Numbered pages 103-106.                        Note at top:  “Uncle Frank

 

Clipping mentions “Frank Aten”-- Incomplete.                           July 12   99”

 

Odd Fellows seal                                    Belvidere N.J.   July 10th  1899

Dear Cousin Henry J:

Your kind letter of June 16th ult., and paper, and also your kind letter of July 4th inst., with inclosures, have all been duly received and read with pleasure.

I think the material you have arranged to be printed in a Souvenir pamphlet is good, and will be very interesting to the descendants. I think what you have prepared is just about enough for a small pamphlet, with some other matter. I will tell you what I have thought of doing.—I have come to the conclusion

that I will prepare a short address from manuscript giving some history and reminiscences, and then have you print it in the small pamphlet. I will pay for that.  I do not as yet know who will be with us this year and there might not be any one to make a short address.  What think ye of it?

The day for our reunion has not yet been fixed. I am going up to Delaware this week to fix the time as I wish to write to some friends giving them the day.  When the date is set, I will let you know the precise day.

Prof. Jacob D. Kirkhuff of Philadelphia was in Belvidere last week—He took dinner with us on Friday last. He says he would like very much to see you, and if you come on to Philadelphia this summer or fall you must not fail to hunt him up.  I will return the historical matter to you in a few days, when I write again to you. The little slip on the head of this sheet

I cut from a Philadelphia paper of a few days ago. This shows that there are those of your name living in Baltimore Maryland.

I was over to Oxford N.J. on Saturday evening visiting Harris Lodge, and I then installed the officers of said lodge for the ensuing term.  Tonight I am to go to Blairstown to visit the lodge at that place.  How I wish you could be here to acompany me.  Blairstown is a nice l(ittle?) enterprising village in the northern part of our county. You remember, no doubt, that I desired you while out here to visit that place, but we did not go

there.  Mr. John I. Blair is still living and he will be 97 years old on August 22nd next.

We had a quiet Fourth of July here in Belvidere.

All your distant kinsfolk are usually well at this time. Mrs. Hay tells me that she has had a letter from Mrs. Elizabeth Babcock of Lone Elm Kansas, and that she, Mrs. B., thinks of coming out here this summer.

We are all well at my home at this time, and I hope that you are all well at your home.

Our state, and our neighboring State Pennsylvania, are looking beautiful now. The hills and mountains are clothed in a fine summer hue.  Bring Mrs. Aten out here and we will show her the Delaware Water gap, and Scott’s and Jenny Jump and other mountains. Mrs. H. and Albert S. are both very well—we send love and kind regards to you all—Yours very respectfully         Nicholas Harris