USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 40
USA > Indiana > Parke County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 40
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Judge White was born in Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, May 27, 1843. and is a son of Johnson S. and Hannah (Jones) White. The father was born in northern Ohio, and the mother's birth occurred in Clermont county, Ohio. Johnson S. White learned the blacksmith's trade when a young man, at which he worked during most of his active life. also became pro- prietor of a saw-mill and lumber yard and finally farmed to some extent. He removed to Parke county. Indiana, about 1838 or 1839 and here established the permanent home of the family and became well and favorably known to the early settlers in this section of the Wabash country. For some time he was engineer on a steamboat called the "Spy," which plied the Wabash river. Giving up that position, he went to the town of Montezuma and en- gaged in blacksmithing and was living there when he married. Moving from
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there, he located where old Bloomingdale stood, continuing his trade two years, then came to Rockville, continuing this line of endeavor until 1855, when he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, moving to his farm about three miles south of that town, carrying on his trade in connection with farming until he bought a saw-mill in that neighborhood, which he conducted with much success until about 1874 or 1875. He then moved to Rockville where he spent the residue of his years, his death occurring in 1878, having been preceded to the grave by his wife in July, 1868. He was widely known as the most skilled blacksmith in this locality and his customers came from all over the country. He had the distinction of making the first wagon that crossed the plains to the Pacific coast during the gold fever days of the latter forties.
To Johnson S. White and wife were born seven children, named in order of birth as follows: Charles N., of Marshall, Parke county ; Mary Frances died in infancy ; Ared F., subject of this review; Martha E., who married Robert C. McDivitt, and who died in 1912; William J., who is vice-president of Parke State Bank at Rockville; Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Clinton Murphy, of Rockville; Frank C., who is vice-president, secretary and treas- user of the German-American Fruit Company, of Terre Haute, Indiana.
Ared F. White received his primary education in the public schools of Rockville and in the rural schools south of town. When a young man, before reaching his majority, he entered his father's blacksmith shop and learned the trade, at which he worked for two years; then became fireman and engi- neer for his father in the saw-mill business, finally becoming head sawyer, which position he filled for a period of five years. Having an insatiable desire for an education of a higher education, he entered Asbury (now De- Pauw) University at Greencastle, Indiana, where he made a splendid record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1867, having finished the scientific course. During his senior year he read law in the office of John Hanna, of Greencastle, and after his graduation pursued his studies with John Mclaughlin, of Rockville, with whom he formed a partnership late in the year 1867, having made rapid progress with Blackstone, Kent and other legal authorities. This alliance was for the practice of law and it con- tinued until the following March, when Mr. Mclaughlin removed to Minne- sota. Judge White has been a leader of the local bar ever since, his success ever growing until he built up a large and lucrative practice and became one of the most noted and able lawyers of western Indiana. figuring prominently in important cases in local courts for many years. He was in partnership with
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Elwood Hunt for a number of years, or until 1886, at which time he was honored by the people by being elected judge of the forty-seventh judicial circuit, embracing Parke and Vermillion counties, and was on the bench for a period of eighteen years, his long retention being criterion enough to indi- cate his high standing in these counties and of the trust and confidence re- posed in him by the people, serving three full terms in a most able and con- scientious manner. He came to the bench well qualified for its exacting duties and responsibilities and from the beginning his judicial career was character- ized by such a profound knowledge of the law and an earnest and conscientious desire to apply it impartially that he was not long in gaining the respect and confidence of the attorneys and litigants and earning for himself an honora- ble reputation among the leading jurists of the state. From the first his labors were very arduous, as many important cases were tried in his court, not a few coming to him by change of venue; in addition to which he was also called to other circuits to sit on cases in which large interests were involved. So far as known, his rulings were ever without bias, characterized by their uniform fairness and impartiality, with a display of a profound knowledge of the various phases of jurisprudence and his decisions in all cases were eminently satisfactory, and so in accord with the basic principles of law and practice that everybody interested was thoroughly satisfied with his course. It is safe to say that no one ever wore the judicial ermine with more becoming dignity or was more worthy of the same in the annals of the Hoosier state than he.
After the expiration of his term of office Judge White resumed the prac- tice of his profession in Rockville in partnership with his son, J. S. White. with offices over the Parke State Bank, and continues a leader of the bar in this and adjoining counties, his services having ever been in great demand in important cases. Being ever a student, he has kept well abreast of the times in new rulings, decisions, change of statute and, in fact, all matters pertaining to his profession.
For a period of five years the Judge was school examiner, and was president of the Rockville school board for a period of nine years, during which there was a great improvement noted in. the local educational system, he having been largely responsible for the adoption of a regular course of study and the division of the school year into regular terms, also by the gradua- tion of classes and awarding of diplomas. Politically, he has always been loyal to the Republican party and a local leader in the counsels of the same. He had the honor of being presidential elector in 1880 from the eighth con- gressional district.
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Fraternally, Judge White is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the Hoosier Literary Club of Rockville, of which he has long beeir one of the principal lights. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church when a boy under the ministry of Rev. John Edwards.
During the Civil war the subject proved his courage and his patriotism by enlisting in Company C, Seventy-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in 1862. In 1864 he became corporal of Company G, One Hundred and Thirty- third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was a member of a color guard of the latter regiment. According to his comrades, he proved to be a most gallant and faithful soldier for the Union, and he received an honorable discharge. He has been a student of military affairs all his life and is one of the best posted men on military subjects in the state.
Judge White was married on October 21, 1869, to Sarah Catherine Strouse, a lady of culture and refinement and a representative of an excel- lent old family, well and favorably known at Rockville, she being the daughter of Samuel and Mary F. ( Baker) Strouse. Her father was born in Bavaria, Germany, and her mother was born in Parke county, Indiana. Mrs. White was born in Rockville and there grew to womanhood and received her early education. The union of the Judge and wife has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Fannie S., Nellie D., Jacob S., who is a promi- nent young lawyer, practicing with his father in Rockville, and Helen M., wife of Walter C. Mand, of Terre Haute, Indiana. .
As already intimated, the Judge has ever kept in touch with the interests of his city and county and is an ardent advocate and liberal patron of all worthy enterprises making for their advancement and prosperity. His activi- ty in behalf of every movement for the good of his fellow citizens has endeared him to the people among whom the greater part of his life has been spent, and his popularity is bounded only by the limits of his acquaintance, being widely known as a progressive citizen, profound student, gifted orator, learned jurist and polished gentleman.
In closing this biography we desire to give a further estimate of Judge White by quoting the following lines from an article which appeared some time ago in a newspaper of the Judge's home county, which will show the ยท appreciation in which he is held there :
"Judge Ared F. White is one of the few men about whom it is easy to say something at once truthful and pleasant. From his boyhood he has oc- cupied a position distinguished among his contemporaries. A fine manly bear- ing, a particular aptitude in certain branches of study and a marked talent (28)
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for oratory, even in his childhood days attracted the attention of a com- munity then more than now alert for signs of talent in the rising generation. Although the parents of Judge White were not, in the common acceptance of the term, highly educated people, we have been told by those who knew them that they were possessed in a remarkable degree of that plain, common sense, that insight into real life, that scorn of affectation and display that was the leading characteristic of many of the sturdy self-respecting American people of their day.
"All who can recall the fine face of Johnson S. White will remember that peculiar stamp of integrity which it bore, and the look of sagacity and human understanding that one caught occasionally from his deep-set eyes. The father knew his son had talent, knew it without the fatuous vanity that leads some men to spend money on their sons. So he gave him the college educa- tion the boy coveted and his friends advised. He fulfilled his father's highest ambition.
"We hear a great deal in these days of versatility about the all-around man, and Judge White answers to this description. Standing at the head of his profession, he is still devoid of the one-sidedness that often distinguishes men who have given their lives to the study of a profession. Judge White is a man of strong literary tastes, and he can now indulge in literary pursuits as a pastime or relaxation from the strenuous duties of life, as he does at short intervals to the delight of his friends. Perfectly at home on platform or rostrum, charming in the company of a few boon companions, he may be said to lack the faculty of letting his light shine promiscuously."
HON. BARTON SCOTT AIKMAN.
It is a well authenticated fact that success comes not as the caprice of chance, but as the legitimate result of well applied energy, unflagging deter- mination and perseverance in a course of action once decided upon by the individual. Only those who diligently seek the goddess Fortuna find her- she never was known to smile upon the idler or dreamer. The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical sketch clearly understood this fact early in life, so he did not seek any royal road to success, but sought to direct his feet along the well-beaten paths of those who had won in the battle of life along legitimate lines. He had their careers in mind when
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casting about for a legitimate line to follow, and in tracing his life history it is plainly seen that the prosperity and popularity which Mr. Aikman enjoys has been won by commendable qualities, and it is also his personal worth which has gained for him the high standing in Vermillion and adjoining counties, in which he has long been well known, influential and highly es- teemed.
Before proceeding with the specific biography of the Hon. Barton S. Aikman, it is deemed advisable to go into the history of this prominent old family at some length. The surname Aikman is of great antiquity in Scot- land. Its origin goes back to the time of Macbeth, in the year 1050, or nearly one thousand years ago. It seems that the name was first borne by the com- mander of the troops that attacked the usurper, Macbeth, before his castle, Dunsinane. It is believed that Shakespeare's "Macbeth" was written from the story of this episode, which is contained in the first history of Scotland. Macbeth murdered Duncan, the king, and seized the throne himself, which he held for some sixteen years. In order to make himself secure he selected the commanding hill of Dunsinane, near the woods of Birnam. Here he built a strong castle. Malcolm, the son of the murdered king, decided to recover his father's throne. He enlisted the aid of Edward, king of Eng- land, hiring ten thousand troops from him, and advanced against Macbeth. When the Birnam woods were reached the invading soldiers each secured a large oak bough which they held in front of them in advancing on the castle. In the battle that ensued Macbeth's troops were defeated and he was slain. So, adopting the tradition which Sir Robert Douglas, Scotland's first historian, gives, it would appear that King Malcolm or the commander to whom the attack was committed was the first Aikman. Whoever he was, the success of the strategem of the Birnam oak woods gave him his surname, Oak- man or Aikman. From him all the Aikmans are said to have descended. Douglas, in the history already referred to, says that Alexander de Aikman was compelled to submit to King Edward I of England, when he overran Scotland in the year 1296. He adds, "The ancestors of the family appear to have been free barons, and to have settled in the country of Forfar several centuries ago." It is a noteworthy fact that Aikmans are now, as they have been for seven or eight centuries or more, residing still in Forfoarshire. Representatives of the immediate family of the subject of this sketch are still residing in the locality in Scotland mentioned above, whence his forebears came more than a century and a quarter ago. Books of heraldry speak of the Aikman coat-of-arms as one of the oldest in Scotland.
For centuries the Aikmans have been ruling elders in the Presbyterian
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church, including the famous Pearl Street Presbyterian church in New York City.
Of the Aikman family that concerns this historical publication most specifically, we first hear of John and Mary (Barr) Aikman, the former born on April 15, 1787, both natives of Virginia or Kentucky. They were married June 14, 1804, while living in Kentucky, and the following children were born to them: Barton Stone Aikman, father of Hon. Barton Scott Aik- man. the immediate subject of this review, was born October 17, 1805; Sicily Aikman, born December 11, 1808; James Aikman, born January 7, 1810. With these three children, John Aikman and wife moved from Bourbon county, Kentucky, to Daviess county, Indiana, in 1811, and there were born to them in Daviess county the following children: Hugh Aikman, the first white child born in Daviess county, born March 12, 1812: Samuel Aikman, born February 28, 1814: John B. Aikman, born January 15, 1816; Thomas Aikman, born May 5, 1818; Elizabeth Aikman, born January 3, 1821; Mariah Aikman, born November 23, 1822 ; Mary Aikman, born May 1, 1825; Robert Aikman, born June 1, 1827; William M. Aikman, born March 27, 1830, and Martha Aikman, born October 7, 1832.
Barton Stone Aikman, the eldest of these children, came from Daviess county to Vermillion county, Indiana, in about the year 1827, and here began life in typical pioneer fashion, the country being wild and very sparsely settled. He was married to Jane Rhoades, October 17, 1827, the day he was twenty-two years of age. There were born to this union the following children : John, Mary, Elizabeth, William, Silas, Mariah, Robert and James. They are all deceased except Mariah and Robert. After the death of his first wife, Barton Stone Aikman married Mary Jane Amerman on March 10, 1846. She was born in Indiana, November 18, 1824. To this second union nine children were born, namely: Peter is a retired farmer, living in Dana, Indiana; Thomas went west when a boy, became a minister in the Methodist church in Nebraska, and he is now deceased; Hugh is engaged in the general merchandise business at Montezuma, Parke county, this state; Franklin is also a Methodist minister and lives at Crawfordsville, Indiana; Margaret died in infancy; Edgar, deceased, was a practicing physician at Clinton, Indiana; Samuel is a Presbyterian minister and lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ; Henry is a grain dealer at West St. Bernice, Vermillion county ; Barton Scott, subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the family. The parents of the above named children are both deceased.
Of the present whereabouts of the brothers and sisters of Barton Stone Aikman, father of the subject, we give the following: Sicily Aikman mar-
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ried a man named Robinson and moved to Daviess county, Missouri, where quite a large family of Aikmans now reside. James Aikman, now deceased, has descendants in Daviess county, Indiana, his children being Henry, John, Samuel and Martha, and Mrs. Coleman of Topeka, Kansas. Hugh Aikman's descendants are scattered over the country. Samuel Aikman was married in Daviess county, Indiana, in August, 1833, to Eliza Ann Eades, a cousin of the noted Captain Eades, and shortly afterwards settled in Vermillion county. There were born to them the following children: John, Mary, Elijah, Martha, Margaret, Lucy, Caroline, William, Levi H., Charles C., Lemuel and Adelaide. John B. Aikman died in Daviess county many years ago, and now has one grandson in Terre Haute, John B. Aikman. Thomas Aikman died when a small boy. Elizabeth Aikman married a Hawkins and moved to Greene county, Indiana. Maria Aikman married a Helphinstine, and lived in Daviess county, where her descendants are now found. Mary Aik- man married Capt. Isaac McCormick, and left two daughters, Mrs. Corning, of Washington, and Mrs. Pringle, of Bloomfield. Indiana. Robert Aikman has been dead many years, and has one child living, Mrs. Charles Jones, of Washington. William M. Aikman has five children living, Walter, Helen and Laura, of Chicago; Mary, at Washington, and William at Natchez, Missis- sippi. Martha Aikman married a Johnson and now resides in Kansas, and she is now the only living child of John Aikman.
Barton S. Aikman and Samuel Aikman were two of the early pioneers of Vermillion county. They were brought to this county by their father, John Aikman, to find them a home, about 1830. The public records of the county show that John Aikman made the original entry of a large tract of wild prairie and timber land, which he afterward deeded to these two sons, giving them a start in life, when he returned to his old home in Daviess county. A hero of the wilds and the wilderness himself, with a father's care, love and devotion to his children, he bravely led these two sons where they followed and planted for each a home and they each began the battle of life in the primeval forest and untrodden waste of prairie. Here they battled and toiled and by their industry, frugality and perseverance builded for their posterity, not only a rich heritage of lands, but a richer heritage of devotion and nobility. Samuel died at a ripe old age, and Barton S. died in middle life. The memory of each is honored and respected. not only by a long line of descendants, but by the community in which they lived. The names of the descendants of these two Aikmans are too numerous to record in this sketch. They are all over Ver- million county and some are elsewhere.
From the wilds of Kentucky to the wilds of Indiana came Barton S.
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Aikman, five years before the latter state was admitted to the Union. During the Indian wars, when his home and loved ones had to be guarded, not only against wild beasts, but against wild and savage red men, he was compelled in his early life, in what is now Daviess county, to build a fort in which to shelter his family against the ravages of Indians. In one of these forts his son Hugh was born. He was Daviess county's first school teacher, one of its first com- missioners, and served on the first grand jury that met in the county. He built the first brick house in the county, in 1833, making the brick himself, tramping the mud with oxen. The old house still stands and is occupied by the blood of its builder.
Hon. Barton S. Aikman, subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Vermillion county and received his education in the public schools of his native community. later taking the course at the Terre Haute State Normal School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884. He began life for himself by teaching school, which he followed with much success for a period of five years. During that period he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1886 and at once began the practice of his profession, which he has con- tinued with ever-increasing success until the present time at Newport, enjoy- ing a large and lucrative practice, figuring prominently in important cases in the local courts and taking a position in the front rank of attorneys in a lo- cality long noted for the high order of its legal talent. He has remained a student all his life and has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession. He is a careful, painstaking and persevering lawyer, who spares no pains in looking after the interests of his clients and he has great power before a jury, being a logical, earnest and not infrequently truly elo- quent speaker.
Having long manifested an abiding interest in public affairs, Mr. Aikman was elected prosecuting attorney of this circuit in 1890, which position he filled until 1904 in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents. In 1910 he was elected'judge of the forty-seventh judicial circuit, and is still incumbent of this office. He is wearing the judicial ermine with becoming dignity, bringing to every case submitted to him a clearness of perception and ready power of analysis char- acteristic of the broad-minded and scholarly jurist, and he has by his able and unbiased course given ample room for the justification of the wisdom of his selection by the people of this circuit, for his decisions have been uniformly fair and clear, showing a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the basic prin- ciples of jurisprudence and the modern statutes of Indiana. His vast knowl- edge of the law is backed by a high purpose and an unconquerable will, as well
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as vigorous mental powers, guided by high ideals and the highest sense of honor.
Judge Aikman was married in 1889 to Mary B. Chipps, a lady of culture and refinement, and a daughter of James and Martha ( Dallas ) Chipps, a highly respected old family. Her grandparents were born in Ireland, where they spent their earlier years, coming to Newport, Indiana, many years ago. Mr. Chipps spent his active life successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is now living retired, having accumulated a competency. Politically, he is a Democrat.
The union of Judge Aikman and wife has been blessed by the birth of two children, namely : Given C. Aikman, who is still at home, and Nina, who has also remained with her parents.
The present commodious, attractive and modernly appointed home of Judge Aikman in Newport was built by him some time ago. He has resided continuously here since 1886. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 242, and a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America, all at Newport. Politically, the Judge is a loyal Republican, and has long been active and influential in the ranks, being a leader in local affairs. Personally, he is a man of fine address, scholarly, fair-minded, courteous, obliging and affable, but withal, plain, unassuming, a man of the people, who merits in every respect the high esteem in which he is held by all classes.
HOMER J. SKEETERS.
The biographer, in writing of the representative citizens of Parke county, Indiana, has found no subject worthier, among her younger men of affairs, of representation in a work of the province of the one at hand than Prof. Homer J. Skeeters, the present able and popular incumbent of the office of county superintendent of schools. He is known as a man of high attainments and practical ability, as one who has achieved success in his profession because he has worked for it persistently and along well defined channels. His prestige in the educational circles of this locality stands in evidence of his ability and likewise stands as a voucher for intrinsic worth of character. He has used his intellect to the best purpose, has directed his energies in legitimate avenues, and his career has been based upon the wise assumption that nothing but per- sistent labor, integrity and fidelity to duty will lead to success. The profession of teaching, which he has made his principal life work, offers no opportunities
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