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Cornelius Aten
Biography |
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From the collection of Mamie McKinney, now in the possession of Dorothy Armitage and Karen Hillman
Donated by Sara Hemp - email questions and comments to Sara <cryssara@merr.com>
For more info on the Aten (and various other spellings) Ancestors visit: Aten/Auten Family at
<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Eaten/>
CORNELIUS ATEN
Sketch of the life of Cornelius Aten which was published in the "Presbyterian Banner and Advocate". (COPY) [1855?]
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 5 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 3 score years.
Cornelius Aten was bom January 18, 1766 (baptized February 23,
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 in 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, 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 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 the faithful
companion of his travels and sojournings.
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 Comers, under
Reverend Mr. Eaton. Father Aten was then chosen elder. He was an elder
at Ashland in Richmond 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 10 miles
distance. He united with the church. Reverend G. McGinnis and 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 is 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 has been supplying that church about the same length of
time, and the congregation has made out 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, 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, (a copy of which you
will find in my letters). Henry J. Aten had seen Cornelius at his
father's in Fulton County when Henry was a small boy.)
More about Cornelius Aten and the church, written to A.K. Aten by Henry J. Aten (a 7th cousin)...
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 January 10, 1773. When this church was
given up, all its members on the advice of the authorities of that
church became Presbyterian.
"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 may 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 whom Mrs. William McKinley decended 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 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.)
(Note by Barbara Hemmerling - this typed note was found
among my father's things after my mother's death and the selling of her
home in Fullerton. The note had been typewritten in 1938. It was folded
lengthwise and handwritten on the yellowed paper was "Life Sketch of
Cornelius Aten, Great Grandfather of Pearl Aten Kennedy'. I do not know
which Aten Pearl descended from, but the A. K. Aten mentioned earlier
was a brother to my grandmother Clara Louella Aten Rilea who died
before I was born)
[PICTURE INSERTED HERE. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS TOO POOR TO INCLUDE.]
Names as they had been written on back of picture:
DESCENDANTS OF CORNELIUS AND AARON ATEN
Back Row: Edd Wiley, Clarence Robinson, Ab Aten, Ray Aten, Perry
Robinson, Millie Robinson, Russell Aten, Harry Aten, Frank Robinson
Front Row: Eva B., Sylvia Holder, Ed D. Aten, Arthur Aten, Pearl
Kennedy Aten, Myrtle Aten German, Mabellves, Nettie Aten, Gertie Coffey
Note: From Mamie’s FTM file: Pearl Kennedy was Pearl (8) Aten, b. 1886, daughter of William (7) Jefferson Aten.
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