Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-29
A BUSY LIFE.
Andrew Jackson Aikens-His Long and
Active Career

Andrew Jackson Aikens was born at
Barnard, VT, October 81, 1898. His
paternal ancestors were Scotch from
Montrose, who settled in Massachusetts
in 1860, and on his mothers side he was
descended from John Rowland, the last
survivor Of those who came over in the
Maytlower. He left the high school at
the age of IS years, and served an ap>
premiership IN a printing office. rising
TO the position Of editor. He aft
erwards edited a weekly paper at
bennington, Vt, and later IA week
~ at North Adams, Mass. From
North Adams he went to Boston,
where he became Il reporter in the Leg
lSlature, and served as proOfreader in
the state printing office. He took an ac
tive interest in politics and his ability as
an organizer and campaign speaker was
recognized by his selection as a delegate
from Massachusetts to the Free Soil ma
tiOnal convention at Pittsburg, in 1852,
which nominated John p. Hale for Presi-
dent. His adherence to the Republican
party had always been steadfast, and he
remained q vigorous advocate of its prin-
ciples until his death
Going from Boston to New York. he
was engaged upon the New York Even
ing Post in 1858, and was sent to the
western states as special correspond
ent. He visited Milwaukee in the spring
Of 1854, settled here in the early SIM
NOR, and soon after became connected
with The Evening Wisconsin, with the
late William e. Cramer. On the LIST of
January, 1857. he assumed the business
management of the newspaper and print
ing department, and later was admitted
to partnership in the firm, then conduct
ed under the name of William e. era
mer. In 1864 the firm name became
William e. & John f. Cramer, and in
1868 Cramer, Aikens & Cramer. Mr..
Aikens was a man of broad cul-
ture, thoroughly familiar through daily
reading with the books of his pri-
vate library, which consisted of several
thousand volumes. Although advanced
in years he was in daily attendance at
his office up to within comparatively
few days of his death.
The method of printing newspapers on
one side at central office and on the
other side at the Office of publication
commonly called patent insides'O orig
mated with Mr.. Aillens in 1868. Mr..
Aillens' improvement upon the English
method of printing auxiliary newspapers
consisted in the addition to the general
news of the paper Of page for general
advertising; the compensation for this
advertising partly, and sometimes wholly,
paying for the cost Of the white paper
to the publisher. The firm began the pub
LEGATION of the patent insides" with adj
vertisements in 1864, being the pioneer
house in the business. There are now
more than 10000 papers printed upon
this plan in the United States-mOre than
one-half of the weekly newspapers-at a
saving of Millions of dollars. Mr.. Aikens
founded the Newspaper Unions at Chi
cagO, New York. Cincinnati, Nashville,
Atlanta and Memphis.
For three years previous to his assump-
ton of the business management Of The
Evening Wisconsin, Mr.. AikenS was city
and commercial editor of the paper. He
was secretary OF the chamber of COM
merce and published for three years n
compilation of the statistics of the trade
and commerce of Milwaukee. Mr.. Athens
was q charter member of the Milwaukee
club, which was organized in his bust
ness office He was also one of the old
est members OF the Chicago club, and a
member of the Milwaukee Press club.
He was connected with the Associated
Press as an officer and adviser from its
organization.
Mr.. AikenS was twice married. In 1854
he was united TO Amanda l.. Barnes of
Pittsfield Mass. by whom he had three
daughters-Alice Marian Bremen, Stella
Cramer Johnson, and Mary Lydia
Davies. wife of Maj. 3. Y. Davies, of
the British army, now stationed at Cape
Town, South Africa. Of these children,
the last is now the only one living. In
May, 1898. Mr.. Aikens was married to
katherine Vine Crehore of Minneapolis
by whom he had one son. Andrew jack
SON. born March %. 1896.