Numbered pages 44 & 45

 

                                                               Belvidere, N.J.                  April 29th 1898

Henry J. Aten, Esq.              Hiawatha Kansas

Dear Cousin:--Your good kind letter of the 26th inst reached me this A.M.  I thank you for it—I am interested.  That part is new to me.  I have seen the name of Rev. Dr. J.B. Thompson in print in papers, but did not know he was in freundshaft.

I am going down to Trenton when our State Supreme Court meets—which is the first Tuesday of June and I will hunt him up and see him—I wish to see the great great great great-grand mothers old book. You are certainly getting a fine lot of the old history, and only confirms what I have heretofore said—that if you was out here you could soon hunt up a vast amount of the family history—I must make a neat copy of the old wills of Adrian and Jacobje Aten for Dr. Thompson as I do not believe he has them—but as I said I will see him.  If you do get out here we must go down to the old Readington Church and see the old graveyard among other places.  I must go down to Flemington Co. seat of old Hunterdon, and see what I can find there.  The programe of exercises on Grant’s birthday was also rec’d—please accept thanks for the same.  I hope you had a pleasant time.  We are all well at this time and hope that you and yours are all well at your home. You have undoubtedly ere this read my letter.  I told you then, I now repeat, make your arrangements

and I will make mine to suit yours. I wish to see you out here to see the old historical places etc., etc. and the old family graveyards etc. so that I will even forego my visit to the west to be able to have you come out here at such time as you may be able to do.  I may not even go west.  If I see Rev. Thompson I will write you about my call on him. Love and kind regards to you all at your home—all your distant kinsfolk are usually well.---

         Yours very sincerely                  Nicholas Harris