Numbered pages 302-309, 167-168.

 

Windsor Hotel (Phila)                           Belvidere  N.J.                  Nov. 13th  1899

Dear Cousin Henry J.:

We had a very pleasant trip to Philadelphia. We were at the Export Exposition two days. It is not a World’s Fair, but it is much more than a county fair.

The main building covers an area of 9 acres with a floor space including upstairs of 12 ½ acres.

The Implement, vehicle and Furniture building is, 450 by 160 feet.

The Transportation Building is 450 feet long and 75 feet wide.  There is also a miniature

Railroad and Esplanade.  There are a great many interesting things to see at this exposition.

I write this letter to you on letter sheets of the Hotel we stopped at while in the city.

I copied the history of Christina (Aten) Brittain, and I now return the same to you with thanks for the privilege of seeing it.  I am unable to make any additions or corrections, as I never knew anything about her history.  I have showed the history to Mrs. Hay, and she says she cannot add anything. She says she always heard her Grand father Peter Aten say, that

after the Revolution Christina, “Teny” and her husband removed to Nova Scotia.

I send to you on herewith a slip containing the obituary notice of Mrs. Rosanna Bellis, an Aunt of mine. She was a descendant in one line of Nicholas and Japie (Aten) Albertson.  You did not get to see her while you was out here, for, I think I told you, she was very queer the last few years of her life, so much so that at times they talked of

taking her to the State Hospital (asylum).   The printer made a mistake in publishing the notice, by leaving out a line—after the word Jesse there should be the following—“Ethol and two brothers George Harris of Belvidere”.—She died on Oct., 27th  1899.

I also send to you a slip showing you what a horrible fate befel one of your very distant kinsmen.  This boy was a Great, Great, Great Grandson of John Aten, and consequently a Great, Great, Great, Great Grandson of Derick Aten.   You will no doubt remember that you met

Mrs. Joanna Swan at the A. and A. Reunion in 1898, as she was there, and I think Ellen introduced her to you—well she is a grand daughter of—Margaret Aten who married William Frutchy, who is still living and will be 98 years of age on Tuesday—the 14th inst., if I remember rightly.  This boy Russel R. Barber is her grandson.

It was very sad for a young life to be cut off so quick in such a cruel manner.

You will no doubt remember that long iron bridge across the Delaware just above the village of Delaware  I remember calling your attention to it when we went up to the Water Gap.  Several—I remember of three or four persons—having been killed on that bridge within the past ten or twelve years.  You see those big strong engines, and the fast trains on the D.L. & W.R.R. are dangerous to life and limb, if you get in their way.  That is the same road that you went on from Manunka Chunk to Buffalo, when you left here, the Saturday night

that you started for your western home.-

The Grand Lodge I.O.O.F. of New Jersey is to meet at Trenton on Wednesday the 15th inst.—Wednesday of this week.  I think Iwill go down Wednesday night and be there at the evening session and stay for the meeting on Thursday.  The railroad fare is cheap and I have some other business there in the Court of Chancery which I can attend to on Thursday.  I will not be the D.D.G.M. the next year, as the custom

 (right edge is missing so some words have been guessed at):   has always been (they say) for the office to allot among the different lodges—next year it goes to the Lodge at Stewartsville in the Southern part of the County.

I read the royal welcome that the State of Kansas gave to the fighting 2nd Re’gt and (Col.) now Genl. Funston. I thank you for sending the paper to me.  All your other relatives out here are well so far as I have heard from them.  We all send love and kind regards to all at your home. We are all well at my home.  I expect to call  on Dr. Thompson while at Trenton.  Our State went Republican by about 20,000 on last Tuesday. No show for Mr. Bryan out here.  The two big iron furnaces near here started up again this fall but the people don’t want any 16 oz(?)—free silver.

[Along left margin]      Yours very respectfully                  Nicholas Harris

 

 

Covenant Lodge, No.13, I.O.of O.F.                  Belvidere, N.J.                  Nov. 13th  1899

Supplement

In looking over your recent letters I find I never answered your inquiry about the pamphlet.  No. I think, and say I would not publish any one this year. Next year I intend to take hold of the matter of the reunion myself in earnest, and fortune may favor us better than this year.

We will meet next year on the old Cornelius Albertson plantation just above the village of Delaware. 

Cornelius was an older brother

of Nicholas, and the old stone house where he lived is still standing but fast going to decay.  There is a new summer boarding house on the old farm owned and occupied by a descendant of Nicholas and Japie, called the Delawanna House.  They wish it to be there—and I have told them we will hold it there—Dr. Thompson and Rev. E.W. Thompson may be able to attend; and I will also invite others.  If I get the material I will prepare an address on the Albertson ancestors, and if I succeed in getting together a lot of the history I will have it published or pay for the publication thereof with other historical matter.