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To: Peter, Bob; David; Philip and Steven Whitis;
   since some of you have laready expressed an interest in the
Whitis and Roome genealogies, and since Ruf and I have most of what
information of each family there is in our possession, I have made
folders of what could be duplicated for each of you.  I will list
some of the other things that we are 'taking care of' for you.
   If my father and Ruf's father had not been so intersted we 
would not have these things today.
   Stored away are: An article on Col. roome's account of seeing
Lincol shot in the Shoulder.   Published 1907
Famiy tree of the Burton family starting in 1607 (my father's mother)
A book on the Descendants of Peter Wellemse Roome (given to Dad in 1886)
Picture of Benjamin roome with his surveying tripod.
Newspaper story (original) from Newark News 1923 of your Great Grandfather
and Great-Great Grandfather who did much of the surveying of Eastern
New Jersey.  He founded the business in 1816.  the last I heard it is
still in family hands)
Pages from a book "American Ancestry" Americans whos ancestors
settled in the U.S. previous to the declaration of independence. A.D. 1776
  - - - - -
I am sure you will be wondering why there is so much here about
Minor Keith and his relationship to us.  My Grandmother was called
julia Keith before she married Leonard Bogardus.  Her father's brother
had a son called Minor Keith (her cousin) who took care of the business
in Costa Rica and my Grandfather planned o doing it in N.Y. but unfortunately died when only 49 yrs. old.
   So much for the Roome ancestry.  There is a small trunck in the
attic with some very old heirlooms such as pictures, letters, and thngs
with sentimental value only.
   I hope some day that one or more of you will be interested in this.
There are plenty of Whitises-but no more Roomes (our branch) My father

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had no brothers, and no sons.  He had one sister who married Dick 
Lamscha.  He worked in the surveying field with her father.  They
had a son and daughter who later married and took over the business.
If they are still carrying on it would be about the fourth gener-
ation.  Located in Butler, N.J.   Their name would be Newell Harrison.
I am uncertain of this but I believe they have no children.
   It might be easier to keep things straight if I start a separate
account of the Whitis records along with the Roomes.

[Handwritten note:
  I have heard there are 5 generations
 of family still surveying in N.J.]
[my mom says the handwriting on this note matches Ruth Josephine (Roome) 
Whitis -MRW]
[This document was typed by Ruth Josephine (Roome) Whitis   -MRW]