Frank R. Aikens Biography

	This biography appears on page 433-434 in "History of Minnehaha 
	County, South Dakota" by Dana R. Bailey and was scanned, OCRed 
	and edited by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031
.

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AIKENS, FRANK R., the subject of this sketch - although he for several 
years resided at Canton, Lincoln county, since coming to Dakota  is so 
well known to the residents of Minnehaha county, and has been so 
closely identified with her affairs, that he is entitled to a more 
extensive notice than will appear incidentally upon the pages of this 
work.  He was born in the city of New York, December 14, 1855, and 
entered a law office so young, that he practically received his 
education in a law office.  After five years of study was admitted to 
the bar January 5, 1877, and commenced the practice of law at Rome, N. 
Y., where he remained until August, 1880, when he went to Sioux Falls, 
and from there to Canton, where he opened a law office on the 1st day 
of September following. From the first he had a good practice, took an 
active part in politics, and in 1885 was elected to the provisional 
state senate; was also elected to, and served in the territorial 
assembly, 1887, and 1889; was chairman of the judiciary committee in 
1887, and served on the same committee in 1889, and was practically its 
chairman; was a prominent and influential member of the legislature 
during both sessions, and was recognized as one of its ablest debaters.  
He is always clear, concise and forcible in presenting his views, and 
has enough of the orator in his composition to command the attention of 
any audience he may address.  On the 19th day of March, 1889, was 
appointed associate justice of the territorial supreme court, and the 
following October was elected judge of the second judicial circuit for 
the term of four years.  At the expiration of his term of office as 
judge he resumed the practice of law at Canton until July, 1895, at 
which time he removed to Sioux Falls and entered into copartuership 
with the firm of Bailey & Voorhees for the practice of law, under the 
firm name of Aikens, Bailev & Voorhees, and was the trial lawyer of the 
firm during its existence, which terminated in October, 1897.  On the 
22d day of that month he formed a partnership with Harold E. Judge 
under the firm name of Aikens & Judge, which partnership still 
continues.

While upon the bench he was a good listener, always self-possessed, and 
understood thoroughly the case he was trying, and if he had not been so 
big-hearted would have laid down the law cold enough to satisfy the 
most exacting lawyer.  Young, active and sagacious, with strong 
inclinations to take a hand in the affairs of the state, it is not too 
much to predict that thirty years from now the foregoing sketch will be 
remarkable for its brevity.