September 25th, 1936

My Dear Gertrude

I was very glad to receive your letter. It seems too bad that you could not have had a little more time to visit, but I am thankful you could come. I was busy with a package containing the picture of your dear mother. Also those of my dear Father and Mother. When Hermann came in so I gladly gave it to him to finish which he did in his usual capable manner. He invited me to go the Post Office with him. He was in a hurry so I put my coat on and went just as I was. How your dear daughter has grown. I am proud of you both. And John is a fine stalwart young man. I will endeavor to send you all possible data about the relatives. I regret very much not have done it before this

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but other things prevented. Your great Grandfather Van Hovenberg was a Doctor. He was the first Health Office of the Port of New York. When he retired from that position the other officers wished to honor him decided to present him with a Silver Tray. Collecting the money in silver and had the Tray made to order. In later years my Father's Sister got the Tray. She (illegible) to make her a visit and spend the day with her. I saw the Tray at that time. It was beautiful.

Your Grandfather Van Hovenberg was a Lawyer and practised in New York City. My Mother whose parents were Irish her Father her Fathre Denis O'Connor Graduated from Trinity College Dublin Ireland. My Grandmother O'Connor visited us very . She was a beautiful little old

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woman with a sweet expression. After we moved to Paterson she visited us often.

My father bought a beautiful Estate stocked with all kinds of fruit and berries.

We owned property on both sides of the Road. The beautiful Passaic river ran past our place. The place had been rented to a family, they (as we later learned) the time had expired. The man went to bed, had sick. After a week or two Pa came to the conclusion the man was pretending he told the man whom he bought the property. My father went to see the man who had sold the property so he told my father to move in which he did. And they were obliged to leave.

The first place we lived was on Hamburg Ave. The Passaic Falls were a short distance

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My Grandmother was fond of walking with me she gave me good advice. I was about six or seven at the time.

My Grandfather O'Connor was a fine Soldierly man Fine black hair.

(My Grandmother was black also). Their son Denis My uncle Dennis was with -- My Mother had two brothers -- Commodor Perry on his first expedition to Japan. he was a Sailmaker and Rigger. In his later years he died at Valparaiso of Typhoid Fever. My Grandmother was in the nineties when she died. What I have written is from Memory. As I look back and remember things I will write to tell you and I will say good night with fond love to all.

Julie