The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-08-27

ET EIF. 5aHN D. AiRlN, 90 PAWLEH. va,
uEtIETHrn AT rUE sEU1ND EE.UNIuN uI
guHR AND uUEroN srNNAEYt JtH1 lsT,
1874
Is Is always good 60 contemplate q lila
which has been marked by iofy aspIa.
tl0As and noble achievements
Many men comparatively uukuowu TO
the general public have lived lives more
worthy Of admiration and Of imitation
than others whose biographies have been
read by thousands
The subject Of this sketch was rot d
public man ia the popular acceptance OF
the term, yet those who were bes, ac-
guaiuted with him often remarked that be
would have graeed a high public position.
However this may be, il can with truth
be said Of him that whatever lac did, be
did well. On account Of his brief bot
important connection with this Seminary
I ia its early days it has been thought de-
sirable that q sketch of bis life should be
( presented ou this occasion.
/ While it may be pleasant, il Is by 900
means an easy task for sou TO writo
the biographical sketch OF a father
Hence shall call in the aid OF others
somewhat, ia eudeavoring TO furnish
what believe 20 be correct estimate OF
/ the man.
John Aiken was born ia Bedford, n
H., January 30th, 1897. lie was OF pious
ancestry. Each Of his ancestors for four
generations had been called TO fll the
honorable aud responsible position OF
deacon in the church.
Edward Aiken, the original ancestor
IN this country, came to America in a
company OF colonists from the north OF
/ Ireland in the year l7l9
They were descendants of emigrants
FROM Scotland, who had settled in Lon.
donderry, aud other towns in northern
ireland. Not finding their home in the
old Country congeniaI by reason of Papist
opposition aud political iends, the Scotch.
Irish, as they were called, crossed the
wide ocean, aud named their new home
in New Hampshire, Londonderry.
From Londonderry the original com,
pany with after accessions from Ireland
took possession of all the adjacent terri.
tory in which was the town Of Bedford
where John Aiken Of the third generation
grandfather of the subject of this sketch
removed with bis intelligent aud devoted
wife. Bedford has long been one OF the
best farming towns in New Hampshire,
and the church there which still is de,
nominated Presbyterian, is large and in.
huential
The grandmother of Mr.. Aiken had {
remarkable influence in forming his char
acter She was a woman of strong Minis
and considerable culture. She was ia
miliar with the poetry OF Milton and
Young, while she had at her command
many Interesting historical iaCus VIII
which she fed the inquiring mind Of hel
youthful grandson. In speech at
centennial celebration in Bedford, he re
marks, 1--WE are largely indebted to tht
character of our grandmothers, many 0
whom were large-heBrtcd, noble womeI
OF rare energy, intelligence and WORTH -
Bedford was so fortunate as to posses
a teacher OF peculiar ability and excel
lence, who had a wonderful innuenc
over the youthful mind for half a cen
tury. Her name was Ann Orr. Th
celebrated Horace Greeley was one O
her pupils. John and his brother Silas
the late Rev. Silas Aiken of Park Stree
Church, Boston, and afterwards of Rut
land Vt, daily wendcd their way to he
school. At the centennial Just referee
to, it was said OF her: Hers was
life Of calm, quiet, steady devotion to on
great end aud purpose, namely; th
moral, religious and intellectual culur
g of the youth Of her time. 1t Il perhap
praise enough to say that at the time {
her DEATH she could undoubtedly hay
summoned around her more well in
strdcted pupils than ANY female Of hc
age in New England"
Mr.. Aiken's parents were endowc
with strong mental aud physical charac
teristcs, while religion threw it's pecr
liar charm over their daily life. Wit
all these Influences for good 1t is NJ
d strange that the boy grew up with dr
sire to make the most OF life. Durin
the vacations he worked on the farr
with manly vigor, and we may be sur
that when at school be wasted none
bis precious time. Ere long be bega
to prepare himself to eutcr college stud,
ing first atDerry and then atIlanover,an
after somewhat hastylpreparatory coun
be entered Dartmouth COLLEGE In 1871
i, being then nearly nineteen years Of az
- This college was already celebrated. !
President at that time was Rev Franc
Brown, the father OF President Brow
Of Hamilton College. lie was q man
profound learning and great ability, an
bic death before he bad reached the III
ndlan oi |ife filled with pain aad gri
the hearts Of all who loved the college.
= How greatly Mr.. Aiken enjoyed bis CO
leae 8fe eould be inferred from his fr
queHt aIluslous to it In after days. Ito
much ho pfotited by 1t was shown I
hi. graduating with high honor surpass,
3 in scholarship onIy by one, who afte
ward. shown q star Of pceuIlar bnlIianc
the lale Raius Choaie lle remained
Hanover ono year after graduating,
which be- performed the cougeulal dall
Of tu:or iu the college. lie then sludi
law, aad located In ibis beautiful villag