For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 246
ALBERT A. AIKINS. For eleven years past Albert A. Aikins has been making his home at West Liberty, having previously engaged with marked success in farming. He stands very high in the estimation of all who know him, as his life has been governed by principles of the strictest integrity, and the confidence he has inspired is the result of genuine personal worth.Born in Morgan county, Ohio, January 23, 1849, he is the son of Edmund W. and Mary D. (Cope) Aikins. The father was also a native of Morgan county, Ohio, continuing to live there until 1853, when he removed with his family to Illinois. In 1856 he came to Cedar county, Iowa, and located on a farm northeast of West Liberty, which he cultivated with a goodly measure of success, being called from earthly scenes in 1895. The ancestors of the family on the paternal side were of Scotch-Irish descent and came from the north of Ireland to this country at the time of the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject was born in Harrison county, Ohio, and was married to Mr. Aikins in Morgan county, Ohio. She was called to her reward in the same year as her husband and their remains now repose side by side in Oakridge cemetery at West Liberty.
Albert A. Aikins, the only child of his parents, came with them to Iowa at seven years of age. He was educated in the common schools and at a seminary acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental branches which gave him a fair start in the great school of the world. He early showed a natural inclination for agricultural pursuits and as his father's health declined took charge of the work upon the home farm, which he carried forward most successfully. Since 1900 he has lived retired at West Liberty. He was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of well improved land but has disposed of his farm, making investments elsewhere. He was one of the organizers of the Iowa State Bank at West Liberty and is a member of the board of directors of the Citizens Savings Bank. He and his family occupy a beautiful home, which is provided with all desirable modern conveniences.
In 1872 Mr. Aikins was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Buckman, a native of Baltimore county, Maryland, and four children have been born to them: Charles L., now a farmer of Cedar county; Irwin, cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank of West Liberty; Ethel A., now the wife of Lewis Whittaker, of West Liberty; and Raymond A., a railway mail clerk.
Mrs. Aikins is a daughter of Phineas Buckman, who was born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, April 2, 1819, a son of Phineas and Catherine (Shreve) Buckman, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Montgomery county, Maryland. The father was born in 1760 and the mother in 1765. They were both members of the Society of Friends. Of their family five children grew to maturity, namely: Maria, who married Mahlon Gibson, both now deceased; Charles, who died in Cedar county, Iowa, in 1883, leaving a wife and five children; William Penn, who died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1854; Phineas, and Thomas M., deceased. The father departed this life in 1836, the mother having been called away in 1831. William Buckman, the founder of the family of America, came to this country from England with William Penn in the vessel Welcome, in 1682, and members of the family may now be found in the principal states of the Union.
Phineas Buckman was educated in the common schools of Baltimore county and after laying his books aside learned the miller's trade. On the 7th of December, 1844, he was married to Miss Cynthia Roberts, who was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, in December, 1817, a daughter of Jonathan and Wilhelmina (Bouzer) Roberts, both natives of Pennsylvania and members of the Society of Friends. The father died in 1840 and the mother in 1865. In 1855 Mr. Buckman came to Muscatine county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land in Goshen township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1891. He was one of the pioneers of this section and passed through many of the trying experiences incident to the early days. He became the owner of a beautiful farm of three hundred and eighty-four acres which he acquired through his indomitable energy and perseverance and became recognized as one of the most respected men of the community. His estimable wife was called from earthly scenes in 1901. There were four children in their family; Charles E., now the owner of a farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres in Muscatine county; Oliver H., who was graduated from the engineering department of the State University at Iowa City and in 1877 removed to California, where he has since engaged with pronounced success in Civil engineering; Catherine, now the wife of Albert A. Aikins; and Anne W., who married James A. Irwin, a well known farmer of Goshen township.
Politically Mr. Aikins is allied with the republican party. He has never sought public office but served very acceptably as township trustee. Socially he is connected with the Masonic lodge at West Liberty. He and his estimable wife are valued members of the Presbyterian church and by their genial qualities have attracted a host of friends and well-wishers. Mr. Aikins has passed the age of three score years and is accorded the respect to which a man of unblemished character is entitled. He bears a name that has ever been a synonym for integrity and honor.
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