DAVID W. AIKEN: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
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Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
Coordinated by Ed McClelland
Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
An html version with search engine may be found at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
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HON. DAVID W. AIKEN,
[p. 30] one of Lawrence County's most representative men, and a leading
agriculturist and fruit dealer of Shenango township, was born in Wayne
township, Lawrence County Sept. 11, 1837. He is an eminent citizen of
Shenango township, being both a man of large agricultural interests, and
a man endowed with the qualities that make a successful legislator.
He is a descendant of David Aiken, and traces his ancestry back to his
grandfather, William Aiken, Jr., and to his great-grandfather, William
Aiken. The latter was born in Ireland, where he passed the early years
of manhood until he was attracted by the prospects of America, whether
he came, bringing his family, one of whom was William, Jr., and settling
near Baltimore, Md. After a period of years, he removed to Westmoreland
County, Pa., which was the place of-his death.
William Aiken, Jr., the grandfather, removed from Pennsylvania to St.
Clairsville, Ohio, and there he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy
Newell. The worthy couple was blessed with the birth of triplets, whom
they named David, William and Dorothy. In 1801 William Aiken, Jr.,
returned to Pennsylvania, making his home in Wayne township, at that
time a part of Beaver County, but now included in Lawrence County. In
1821, some time after the death of his wife, he married Miss Margaret
Clark, and they lived happily together until her death in 1845.
Immediately after his settlement in Wayne township, Mr. Aiken became
interested in the milling business, and built a carding- mill and also a
saw-mill and grist-mill, being engaged in this line of work until his
death at the age of eighty-three years.
David Aiken, father of the Hon. David W. Aiken, was born during the time
of the family residence in Ohio, in 1800. He remained in Wayne township,
where his father had located until 1845, when he obtained possession of
a tract of land in Shenango township, this county, 267 acres in extent,
and there he lived and farmed until his death. He was a Whig, and during
his life-time served as assessor, and also as school director; he was a
delegate to the first county convention that was held in the county. The
wife of Mr. Aiken was Martha Vance, daughter of James Vance of Slippery
Rock township, and she was born in 1807, and passed away in 1883. Their
children were: Martha; Dorothy (Van Horn); William N.; James W., who
fell at the battle of Petersburg in defense of the Union; David W.;
Isaiah W., who also served in the Federal Army, and who died from
disease he contracted there; William H.; Sarah E. (Adams), deceased;
Mary J. (Palmer), deceased; Margaret M. (Walton), deceased; and Isabella
T., deceased. The family attended the United Presbyterian Church, where
David Aiken, the father, took an active part in church affairs, and
acted as trustee for many years, keeping up his interest until his
death, which occurred March 1, 1860. He was a colonel in the State
militia and was commonly known as Col. David Aiken.
Hon. David W. Aiken, whose history is chronicled here, was the fifth
child of David and Mary (Vance) Aiken, and came with the family from
Wayne to Shenango township, where he passed the early years of his life,
and at maturity engaged in farming. In 1861, he enlisted for a period of
three months in Co. F, 12th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf., and in 1864 he
re-enlisted in Co. I, 6th Battalion Pa. Heavy Art., where he was almost
immediately promoted from his position as private to the rank of fourth
sergeant, which promotion was followed in a short time by another to the
rank of second lieutenant, which office he held until he was mustered
out June 16, 1865.
In 1869, Mr. Aiken was married to Mary A. Young, daughter of James and
Margaret (Scott) Young of Perry township, and took up his residence on
the homestead, a half of which had been apportioned to him from his
father's estate. Here he has lived since that time, devoting himself to
farming and fruit-raising, in which he has attained a satisfactory
degree of success, for during the season of 1897, the crop from his
apple trees amounted to over 1,000 bushels. Mr. Aiken's family consists
of: Martha B., who married J. Barcklay Gibson; J. Frank; Dora M.; and
Mary E., and they attend the United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Aiken possesses the keen instinct of a politician, and, with the
happy faculty that characterizes a man of Irish-American origin, he
succeeds in holding his own, and in winning others to his side. Shortly
after passing his majority, he was elected constable and collector, and
served in this capacity for five years. He has held various township
offices, and in 1870 he was appointed to take the census in six
townships of Lawrence County. Mr. Aiken derives his title of "Honorable"
from his service in the State Legislature, where he had the privilege of
representing his district during the years of 1873-74, 77-78 and 79. He
has been a justice of the peace since 1885, receiving successive
commissions in 1890, 1895, and 1896. He is a member of Princeton Post,
G. A. R., and has served as quartermaster. On account of his success in
political affairs, Mr. Aiken is often chosen as a delegate to county and
state conventions, and his career as a farmer and as a loyal follower of
the "Stars and Stripes" places him among the foremost men of Lawrence
County. He also was school director twelve years, not missing a meeting
in all that time.
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