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