James Fox Aitchison (1912)
AITCHISON, HARRAH, HENDERSON, HORNER
Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 8/12/2004 at 08:55:11
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 21, 1912
Page 1James Aitchison, a former resident of the Pitzer neighborhood, died on last Thursday at the home of his son, J. F., in Earlham, aged seventy three years. The deceased was born in Scotland and came to America a poor young man, but in common with many of the sturdy people of that country, surmounted the obstacles of life in a strange country, where he took up the duties of citizenship, without wealth and without the influence of friends or relatives.
The family moved here from Jackson county, Iowa, some twenty years ago. Mrs. Aitchison died about 10 years ago and since that time Mr. Aitchison made his home with his children. With an unfaltering faith in the Christian life which he consistently lived, he possessed a mind of rare judgment of right and wrong, and probably no other man in the community in which he lived, more fully enjoyed the confidence and love of his friends and neighbors. Such a life will leave an influence for all time and in his death, the people of Earlham and his former neighbors near Pitzer feel a personal loss.
He is survived by three sons, all living in this county, T. H. of Jackson township, J. F. and A. G. of Earlham.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, March 6, 1912
Page 3, Column 3Obituary
James F. Aitchison, who died Feb. 15, 1912 was born in the south of Scotland at Haymount, Feb. 27, 1839. He was married to Jane Henderson 52 years ago. They came from Scotland to America in 1873, coming to Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, locating near Andrew.
He was elected an elder in the United Presbyterian church of that place and was also superintendent of the U. P. Sunday school at Andrew for 15 years.
They then moved to Madison county, locating in the Pitzer neighborhood where he continued his eldership and was superindendent of the Sunday school for 19 years. On removing to Earlham, three years ago, he was elected an elder in the Presbyterian church, thus continuing his service in the capacity through a long series of years until his death.
Mrs. Aitchison preceded him to the home above, having died in the year 1900. The children are John F. and Arthur G. of this place and Thomas H. of the Pitzer neighborhood. The two daughters Mrs. Jane F. Harrah and Mrs. Agnes N. Homer and a sister, the latter died in Scotland, have gone on before him. There are six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mr. Aitchison has one brother living in Scotland, two brothers died there and a brother residing in Chicago. The latter was present at the funeral. There is also a sister in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.
Mr. Aitchison was a man unusually devoted to his Christian duties, a constant searcher of the pages of holy scripture. He has left a remarkable impression on the minds of his family, his church and the community. He left a number of hand wrote diaries in which one may find passage after passage of scripture copied and paragraphs on this by great men and along with them paragraphs that have come from his own hand, and some of the pages of these little books are blotted with his own tears. Seldom do you find a layman so absorbed on the things of the spiritual life. He was quiet and unassuming, but his constant correspondence with the Word and the Spirit, he has left an influence that will bring forth much fruit.
The funeral services were conducted from the Presbyterian church by the pastor, Rev. V. B. Demaroe. The discourse was based on ------ and Ps. 13:35. Burial was in the Pitzer cemetery.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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