Written on letterhead stationary of Henry J. Aten, Real
Estate and Loans, Hiawatha, Kansas.
May 16th, 1900.
My dear Dr. Thompson: -
I thank you for the information concerning the Auten’s
of your city, and return the first pages as requested; having first copied them. I am sending an abstract of all you send me relating to the Auten’s, to a Mr. Benj. C. Auten of Carthage, Mp. [sic-Mo.] who is working to connect his line back from Paul Auten of Chili, N.Y. This Paul is I am quite sure the Powell who served in the Revolution from Somerset Co. N.J. and was of the same generation as the Thomas you mention first on page 1. Probably a brother; if not a brother surely a cousin.
I am expecting daily a report of an examination of the records in the Pension Office at Washington. As all soldiers of the Revolution were pensioned by a general Act of Congress prior to 1833, I hope to find something concerning Thomas and Powell Auten, if they lived so long.
I have a pamphlet containing a sketch of Commodore Vanderbilt, published originally in the N.Y. Gen, and Bio. Record April 1886. The sketch was written by William H. Bogart, who I am told is something of a historian. Do you know his address? The article is well written, and with the evident intention of founding a family who shall recognize the Commodore as the head. Still, if the writer made any independent research before writing, he may have learned something of interest about the family not published.
If you care to see the pamphlet I shall send it on with pleasure.
Sincerely Yours,