BIOGRAPHY: Matthew AIKEN, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume II, pages 726-727.

  MATTHEW AIKEN, deceased, was born in Blair county, Pa.; he is the son of John 
and Mary (Uttley) Aiken.  The father of John Aiken, was one of three brothers 
who together came to America from Scotland, and settled in what was then the 
province of Pennsylvania.  The children of John and Mary Aiken are:  Watson, who 
married Elizabeth Shafer, and has one child;  Martha, Mrs. Penrose Miller, who 
has three children;  Lucy;  Rebecca (Mrs. William Hocksworth), deceased, had two 
children;  Katie, who died aged fourteen years;  William, married, and has five 
children living;  Matthew;  and two died in infancy.
  Matthew Aiken received his education in Blair county, and prepared to teach.  
He had taught but one term when the war of the Rebellion began.  Promptly 
offering his services to his imperilled country, he enlisted, April 20, 1861, in 
Company E, Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was discharged July 30, 1861.  On 
December 10, 1861, he enlisted in the three years' service, under Capt. Patrick 
H. McAteer, and Col L. B. Pierce, in Company G, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
was mustered out at the end of his term of enlistment at Martinsburg, Va., on 
January 31, 1864, but re-enlisted and served to the close of the war.  For 
gallant and meritorious service he was promoted to the position of sergeant, on 
February 12, 1865.  He was taken prisoner, confined in the Andersonville prison 
for three months, and then paroled.  He received an honorable discharge July 20, 
1865, at Winchester, Va.  After his return he was for a short time in business 
as a merchant in Altoona.  He entered the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company as an employee.  In 1868 he came to Mann's Station, Derry township, and 
was employed in the axe works of William Mann, Jr. & Company, which position he 
held the remainder of his life.
  Mr. Aiken was married, December 31, 1867, to Louisa Jane, daughter of Samuel 
and Margaret (Munsell) Crownover.  Their children are:  John Wilbert;  J. 
McDannell;  Margaret Munsell;  Mary Jane;  and Lourene Mercedes.  John Wilbert 
Aiken received his education in the district schools, and had several years' 
experience as a merchant.  He is a Democrat, and was appointed postmaster at 
Yeagertown, August 3, 1893.
  Matthew Aiken was an esteemed citizen of kindly disposition.  He was a member 
of the Lutheran church.  His death, which occurred November 3, 1882, was caused 
by injuries received by  falling from a tree while gathering chestnuts with his 
children.  Mrs. Matthew Aiken is a granddaughter of John Munsell, who was born 
at Nantz, in France, in 1812.  He came to Philadelphia, where he became 
acquainted with the philanthropist, Stephen Girard.  John Munsell married Miss 
Campbell and had a family of sons and daughters;  one of whom was Margaret 
Ellen, who married Samuel Crownover.  They had three children:  An infant that 
died;  Samuel J. P.;  and Louisa J. (Mrs. M. Aiken).  Samuel Crownover died in 
1850.  His widow married J. McDannell.  Their children are:  An infant, 
deceased;  Ida Mary;  Fanny;  Emma T. (Mrs. Adam Leise), who has two children;  
Daisy Ellen (Mrs. William Shaff), who has five children.