This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Aikman, Barr, Banta, Bradford, Williams, Allen, Coleman
Classification: Biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/zh.2ADE/2442
Message Board Post:
Washington Township
The Aikman Family. The history of Daviess County, Ind. would be incomplete without a
detailed sketch of the above named family; not because they have been holders or aspirants
of office, or have urged themselves upon the notice of the citizens of their country, but
because their earliest settlement in this county, in the person of John Aikman, they have
been promoters of the advancement and well- being in the community of which they have
resided, largely by their liberality, industry, and public enterprise, which, as a whole,
are the predominant characteristics of the family. They have represented the county from
it's earliest settlement, and have been identified with her in all the progress she
has made, and as early pioneers and citizens of a late date, have endured their fair share
of hardships, and assisted in leveling the sturdy oak, and clearing and developing farms.
James Aikman and his decendants constitute one branch of the family. James is the eldest
of twelve !
children, five brothers and two sisters are now living, born to the marriage of John
Aikman and Mary Barr. He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Jan.07, 1810. Both parents
were natives of the "Bluegrass State," and when James was but a small boy, came
to Daviess Co., Ind., and located on a tract of land, which the father entered, two miles
south of Washington. Five years later the family removed to the "sugar land,"
neighborhood in this township, where they resided until a few years previous to the
father's death
(which occured in 1850), when they moved to Washington. John Aikman was a quite,
unassuming man, and accumulated considerable means by his frugal and industrious habits.
James secured a limited education, attending in the old log schoolhouse of early times.
When twenty-two years old he married Sarah Banta, a native of Nicholas Co., Kentucky,
born Jan., 01 1814, and began farming for himself. For fifty years he was a tiller of the
soil, and succeeded in accumulating 400 acres of land, one-half which is under
cultivation, and managed by his son's, who reside upon it. In 1874, he and his wife,
removed to Washington, and have since lived a happy and retired life, surrounded by the
comforts their industry has secured. They became the parent's of eight children,
these five now living: Samuel, Henry,John, Sarah D., and Martha Anne. Mr. Aikman has been
a Republican since the organization of the party, and previous to that time was a Whig.
He and his wife have been members o!
f the Presbyterian Church for over 40 years. He has resided in Daviess Co., longer than
any other living person, as far as we know. Samuel T. Aikman, was born November, 02 1839.
He secured a common school education, and married at the age of thirty-nine, locating on
part of his father's farm. He was married to Martha Cunningham in 1878. They have
two children, Claud and Maud. Henry Aikman was born, January 30, 1842 and secured the
same education and rearing as his brother. February 19, 1867, he was united in marriage
to Miss Laura E. Bradford, who lived to be the mother of three children, only Clara B.
living, and died July 30, 1870. In Sep.,1873 he was married to Sarah L. Williams, who
bore him six children, these five living: Willie M., Mamie, Gertie, Henry C., and Paul.
He is a member of the I.O.O.F. John Aikman was born February 27, 1845, and was reared
upon the same farm as Samuel and Henry were. He was married in 1870 to Permelia Allen,
who bore him six!
children: James, John A., Edward T., Grace, Charles and Sicily. He s
erved in the late war, enlisting in the Forty-second Indiana Volunteers in 1862, and
remained in the service two years. The sons are all industrious and prominent farmers,
and belong to the Republican party. Sarah L., the elder of the two daughters,was born
August 24, 1847, and is now the wife of Simeon Coleman, a young farmer living at Topeka,
Kansas. They were married in 1873, and have two children: James W., and Jessie A. Martha
Anne, the younger daughter, was born July 25, 1849, and yet resides with her family.
History of Knox and Daviess County Indiana
Goodspeed Publishing;Chicago;1886
Pages, 743,744 and 745