumed his studies and graduated with honors from Lewisburg (now Bucknell) University. Then coming to Wilkes-Barre, for nearly a year he studied law with the late Hon. Caleb E. Wright, in the meantime supporting himself by his services as correspondent for the Associated Press, the Philadelphia Times, Scranton Times, and other newspapers.
His strict attention to business did not pass unnoticed; he was appointed assistant to George P. Richards, clerk of the courts, and shortly afterward to the position of chief deputy. In 1874, through the influence of Hon. D. L. Rhone, judge of the orphans’ court, he was appointed deputy clerk of that court, being the first incumbent of that office. He was the Democratic candidate for register of wills, 1875, and was elected by a large majority (1870), although several of his colleagues on the ticket were defeated — an eloquent testimonial to his sterling integrity and popularity.

In February, 1877, in company with George B. Kulp, he purchased the Luzerne Leader, then recently established at Pittston, and removed it to Wilkes-Barre. In January, 1879, as the Leader Publishing Company, they purchased the Luzerne Union, for many years the Democratic organ of the county; the two papers were merged into the Union Leader, and October 1, 1879, the publication of a daily issue was begun. Mr. Bogert became sole proprietor in 1880, and in 1884 erected a building at No. 7 North Main Street, where he continued the publication of the paper until his death. In this venture he clearly demonstrated his business as well as his literary ability, placing the paper on a firm foundation, and starting in on a very prosperous career. This brief narrative clearly shows with what skill, courage and pertinacity Mr. Bogart created, with limited means, out of a small weekly, the best known Democratic daily journal in northeastern Pennsylvania. His standing in his profession was also attested by his election to the presidency of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association, in which capacity he rendered faithful and intelligent service.

Mr. Bogert was an active politician, exercising a potent influence in behalf of the party whose principles he advocated. He served twice as chairman of the Democratic county committee. He was a candidate for state treasurer in 1881, and was warmly supported by a large contingent of delegates, but failing to secure the nomination, he with considerable reluctance accepted the chairmanship of the state committee, this honor being conferred on him by the same convention, and he conducted the campaign with such marked ability and energy as to win the plaudits of his party throughout the state. Two years later (1883) he was urged to accept the state treasurership, but absolutely refused to allow the use of his name in that connection. He frequently represented his party in state conventions, and was a delegate to the national conventions at Chicago in 1880 and 1884, which nominated Hancock and Cleveland, respectively. Mr. Bogert was untiring, brave and generous, and had achieved a degree of world success rare in a man of his years, and with the limited advantages he had at his command. As a politician he was aggressive, but he firmly believed his principles right, and battled for Democracy, not only against her open foe — the Republican party — but against those latent enemies to be found in its own ranks. As a consequence, his path as a politician was not one strewn with roses, yet, true to his convictions of duty, he followed it with unremitting fidelity. He was an able writer, a faithful public official, a zealous Democrat, and a man of the stamp that serves his party and his country well and faithfully.

Mr. Bogert was appointed postmaster of the city of Wilkes-Barre by President Cleveland, in July, 1885, took possession of the office August 1, of that year, and held it until his death. He possessed, in an unusual degree, strength of character, quickness of understanding, sterling moral qualities, and these, reinforced by penetrating common sense, made him a thoroughly competent man, equal to the onerous and responsible duties which fell to his lot as postmaster. In all the affairs of the city he took an active interest, and was at one time president of the Wilkes-Barre Board of Trade, of which he was one of the principal projectors.

Laboring almost continually against obstacles which would have discouraged a man of less indomitable spirit, he achieved a proud distinction for one so young as was he when death came, giving reliable promise that, had he been spared, he would have attained still greater prominence for himself and a broader measure of usefulness to his fellow-citizens. He was a brave soldier, a self-denying student, and a firm believer in the adoption of all the agencies that aid to advancement. He loved children, and for ‘their sake battled for the best schools and the best instruction. He loved order, and so fought to establish wise rulers. He admired social graces, and so encouraged them. He felt the deep responsibility of editorial censorship and keenly watched the course of intelligent public opinion, and endeavored to be guided by it always. To the humblest of his employes Mr. Bogert was a firm friend. No one ever went to him in time of trouble, without receiving quick sympathy and ready assistance. Honest in his dealings with “his fellowmen, energetic in the discharge of every business and social duty, enterprising in the world of local journalism, an affectionate son, devoted husband, and a loving father, his death, “which occurred February 3, 1887, left a vacant place that could never be more worthily filled.

In religious faith he was a Baptist, and contributed liberally to the church of that denomination in Wilkes-Barre. He was member of the Ely (now Conyngham) Post, No. 97, G. A. R. ; Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M. ; and of several beneficiary organizations, among them the Legion of Honor and the Heptasophs.

At a meeting of newspaper men held in the office of the Record the following resolutions were adopted:

The newspaper men of Wilkes-Barre, met this 7th of February, 1887, to record their recognition of a loss sustained, their testimony to a sorrow felt, and their appreciation of a sterling character now passed away, do but feebly express their sentiments upon this sad occasion by the adoption of the following preamble and resolutions :

Whereas, In the death of Joseph K. Bogert the profession has lost a worthy representative, and the city one of its most energetic and useful citizens ; and

Whereas, Mr. Bogert’s good name and influence were won in the face of obstacles that only men of strong and active minds, stout nerve and untiring application overcome. Inured in “his younger days to hard work, with but little in liis surroundings to arouse his ambition to rise above the common level; and with opportunities within his grasp for only the most limited education, he nevertheless secured collegiate training, paying for a large share of it with his labor as the only possible substitute for the money he did not have and could not get, and thereby fitted himself for the higher place in life to which he aspired, and

Whereas, he entered the service of his country when but a youth and earned the esteem of his superior officers by a manifestation of all the good qualities that go to make up the faithful soldier ; and so fortified himself in the confidence of the people, while in subordinate civil place, and when a candidate before them for higher honors, he was elected by a large majority; having served his party faithfully, both in leading its local forces and those of his state, and became known far and wide as an earnest and expert party manager ; chosen to the presidency of the association in which the journalistic profession is united throughout the state, all of whose members learned to respect and admire him ; having built up his newspaper from smallest beginnings and prospered with it until though a partisan paper, it had become known and respected everywhere ; and all this, though he was a man of pronounced opinions and aggressive temperament, which necessarily provoked opposition and antagonism ; having fought sturdily for the position in life which he had attained, and deserved the success that accompanied it, and believing that had he lived his allotted time he would of necessity have multiplied his usefulness many fold.

Resolved, That death has removed from our number one of the brightest minds, bravest hearts, cheeriest companions, ablest writers and most zealous workers within the brotherhood of: journalists.

Resolved, That while we revered him, living, more than the conventionalisms of business and social intercourse would admit of our expressing, so now dead, we have no words to adequately express our regard for his character, our admiration for his manhood and our grief at his loss. *****

Resolved, That we can hold the life and character of Joseph K. Bogert before the eyes of the young men of this country and say, “go thou and do likewise,” for he was one to inspire emulation as to his ambitions, his method, his zeal, his brotherly love, his enterprise, his activities and his large charity.

Resolved, That we, his intimate brotherhood of friends and the newspaper fraternity of the city and county, and the political honesty and the social economy of this vicinity, have each sustained a loss that will be more deeply felt as the realization of it becomes more manifest through the absence of its influence upon affairs among and about us.

Resolved, That our sorrow is beyond expression, our loss beyond reparation and our sympathy for the bereaved ones deeper than any mere words can imply.

Resolved, That we convey to the stricken widow and fatherless child these assurances of our sympathy for them, and these evidences of our great regard for him whom they and we have profound reason to mourn.

On February 7th following, funeral services were held in St. Stephen’s Church, where Mr. Bogert had been a regular attendant, and of which his wife was a member. The officiating clergyman was the rector, the Rev. Henry L. Jones, in presence of a large concourse which included the publishers and printers of the city, and delegations from the Masonic Lodge and Ely Post, Grand Army of the Republic. The Rev. Dr. Jones (who ministered to, the deceased during his last illness) said at his funeral: “The record of the life now ended has been placed before you in the daily press. That record tells of a life strong, aggressive, positive, upright, honorable and useful, and now we commend to the Merciful Father and Righteous Judge the dear ones in their sorrow.”

The remains of the deceased were interred in the Hollenback cemetery with military honors, by Ely Post, Grand Army of the Republic. At their conclusion “Taps” (the saddest, sweetest, of all army calls) were sounded by Sergeant Boettger, U. S. A., with the same silver bugle which he used over the remains of General Ulysses S. Grant and General William S. Hancock. ‘

Mr. Bogert married, December 31, 1879, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mary E, daughter of Lorenzo D. and Elizabeth J. Patterson, of Sweetair, near Baltimore, Maryland. Two children were born to them: Lawrence Patterson, born August 12, 1881, died September 6, 1881; and Harold Patterson, born March 14, 1883, now residing in Wilkes-Barre, with his widowed mother. He graduated at Hillman Academy at Wilkes-Barre, and later was a student at Yale College, class 1905, and a member of the Chi Phi fraternity there. He is now located in the International Text Book Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Bogert was educated at the State Normal School, Millersville, Pennsylvania. After her course there she taught for one term at the Collegiate Institute, Salem, New Jersey, from which through the efforts of influential friends, she was called to the Franklin grammar school in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She achieved great success in her vocation, teaching for the love of the work, as well as for the remuneration received, and continued in this capacity until her marriage to Mr. Bogert. After the decease of Mr. Bogert, little more than a year after he had entered upon the office of postmaster, the citizens of Wilkes-Barre, without regard to politics, united in a determined effort to secure the position for Mrs. Bogert, and forwarded to the Postoffice department, a petition which was acknowledged at the time to be the strongest paper of the kind ever presented there. As a result, President Cleveland appointed her post-master of Wilkes-Barre, April 5, 1887. During her five years incumbency of the office she gave personal supervision to the details of all departments of the office, controlling both clerical and carrier forces, and devoting the greater portion of her time to the work. She was also, appointed by the Postmaster General to the task of county postoffice visitation, and this called out some of her best work. She personally visited forty-four postoffices in Luzerne county, making a thorough inspection, giving special instruction where needed, and affording the benefit of her knowledge in various cases where the postmaster labored under peculiar difficulties. The result of her labor was cordially appreciated by the Postmaster General, and her report was reproduced at length in a printed volume containing his annual report and the statistics of the department.

About a fortnight after the completion of her official term as postmaster, Mrs. Bogert was called back to the office by a series of sad circumstances. The new postmaster being called away by the death of his father, the postmaster requested Mrs. Bogert to take temporary charge of the office. This she did, and later, at his request, accepted the position of assistant postmaster. Her service continued for eight years, extending her postoffice labors to thirteen years. During this entire period her relations with both the department and her employees were most pleasant. She received from the department many evidences of sincere appreciation, and” every courtesy from those immediately about her. At her retirement she was kindly remembered by the clerks and carriers of the Wilkes-Barre office, and the latter presented to her an artistic and exquisite pen and ink testimonial of several pages, beautifully illustrated and bound in leather. The concluding phrases were a pleasing tribute: “In a word she has been our friend, as well as our official superior. She has had our respect and esteem, as well as our willing obedience, and she carries with her into her retirement from the position she has so dutifully and honorably filled, the undying good wishes of her Letter Carriers.” H. E. H.