The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-05-07
JAMES AIKEN, FORMER
GAZETTE PUBLISHER,
DIES IN CALIFORNIA
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enough to support two publishers,
with the result that on May Is, 1881,
he retired for other and greener pas
lures, and James Aiken became the
sole editor and publisher.
For eleven years thereafter The
Gazette was mirror of the sunshiny
disposition of James Aiken. Some of
us-Messrs. A. C. Weis, H. v. Ruter
and myself-will recall frequent street
criticisms of lack of aggressiveness on
the part of The Gazette during that
time-but it never wavered, (if any
part of those criticisms reached his
ears) from pursuing the steady policy
of making as few enemies as possible,
and friends always, but when James
Aiken did speak out it was with a
judgment and pen that took effect.
1t was in July of 1892 that two of
the young men who had acquired
their first knowledge Of printing UNI
der Mr.. Aiken-Julius A. Schmahl
and H. v. Ruter-and who had built
up more extended experience in
Fargo and st. Paul, both in printing
and newspaper writing, made pro-
position to Mr.. Aiken for a complete
purchase Of the newspaper and plant.
This was consummated on August l.,
1892, at which time the paper was
turned into an all-home print news
paper, and the entire plant was mat
erially enlarged. Fifteen months was
the duration of that partnership, Mr..
Ruter retiring from the firm, and Mr..
Aiken taking over the Ruter inter-
est, with the new firm starting and
continuing under the name of Aiken
& Schmahl, the former having gen.
eral charge of the printery, while Mr..
Schmahl was scheduled as the news
gatherer and writer. This partner
ship continued for a period of four
teen years, or until December 1, 1906.
Weak indeed is human kind that
will not confess errors. During those
fourteen years of partnership with
James Aiken, the writer learned more
and received the best and kindliest
discipline of his life. Mr.. Aiken was
only too willing to permit the writer
to have free hand in the editorial
policy of The Gazette. A suggestion
here and word of advice there al
ways came from Mr.. Aiken at the
right time. Occasionally differing,
Mr.. Aiken was always in the right.
At one time, in a particular bitter
campaign, one of the forms contain
ing very vitriolic editorial written
by me, was held up for several hours.
Time and Mr.. Aiken won and the
editorial was pulled" Any smooth
ness in the editorial policy afterwards
was due to Mr.. Aiken's gentle and
kindly caution.
The writer was elected secretary of
state in 1906 and closed out his in
terest in The Gazette to Mr.. Aiken
on December LIST of that year. Mr..
Aiken, however, had taken on himself
the task Of conducting an increased
sized newspaper, running a highly
developed printing plant. He found
the task too large for his increasing
years, and in 1911 he closed out his
interests to St. Paul reporter, and
shortly afterwards removed to Cali
fornia, where he has remained up to
the time of his demise, with the ex-
ception of visits to the State he was
pleased to call his home.
1t was only a short time after he
located at Redwood Falls that a
young lady, Miss Elizabeth Mckay of
Hampden, Dakota county, Minnesota,
was on visit to her brother G. E.
Mckay, md her sister, Mrs. S. j.
Race, in Redwood Falls, and an ac-
quaintance sprang up between Mr..
Aiken and Miss Mckay, the result of
which was that on December rs, 1883,
the two were wed at the Dakota coun-
ty home of the brides parents. Their
48 years of welded life have been
happy to both, and with all four chill
dren grown to full manhood and wo-
manhood and in successful employ
ments. Mr.. Aiken's mental decline Of
the past fifteen years has required
Mrs. Aiken's almost constant atten-
ton to household, business and other
matters.
Mr.. Aiken became member of the
Presbyterian church at Redwood Falls
shortly after his arrival in the city,
and was identified with that church,
as was also Mrs. Aiken, up to the
time of their departure to California.
Whittier was an early settlement OF
the Society of Friends, Of which the
celebrated poet, John Greenleaf Whit
tier was a member, and the large and
kindly congregation in the town
whose name commemorated the poet,
together with the noble precepts
both spiritual and temporal, caused
the Aikens to join that group.
Mr.. Aiken was deeply interested in
the school and civic affairs Of Red
wood Falls and Redwood county. He
was, during the earlier days, an &C.
tive member of the Odd Fellows, and
assisted in promoting the growth Of
that order. He was also q United
Workman, and likewise, active in that
organization during its earlier days
in Redwood Falls.
James Aiken lived eighty years
righteous, honorable, pleasing, pro.
gressive years eighty years of cour'
age and giving courage, of buoyine
up himself and buoying up others
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