William Aitchison, Jr.

AITCHISON, BABCOCK, ANSON, MCKINLA

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 8/18/2015 at 17:17:28

WILLIAM AITCHISON,Jr., farmer, Sec. 13; P.O. Cascade; born in Scotland April 5, 1837; emigrated to America in 1855; for two years and six month in New York City, and eight years thereafter in Chicago, was engaged in merchandising,, when ill heath caused a change of occupation and residence to his present farm, in 1865; has a farm of 137 acres, and has not striven to increase his landed possessions; from philanthropic views, he has been a life-long worker for the benefit of others rather than for himself; he penned the call for a meeting of those favorable to the organization of the Y.M.C.A. in Chicago, and was one of the three men who made the first organization of the Association there in 1856; was the first Secretary of Y.M.C.A. in that city; was also an earnest worker there in Sunday-school mission work; he supplied the pulpit of the Cascade Baptist Church for a year, when ill health compelled him to resign. On the 23d birthday, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Babcock, of Chicago; they have five children, all of whom yet live to bless their household- William C., Albert W., Lydia Grace, John Y., and Harriet Ruth. Mr. A's father-William- was born in Scotland Sept,6, 1796; and his mother Agnes- was born in Scotland Feb. 4, 1799; they were married in 1824, and came to America in 1855; they, with six children- Rev. Dr. Aitchison, of Eau Claire, Wis., James Aitchison, Mrs. A. Fairburn, Mrs. Anson, Mrs. D. A. McKinla, of St. Paul, Minn.; and the subject of this sketch- are all pioneers in this county, and have ever been abundant in good works wherever they have lived.

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