[p. 416] general farmer, residing on a valuable tract of land aggregating 104 acres, situated in Slippery Rock Township, owns this property jointly with his sister, Margaret. He was born here, December 8, 1861, and is a son of Leslie and Sarah Margaret (Henry) Aiken.
The grandparents of Mr. Aiken were James and Elizabeth Aiken, who came to America from Ireland, settling first at Baltimore, Md., and then moving to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. In 1798 they came to what was then Beaver but is now Lawrence County. At that time a Mr. Chew owned many acres of uncleared land and this land in Beaver County he desired to dispose of, therefore he was willing to make favorable proposals to settlers who promised to be a credit to the locality. He offered 200 acres of land to James Aiken if he would clear 200 more, and the offer was accepted, and Mr. Aiken subsequently acquired 200 acres. This land was located along Slippery Rock Creek, and on it James Aiken lived until the time of his death, March 13, 1840, when it was sold. The old log house still stands. After her husband's death, Elizabeth went to live with her son, James B. Aiken, where she died March 11, 1860, aged seventy-nine years. They had twelve children, namely: Ralph, born December 26, 1799; Vincent William, born January 19, 1802, was noted for his strength, performing feats that no other man in the township could equal; Martha, born February 14, 1804; Isabella, born April 2, 1806; Hiram J., born August 9, 1808, was a noted wrestler in the contests of strength and skill participated in by the young men of his time; Sarah, born December 26, 1810; Robert A., born February 26, 1813; James B., born January 27, 1815; Leslie C., born April 12, 1817; Walker V., born September 12, 1819; Margaret, born July 15, 1822, and David E., born October 21, 1824.
Leslie C. Aiken resided in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, until his marriage in 1843 to Sarah Margaret Henry. She was born in Ohio in 1822, and died August 6, 1907. Her parents were John and Sarah M. Henry, of Lawrence County. Leslie C. Aiken and wife took up a claim in Illinois and lived on it for two years, but subsequently returned to Lawrence County, where Mr. Aiken died in 1889. They had eight children, namely: Sarah M., John H., James W., Isabel, an unnamed infant, Margaret, William L. and Lettie. Sarah M. Aiken, born September 27, 1844, died aged two years, while the family was on a boat on the Ohio River and her burial took place when they reached Kendallville, Ind. John H. was born in Illinois March 17, 1847, and resides in Missouri. He married Laura Gilham, and they have two children, William L. and Ethel M. The latter has prepared herself for teaching and is a graduate of the Missouri State Normal School. James Walker Aiken was born October 13, 1851, and resides at Omaha, Neb. He married Florence Smith, and they have two children, Nannett B. and Doris E. Isabel Aiken was born November 3, 1853, and died September 25, 1866. Margaret Aiken was born March 4, 1857, and she resides with her brother, William L. Lettie, the youngest of the family, was born February 2, 1864. She is a successful teacher and has been connected with the Chicago public schools for thirteen years. This family has always been one of high standing and very intelligent. Mr. Aiken and sister belong to the United Presbyterian Church.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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