Iowa Old Press
Ida County Pioneer
Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa
October 30, 1918
JAMES AITCHISON died Monday at 1 p.m., at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Margaret J. Neal in Arthur, after a
lingering illness. Brief funeral services were held at the Neal
home Tuesday afternoon, and the body was shipped on the evening
train to Cascade, Iowa, where it will be laid to rest beside his
wife.
James Aitchison was born November 7, 1828 and would have been
ninety years old, had he lived a week from tomorrow. His
birthplace was Rumbleton Law, Parish of West Gordon,
Berwickshire, Scotland. He was married July 5, 1850 at Melrose,
Scotland to Janet Bell. He emigrated to America in 1855 and his
wife and children followed him to this country two years later,
at first settling in New York. In the year 1859 they came to
Cascade, Iowa, where they resided until 1887, when Mrs. Aitchison
died. He then retired from farming and spent the rest of his days
with his children. For the past fifteen years, he lived with his
daughter, Margaret J. Neal at Arthur.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Aitchison, of whom five
survive: Agnes McKercher of Stirum, N.D.; Isabel S. Woodham of
Crookston, Minnesota; James K. Aitchison and Thos. B. Aitchison,
of Clear Lake, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret J. Neal of Arthur. He also
leaves 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
[transcribed by K.W. August 2009]