Name:

Following is from Ancestry.com, the “Pat Thomas Gedcom”, extracted 9/4/03:

Information received from Jinny Cassady gives his birthdate and marriage information.

He was baptized like his siblings in the Dutch Reformed Church in Readington, New Jersey. (Ref:Bill Aten of Michigan: Manuscript of Alice Kennedy of Pennsylvania, 1962; Aten Genealogy, Lamb;)

Just before he died, Cornelius Aten had a long sketch published in the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.

Mr. Editor- It is pleasant to converse with those, who, as Daniel Webster said in his address to the survivors of the Battle of Bunker Hill, have come down to us from a former generation.

The writer has been acquainted for almost five years with the aged father, a sketch of whose life is contained in the following narrative, and from whom it was obtained a few weeks since for publication, that we of the present generation may see something of the "travels of a pilgrim". who has been engaged in the service of our Master for more than three score years.

Cornelius Aten was born 18 January 1766 (baptized 23 February 1766) in what is now the state of New Jersey, on the Raritan: but exactly at what point he cannot remember. His memory has somewhat failed, so that some points his history must ever remain in obscurity. Yet in many respects, he is a sprightly old gentleman. He walks to church or rides on horseback 2 or 3 miles and returns the same day.

When he was but 8 years of age, his father, John Aten, emigrated to York county, Pennsylvania, near to the village of Hunterstown, now in Adams county. This was 2 years before the Declaration of Independence.

Mr. Aten remained 12 years in York county and then emigrated to the Western part of Virginia, and settled on the Ohio River, about 30 miles below Pittsburg. Here he remained 5 years, when Cornelius was 25 years of age, he married Miss Sarah Bell, and after remaining 2 years with his father, removed across the line into Pennsylvania. He remained there about 2 years, and then returned to his father's in Virginia. Remained there again about 2 years and then removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided 25 years. He then emigrated to Richland county, Ohio, where he resided about 18 years. Next he emigrated to Fulton county, Illinois, remained about 7 years; thence to Stark county where he still resides. He has for some years made his home with his son Aaron Aten. he still retained until last June, the wife in whose companionship he commenced the career of his manhood, at the age of 25 years and who for the period of 65 years had been his faithful companion.

When in New Jersey, his parents were connected with the Dutch Reformed Church; but sometime after they came to York county, Pennsylvania, they connected with the Presbyterian church at Hunterstown, of which Reverend Mr. Henderson was the minister. Cornelius connected with the Presbyterian church in Virginia soon after his marriage. After the family came to Virginia, they did not have regular ministers but several served them.

When Cornelius was about 31 years of age, he removed to Erie county, Pennsylvania and united with the church at Four Corners, under Reverend Mr. Eaton. Father Aten was then chosen elder. He was an elder at Ashland in Richland county, Ohio. Reverend Lee, Reverend Matthews and Reverend Hare were the ministers here. Father Aten lived there 13 years, then to Fulton county, Illinois - Lewiston- about ten miles distance. He united with the church. Reverend G. McGinnis adn Reverend R. Steel ministered here. Father Aten removed to Stark county and settled on the borders of the congregation of Rochester (Elmore), then under Reverend Robert Breese, who was then laboring with the churches of Elmore, Princeville, and West Jersey. Reverend Breese served the organized church until his death in 1851. Father Aten was an elder of the church when organized at West Jersey and he still serves in that capacity. In the summer of 1852, while laboring as a licentiate missionary among the destitute portions in the bounds and under the care of the Peoria Presbytery, I became acquainted with Father Aten. In the Autumn of that year, I commenced laboring as a Stated Supply in the churches of West Jersey and French Grove and continued 18 months. Reverend John Turbitt served then 18 months, resigned and Reverend James Ferguson hs been supplying that church about the same length of time and the congregation has made a call for his pastoral labors, and Father Aten, now 91 years old, signs the call as a member of Session, in behalf of the congregation. During the time of my labors there, he was seldom absent from public worship, but since that time, he has not always attended in bad weather. He has been an Elder more than 40 years and is a good elder yet. John C. Hanna.

(Note by Pearl Aten Kennedy who copied this in July of 1938. It is almost an exact copy of the printed words which Ed Aten Junior of Leon, Iowa had in his possession and was originally the property of his brother A.K. Aten now deceased. The clipping was sent to A.K. Aten by Henry J. Aten of Hiawatha, Kansas, a distant cousin who was not as near to Cornelius as we are) More about Cornelius Aten is found in a letter written by Henry J. Aten to A.K. Aten, which was owned by Barbara Hemmerling's father) Henry J. Aten had seen Cornelius at his father's in Fulton county when Henry was a small boy.

Below is from the letter from Henry J. Aten to A.K. Aten.

The only Dutch church in Pennsylvania, west of the Delaware, was at Conewago in York county (now Lancaster) and there his youngest sister Ann was baptized 10 January 1773. When this church was given up, all of its members on the advice of the authorities of that church, became Presbyterians.

"New Netherlands" became a British province in 1664. Descendants of its people, who went west in between 1750 and 1800 found no Dutch Reformed Church west of the Delaware, save in the 2 colonies on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania and Salt River in Kentucky. Even these ere long became Presbyterian, the latter by express direction of the Classis of New Brunswick. The doctrines and usages of these churches are practically identical and individuals pass from either of them to the other as my be convenient for them." The Reverend J.B. Thompson.

Yes, that was a wonderful people who went out from around about the Flats, Pughtown or Fairview, as it is or has been known. The Allisons from whome Mrs. William McKinley descended were of that neighborhood and one of them Thomas Allison, married Jane Aten, a full cousin of mine.

(Note by Pearl - The above copy mentions Fairview of the East. Fairview, Illinois, 30 miles or so south of Galesburg has the only Dutch Reformed Church I have ever found. They celebrated the 100 year anniversary in 1937. I wonder if the settlers at Fairview, Illinois came from Fairview, Pennsylvania near the Delaware or New Jersey. I think the Flats, Pughtown and Fairview were in Pennsylvania.) This note was typewritten in 1938 by Pearl Aten Kennedy.

From Timothy Peterman TEPeter100@aol.com

Cornelius Aten appeared in every tax list of Brooke Co., Virginia from 1801 to 1807. Listed next to him were John Aten Jr. and John Aten Sr.

Deeds: On May 10, 1799, Benjamin Johnston of Jefferson Co., KY sold to Cornelius Aten 134 acres in Brooke Co., Va. On Apr. 22, 1800, Cornelius Aten and Sally his wife of Brooke Co., Va. sold to John Aten Jr. of Brooke Co., Va. 134 acres. On Feb. 24, 1804, John Atten Jr. and Charity his wife of Brooke Co., Va. sold to Cornelius Aten 134 acres. On June 25, 1804, Cornelius Aten of Brooke Co., Va. sold to John Aten Sr. of Brooke Co., Va. for $5 a life estate in 134 acres. Then without a deed back, on Aug. 28, 1809, Cornelius Aten and Sally his wife of Brooke Co., Va. sold 134 acres to Mathias Hook of Beaver Co., Pa. I suspect that they may have been borrowing money from each other between 1799 and 1809, causing all of the transfers.1810 census index for Pennsylvania for Eaton ... Cornelius Eaton lived in Erie Co., PA. 01001-32020- people named Spry lived nearby

LFC NOTES: 1810 CENSUS, PENNSYLVANIA, ERIE CO., ERIE TWP:

Name is spelled “Eaton”, but clearly the right person. He has one male age 10-15, one (himself) 26-44, 3 females under 10, 2 females 10-15, and 2 females 26-44. He lives near his brother John, and also near the Law and Spry families, which his daughters married into.

LFC NOTES:

1830 CENSUS, OHIO, RICHLAND, MILTON:

Found Cornelius Aten and his wife. There are 2 males age 15-20, which would fit nicely with Aaron and Samuel. One female age 20-30, which would fit any of the 4 youngest daughters. Puzzling, however, is that there is also a female age 5-10. Perhaps the child of a relative? Note also that in 1830 they are living next to Samuel Stevenson, who married Cornelius’ daughter Sarah.

LFC NOTES: 1840 CENSUS, OHIO, RICHLAND CO., MILTON TWP:

They are apparently living on the same farm as in 1830. Also still present is the mysterious female noted above for 1830, now age 15-20. Living on an adjacent farm is his son, Aaron ATEN. The ages of household members are consistent with Aaron and Dorcas and their children.)

1850 CENSUS, ILLINOIS, STARK CO.

He is found in the 1850 Illinois census, Stark county next door to the Stevenson's, the elder Aten's live with their son Aaron and wife. (Sarah Sally Aten Stevenson is a daughter of Cornelius Aten.)

Marriage: 1791 Washington Co., PA

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Spouse: Sarah (Sally) BELL

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Birth: 13 Feb 1770 New Jersey

Death: Jun 1856 Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois

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Cornelius ATEN (18 Jan 1766 - 21 Mar 1857) & Sarah (Sally) BELL (13 Feb 1770 - Jun 1856)

Elizabeth ATEN (4 Nov 1792 - )

John ATEN (17 Sep 1794 - )

Anna ATEN (7 Oct 1797 - )

Polly ATEN (17 Aug 1799 - )

Sally ATEN (10 Feb 1802 - 1802)

Rhoda ATEN (1804 - )

Lanna ATEN (17 Feb 1806 - )

Sarah “Sally” ATEN (18 Aug 1808 - 3 Jul 1898)

Aaron Kimble ATEN (18 Feb 1812 - 9 Sep 1901) & Dorcas GLASS (25 Jan 1814 - 20 Nov 1892)

Samuel R ATEN (1814 - 1848)

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Please report corrections or additions to...

Fred Coffey, 2604 University Blvd., Houston, TX 77005

713-592-9076 FredCoffey@AOL.COM

Name: Cornelius ATEN

From Timothy Peterman TEPeter100@aol.com