Numbered
pages 238-244.
Nicholas
Harris Counsellor-at-Law Belvidere N.J. July
24th 1896
Henry
J. Aten, Esq Hiawatha Kansas
My
Dear Cousin:--
Your
kind letter of July 17th inst., was duly received, and your letter
of the 22nd inst also received this evening. Both have been read
with pleasure.
I
really do not know whether I will be able to give you the information asked for
about Thomas Aten, or not.
I
will see what can be done in that direction.
As I said once in a letter to you, we, that is those
about here now, have never been able
to
find any family record in writing of Great Great Great Grandfather Derrick
Aten. I asked at the county offices in
Easton the last time I was down there and they say there is no record of any
kind kept there of the births of a family.
If I should have any business at WilkesBarre the county seat of Luzerne County
I could see if there was any will or record or settlement of estate on record
or on file there of Thomas Aten Dec’d.
My wife has a first cousin named Henry Aten who now
lives near Conyngham Luzerne County
Penna.. Wilkes-Barre and Hazelton are both in Luzerne County—Berwick is
in Columbia County Penna.
I
will write to Cousin Henry Aten of Conyngham and ask him if he ever heard of or
knew any thing about the descendants of said Thomas Aten.
As
I said to you John Aten Dec’d has several grand children who live about
here. I will ask them when I see them
if they have any knowledge of the matter and will see what can be learned—if
anything.
Mrs. Hay said to me a long time ago that she never
heard anything about his family relations and only remembered having heard that
he went to, or lived at or near the
town
of Berwick. They -those places- are all
out along the Susquehanna river. It may
take me some time to inquire about this matter. It may be that Rev. Thos. G. Aten means Thomas Aten who died some
years ago near Hope N.J.
You
will find mention of him in my letter about the Aten’s or Auten’s at
Princeville Ills. As you say that said
Rev. T.G. Aten claims descent from a John Aten of Sussex Co., N.J. If that should be the one I could get some
information from Mr. Henry Aten who now lives in Hope, a nephew of said Thomas
Aten, and who was also the Executor of said Thomas Aten Dec’d. I will do what I can in this matter.—
I send
you a slip from a paper about brave “Molly Pitcher.” I am in favor of a good, sound money currency. I am openly and firmly opposed to the “free
and unlimited coinage of silver”. My interests are such that I could not be in
favor of anything that would harm the currency, or a good sound financial
system—I do not say it to boast—but I am a Stock-holder in two different
National Banks, and am the Notary Public for one—so you see I could not be in
favor of anything but a staple[stable] currency and a sound money
platform. And yet, as you say, I
have great fears for the future.
I think I see trouble brewing, and hope that right will prevail. There is not much to fear here in the east
but
the South and West seem to be full of “Free Silver men”.—
The
Odd Fellows of Warren and adjoining counties will hold their Annual Picnic and
Lodge association in Belvidere this year on Aug. 5th 1896.
How I wish you could be out here to attend it—I send you a slip from one
of our papers concerning it.—If the day is suitable I would not be surprised to
see from 10,000 to 15,000 people here that day.
There is a branch of the Raritan river running through
the County of Hunterdon, called the South Branch of the
Raritan. It runs through Readington township.—also
there are townships named Amwell and Kingwood.
All as mentioned in the deed from the heirs of Adrian Aten to Dierrich
Aten.—
I
was up to the Delaware Water Gap a few days ago—It is a delightful place. I send you an envelope with this containing
a picture of the place.
We
are all well at this time. Also all
your many other kinsfolk about here are well as far as heard from lately. I sincerely hope that you and yours at your
home are all well. We send love and kind regards to you and Mrs. Aten and the
Misses Aten. (I show your letters to
Mrs. Hay and she always says how she would like to see Mr. Aten and talk with
him) Fraternally your Cousin
I
will be pleased to hear from you at any time Nicholas Harris