Numbered pages 230-237

 

Nicholas Harris  Councellor-at-Law etc.                  Belvidere  N.J.                  Sept. 8th  1896

Henry J. Aten Esq.                  Hiawatha Kansas

My Dear Cousin:---

Your kind letter of Aug. 18th was duly received and read with pleasure, also the old papers were duly rec’d with letter of Aug. 14th; and the pamphlet about the Gettysburg Battle field Commission was also duly rec’d.  The book—the report of the proceedings of the last annual meeting of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, was also duly received and read with much pleasure.

Please accept my sincere thanks for the book. I shall prize the book all the more from the fact that it is the gift of a friend whom I have never seen.

I was over to Mount Bethel a few days ago and saw Mrs. Mary (Aten) Hageman, a widow lady, daughter of Derrick Aten, Jr., who was a son of John Aten.  She many years ago made two visits to the friends out near Wilkes-Barre.  She remembered of seeing, on her first visit, Thomas Aten who was then very old.  She says he Thomas was married twice, but she is unable to give any names or dates of birth or marriages or deaths.  She says that descendants

of the families of Aten and Bowman and McMurtry live out there yet, or at least did a few years ago.  I saw a little local mention on “The Milford Leader” a newspaper printed and published at Milford in Hunterdon County N.J. of a Rev. Wm. Aten, which I send to you herewith. I do not know the person, nor to what family he belongs.—  Skillman is a small post village in Somerset County N.J.   You ask about the sale of land out here—Land does not sell

very high out here now, and there is not much being sold.  There does not seem to be any demand for real estate this year, and nearly all that is sold is by forced sale, i.e., by foreclosure or sheriff’s sale or to close up estates.  Land sells with us from $1.00 per acre mountain lands, up to $80, or $90, per acre, the major part from $20 to about $35 per acre.

We are hearing a good deal these days out here about “free silver”.  The “gifted” Mrs. Mary Ellen Lease of Kansas spoke here in Belvidere on the 20th of August, to about 8000, people.  While Mary Ellen is a “glib talker” her doctrine is not  [§page] all swallowed by the people of the east.  Old New Jersey with her great industries will not be in the list of states for Free Silver, as demanded by the Chicago Platform.  This State will go—well at least 30,000, for McKinley and Hobart.

While writing this letter your kind favor of the 5th inst. containing printed slips inclosed has been received.  It seems from them that Kansas is receeding in population and in wealth.—I am sorry to learn that of your State.  I imagine that Populism  [§page]  is the cause of the great decline in affairs out there. Mrs. Hay and husband are usually well at this time.  I show her your letters and she reads them with pleasure.  A great grand son of John Aten is now lying dead at his home up in Knowlton township.  His name is Eugene McMiller, and he died on Monday morning quite suddenly from appolexy [apoplexy].  His funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon at his late home.

James R. Aten of Penna., was over here today and stopped in my office a few moments, also a Mr. S. Transue, who married a grand daughter of John Aten

and who lives up in Knowlton township was here in town today also.  I saw him for a few moments.

Cousin, Caroline Adarancha Prentiss writes us that she may not be able to come out here for a visit this autumn.  I am sorry, she is good company.—

It appears that the ancestors of Mrs. Wm. Jennings Bryan lived in early times over in Northampton County Penna., and are buried down at the Lower Mount Bethel Churches about five miles below

Belvidere.  Mrs. Bryan is no doubt a fine lady and a person of intelligence, but the people of the east will not help make her husband the President of these United States—not this time sure.

I suppose you will soon go to attend the , “The Sovereign G.L. of I.O. of O.F. at Dallas Texas.  I wish you a pleasant time at the said meeting.  I send you a paper containing an address on the Battle of Monmouth in the Revolutionary War.  We are all well at my home at this time and I hope that you and yours are well.  We all send love and kind regards to you all.  I will be pleased to hear from you again--  In conclusion I am very truly   

Your Cousin

Nicholas Harris