Numbered pages 281-286.

 

Nicholas Harris   Counsellor-at-Law                           Belvidere  N.J.                  Sept. 23rd 1898

Dear Cousin Henry J.

Your kind and interesting letter was duly received on Wednesday evening, and read w(ith) much pleasure.

I have read over the notes sent for me to consider—three or four times.  I have no criticisms to make on them.  The whole is in my judgement very proper, as a short report by one who was present at the family reunion.  You will remember that the old headstone standing at the head of the grave of Derick Aten has on it—“D.A. 1809.”—

The expression, “on the bank near the ceaseless flow of the beautiful river,” x x – is a beautiful expression, and truthfully represents the scene.  It seems to me, and I tried to hunt up the authority in some of my old grammar’s, that it would read better to say x x side by side “with those of the Albertson’s,” |  You see you wish to give the fact that one family name is there with the other.  However that is just as you think about it.—

I send to you a Short Statement of the Ribble family.  The person named as Richard Auten refers to Derick Aten son of John Aten who married Sarah Ribble.—

He was called Derick, Dick and sometimes Richard. He died in the present brick house at Aten’s ferry.  You saw the graves of Derick and Sarah in the old Aten burying ground.

Our friend Miss Mary Ellen Albertson who lives on the old premises where our reunion was held has been quite sick for a few days.  She is better now.  I have not heard from Mrs. Prentiss since she left here.  Mrs. Hay is quite

well.  Her son George R. Hay Jr. is going to move to Milburtha, N.J.  two stations below Washington’s Crossing.  He has been assigned to that office.

I don’t think I will get out to Omaha this fall. I do not know anything in the line of family history to give you at this time.  We are having fine weather here now—pretty warm however.  I have thought it would be a nice thing to mention in your notes some of the old historic family records and things that we have so I will on another paper give you a list of them.

You see if you send the printed copies of Dr.

Thompson’s address and your notes to your friends in Illinois and elsewhere a mention of those things will be very interesting to them.  I wish you to send to me a few copies of the address and your notes when you have them completed and printed—for myself and the other friends out here.  We are all well at my home at this time and I hope that you are all enjoying good health at your home in the west.

Give our love to Mrs. Aten, and to Edna and Stella.

Albert says “tell cousin Henry that it is Albert Shipman”,--you called him “Alfred”, in your letter.  I do not know whether you wish me to return the proof of your notes you sent to me, or not, but as it is only a proof as it is called I will keep it here.

You certainly had a variety of weather while on your visit to the East, and on the return.

I am very respectfully                  Your Cousin                  Nicholas Harris

 

[On the first page:]  “P.S.  Excuse me for writing you such a long letter. I only intended to report to you on the notes you sent to me so you would not be kept waiting to have the same printed.”