[p. 920] a prominent member of the Lawrence County Bar, has been engaged in the practice of law at New Castle, Pa., since 1891. He was born at Portersville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Alexander H. Aiken, who died in 1878, and of Jane Kennedy, who died in 1904.
The Aiken family is an old one in Western Pennsylvania and for years has represented good citizenship in Beaver, Washington, Butler and Lawrence Counties. Alexander H. Aiken was a merchant, having first been employed by Anthony Henderson at New Castle, Pa., and he was afterwards engaged in business at Princeton, Portersville and Mt. Jackson, Pa.
Robert K. Aiken was mainly reared at Mt. Jackson, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and he completed his literary training at Westminster College, where he graduated in 1890. He then read law in the office of D. S. Morris, Esq., and in 1891 he was admitted to the bar and located immediately in New Castle. He is a member of the Lawrence County Bar Association and of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association. He took a leading place in his profession very soon after entering upon practice and in 1894 he was elected district attorney of Lawrence County, in which office he served for three years. From 1898 to 1902 Mr, Aiken was a member of the Select Council of the city of New Castle, and served as its president during the entire term.
In politics he is a Republican. Has served his party as a member of the County and State Committees, but has always opposed "corrupt methods" and "machine politicians" in the Republican party. The dissatisfaction that existed in the political conditions of the Congressional District and the State at large made him a candidate for Congress in 1906 against Ernest F. Acheson, and although not elected he succeeded in reducing his opponent's majority to 1,328 votes as opposed to a previous majority exceeding 14,000.
He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. On the paternal side Mr. Aiken is connected with the Henrys, his grandmother, Mary Henry, was the only sister of Thomas Henry, editor of the Beaver Argus and a member of Congress.
The Aikens and Henrys were among the earliest settlers in Wayne Township.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 31 Jan 2002