AITCHISON, G. L.

AITCHISON, WINDELL

Posted By: Debbie Gerischer (email)
Date: 12/4/2004 at 21:21:35

G. L. AITCHISON

One of the successful business men and influential citizens of Arnolds Park,
Dickinson county, is George Lewis Aitchison, president of the Aitchison
Lumber Company and mayor of the town. He is a man of great energy and
progressive methods, has been an earnest supporter of everything calculated to advance
the community, and is eminently deserving of the respect which is accorded
him throughout his locality. Mr. Aitchison was born in Hancock county, Iowa,
on the 2d of December, 1869, and is a son of John and Sarah (Windell)
Aitchison, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Indiana. The father came
to the United States at the age of eighteen years, stopping in Indiana,
where he spent some years. About 1860 he came to Iowa, settling in Winneshiek
county, where he bought a farm, devoting his time to its improvement and
cultivation. In 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted and served
until disabled in 1863, when he was discharged and returned home. In 1869 he
moved to Hancock county, this state, where he bought a quarter section of land,
on which he established his permanent home, living there until his death, in
1877. His widow survived him thirty years, passing away in 1907.

George L. Aitchison attended the district schools and the Forest City public
schools, and then took a course of normal training at Decorah Institute. He
next engaged in teaching school for five years, and during the last two years
of that period and three years following he was also engaged in farming. He
then located at Miller and for eight years was engaged in mercantile
pursuits. In 1905 he came to Arnolds Park and served three years as manager of the
W. W. Johnson Lumber Company, followed by twelve years as manager of the
Brandon Lumber Company. In the fall of 1919 he established and incorporated the
Aitchison Lumber Company, of which he became president, and during the
subsequent years has enjoyed a very satisfactory measure of prosperity.

In 1891 Mr. Aitchison was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Windell, of
Winneshiek county, Iowa, and they became the parents of six children, of whom
three are living: Lisle F., who is manager of the Aitchison Lumber Company, of
Albert Lea, Minnesota, a branch of the Arnolds Park Company; Mary Lucile,
who is a bookkeeper in the Security National Bank, of Milfords, Iowa; and
Clifford Lewis, who is a student in the Arnolds Park high school. Mr. Aitchison
is a member of Gloaming Lodge, No. 482, A. F. and A. M., of which he is a past
master; Spirit Lake Chapter, No. 132, R. A. M.; and he and his wife and
daughter are members of Gloaming Chapter No. 225, Order of the Eastern Star, and
the daughter is a member of Calvary Shrine, No. 18, Order of the White Shrine
of Jerusalem, at Spirit Lake. Mr. Aitchison has taken an active part in
local public affairs, serving as mayor of Arnolds Park in 1914-15-16, and was
again elected to that office in 1924 and is still serving. He has given an
efficient and satisfactory administration and has gained the confidence and
esteem of his fellow citizens, who appreciate his services in behalf of the
community welfare.

-source: NORTHWESTERN IOWA, ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION; VOLUME III, 1804-1926
-transcribed by Debbie Clough Gerischer, co-coordinator of the IAGenWeb Iowa History Project

Iowa History Project
 

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