At
the top: “Thursday evening at 10 P.M.
Hotel
Anderson, etc. Pittsburgh,
Pa., Oct. 13th 1898
Cousin Henry J.:
I am in Pittsburgh Pa., tonight, and I will occupy the time, that I am
to wait before the next train goes east, viz., 2:30A.M., in writing some
letters. You will remember I think,
that I said I must go out in Western Pa., to look at some land. Well I did go. I came out here yesterday
morning and took the first train out on the Pittsburgh Western R.R. up along
the Alleghany river 87 miles up to a town called Knox in Clarion Co.. I saw the
land and sold it—for $85. You see the
person who had owned it died and I am
his
Executor. We have never received anything from it by way of rents or interest
in 10 years—He owned the 1/9 interest of 52 acres—poor land—poor fencess—poor
buildings. Two or three gentlemen told
me it was well sold. Knox had at one
time 15,000 people it now has less than
1000. There were at one time 20 lawyers there; now one, and they say he has
never been admitted to the Penna., bar.
He came originally from N.Y. State.
Enough
of that.—Pittsburgh is a great place—smoky, dirty, but all go ahead, all
business.—
Your letter to me was duly received, also the 6 copies
of the little pamphlet also. It is a
nice little booklet and the address and your notes
look
well in print.
Mrs.
Hay told me she received hers, also Miss Aten from Hope was in Belvidere one
day last week and said they received the one sent to them. She said they were
pleased to receive it.—
The name of Mrs. Wolleaver is “Anna”. If you send one to her write in care “George
Wolleaver”—her husband. Mrs.Prall’s name
is Laura.—Laura Prall. If you should
send her one, put in care “James Prall”—her husband—Say Cousin Henry I don’t
wish to beg, but if you have several of them
left,
send two or three to me. I have given
out three of mine. I wish to keep two,
and there are some others if they see the book they will think hard of it if I
am not able to give them one.
I
sent one to Robert Aten at Hicksville Ohio. His daughter Nettie is quite a
scholar and enjoys such things. It
would be nice for some one to give Mrs. Susan Burd of Delaware N.J. one as she
is the oldest living descendant of Japie Aten Albertson (a Granddaughter). I am sorry you did not get to see her—She
is, and was unwell when you was out here.
My
folks were well when I left home on Tuesday night. I will get home tomorrow
Friday night.—How I wish I was out in Hiawatha
Kansas
tonight, rather than Pittsburgh. I
could then tell you about my trip out here.
I must tell you I have now quit smoking in earnest. I am satisfied it does not agree with
me. I must tell you something else, the
district meeting of our county Lodges of I.O. of O.F. was held the other
evening and a person named Harris was unanimously selected for the
position of D.D.G.M. for the coming year. All that now remains to perfect the thing is to have the result
certified to the incoming G.M. at the meeting of Grand Lodge
to
be held on the 3rd Wednesday of Nov., 1898, at Trenton N.J.
I am stopping at the hotel whose stationary I am
using. Fine place, but fine price too.
If I have made any mistakes in this letter please look over it or them—There is
such a big crowd around and so much noise I can hardly think. The Knights Templar, are a fine set of
fellows but a noisy crowd. You know I
doubt not that they are holding their conclave here now—hence cheap excursion
rates on R.R.s—hence the reason I am here.—All your many distant kinsfolk in
N.J. and Penna., were usually well when I left home so far as I had heard.
I have not found any family history since I last wrote you. I have been expecting to go down to Flemington for some time. When I do go down I will see what I can find among the old records there.
I
hope you are all well at your home at this time. I will be pleased to hear from you at any time you may find time
to write. I send love and kind regards
to you all—that is, Mrs. Aten, and Edna and Stella and yourself. I
am in conclusion of this hastily written letter
Your cousin affectionately Nicholas
Harris