[p. 429] one of New Castle's most
prominent attorneys, senior member of the
law firm of Akens, Wilkison, Lockhart &
Chambers, was born in Crawford County,
Pennsylvania, September 13, 1855, and is
a son of Hamilton J. and Hannah (Sweeting)
Akens.
The Akens family is one of the oldest in Lawrence County. The father of C. H. Akens was born in Lawrence County, but after his marriage moved to Crawford County where he was engaged in the lumber business. He returned to Lawrence County in 1866 and resided on a farm in Shenango Township, where he lived until he moved to New Castle a few years before his death.
C. H. Akens was eleven years of age when his parents removed to Shenango Township, and he was primarily educated in the old McKee School in that township, later attending the public school at New Castle for one year; then attending the One Study College, as it was called, conducted by Prof. John R. Steeves, in the McCready Block, on Pittsburg Street, New Castle, and afterwards entering the State Normal School at Edinboro where he graduated in 1880. Mr. Akens worked his way through school by helping on the farm in summer and teaching in the winter. While attending the One Study College he rode back and forward, six miles, to attend recitations and assisted mornings and evenings on the farm.
In April, 1884, he was admitted to the bar, having prepared for the law under John G. McConahy and B. A. Winternitz, and on May 4, 1884, he opened his office at New Castle. He continued alone in practice until April, 1907, when he became associated with the other attorneys of his present firm, Hamilton A. Wilkison, John P. Lockhart and James A. Chambers, the firm being one of much legal strength and one which is recognized both individually and collectively in the important litigation in this section. Mr. Akens is a member of the Superior and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and also of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was one of the charter members of the Lawrence County Bar Association.
On December 25, 1884, Mr. Akens was married to Miss Eva E. Quigley, who is a daughter of James and Mary A. Quigley, of Lawrence County. Mr. Akens is a member of the Order of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a Democrat.
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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