WILLIAM C. AIKEN. Among the eminent names connected with Washington county, none are more favorably known than that of this gentleman. He is a son of Joseph, who was a son of Joseph, the first of the Aiken family to locate in Smith township. Joseph Aiken was born in 1760, east of the mountains. His birthplace is unknown, but Maryland was probably his native State. He was married to Nancy Wilson, who was born in 1764, daughter of William Wilson, and in 1794 the young couple made the long and difficult journey over the mountains, locating one mile south of Bulger Station, Smith township, this county. They first erected a rude log cabin, and began to improve the property with such primitive tools as were obtainable. But perseverance and industry will conquer almost any obstacle, and success at last crowned the efforts of these heroic frontiersmen. Five children came to bless the union of Joseph and Nancy Aiken, viz. : One deceased in infancy, William (killed by a falling tree), Martha (married to James Montgomery, of Allegheny county, afterward moved to Iowa), Nancy (deceased in Guernsey county, Ohio, married to Alexander Cowan, a blacksmith) and Joseph. The father was a Whig in politics, and a soldier in the war of 1812; he and his wife both died in the home where our subject now lives, the father on November 16, 1836, the mother in 1849. Both were members of the Seceder Church.
Joseph Aiken was born February 19, 1806, on the farm in Smith township, where his father had first located. His boyhood was passed on the home place, and he received a common-school education. On June 11, 1835, he was married to Margaret Mackey, who was born March 16, 1816, in Allegheny county, Penn., a daughter of William and Deborah Mackey, natives or Ireland, who came to Allegheny county in an early day, and moved to Spencer, Guernsey Co., Ohio, when their daughter Margaret was but four years of age. She grew to womanhood in Ohio, and was there married to Joseph Aiken, who located on the old Aiken place in Smith township, Washington Co., Penn., and four children were born to them, as follows: W. C. (whose name opens this sketch), Alexander W. deceased, at one time a grocer in Allegheny City, Penn.), Fanny J. (deceased wife of Vance Smith, of Mt. Pleasant) and Joseph M. (a groceryman of Allegheny City, Penn.). The father was a Whig in politics, and in church connection a member of the Seceder Society, now the U. P. Church. He died February 24, 1840, and his widow has continued to reside on the home place with her son William C. Much credit is due this lady for the manner in which she has borne the double responsibilities of a widowed life so many long years. A faithful mother and Christian lady, she has inculcated the principles of honor and industry in the minds of her fatherless children, who have done credit to her training. She is a member of the U. P. Church, and a most highly esteemed lady.
William C. Aiken, the eldest son of Joseph and Margaret Aiken, was born March 27, 1836, on the old homestead where he is yet living. He received but a limited education, for, being the eldest son, when his father died he was needed to assist his widowed mother, with whom he has always resided. On October 21, 1868, he married Sarah C. McFarland, who was born August 12, 1842, a daughter of Samuel McFarland, of Smith township, and two sons were born to them: Joseph M. (living at home), born July 12, 1870; and Samuel A., born March 13, 1872, died March 20., 1874. The mother was called away April 3, 1872, and was buried in the Centre cemetery at Midway, this county. On May 1, 1879, W. C. Aiken was married to Sarah A. Tannehill, who was born February 3, 1847, a daughter of John and Margaret (McCahan) Tannehill. Three children have been born to this marriage, as follows: Oscar V., born January 22, 1880; Margaret C., born September 25, 1881, and Ida, deceased when nineteen days old.
William C. Aiken has always resided on the home farm, which he now owns, and has been a successful business man. In politics he is an active member of the Republican party, and has voted each year since old enough, his first vote being cast for Abraham Lincoln. He has served in various township offices, and was elected justice of the peace, but declined to accept that position. For twenty or more years Mr. Aiken has been in the dairy business, being the second shipper of milk from Bulger. They are members of the Centre United Presbyterian Church at Midway, and he has served as a member of the Session for over twenty years.
Text taken from page 1277 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]