Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/745

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES Levi Aikman* Jr.* the yoiinge^l but one of his parents’ family* was born March 4* 1816* on the farm in what is now Centre township where he resided until his death, which oc­ curred Sept. to* 1888. He was reared on that place and ]>a$sed all his life there, removing only once, from an old house to a new one. H e had such advantages as the subscription schools o f his day afforded, and when a young nun taught school for three terms* but he had been trained to fanning and preferred that work. H e owned 130 acres, all of the improft’cments upon which were his own work* and he erected the dwelling, barn and other buildings. The fan n now occupied by his sondn-law, A. C. Creasy, in Centre township w as owned by him and his brother Jam es h. also. H e and this brother farnied together fo r twenty years, the latter making his home with Levi Aikm an. M r. .Aikman w as one of the organizers of the B riar Creek Farm ers' M utual F ire Insurance Com rany, and w as re­ garded as one of the intelligent men o f his community, and one whose upright life and character commended him to universal esteem. Originally a Whig in politics* he cast his first vote for Henry Clay* and afterw ards joined the ranks of the Republican party. On A pril 24* 1849* M r. Aikman married* in Hemlock township* this county* Elizabeth Ohl, who w as bom in that towmship, daughter of John and l^ n a (Girton) Ohl, the former of German ancestry* (he latter o f English ex­ traction. John OM came to this county with hts parents in boyhood* from Montgomery county* P a. H is father, Henry Ohl, who ser>’ed as a captain in the Revolutionary war, died when eighty-six years old, and he and his w ife were buried in the Lutheran ceme­ tery at Bloomsburg, this county* but their bodies have been removed to Rosemont ceme­ tery. John Ohl died in 1855* aped sixly-three years* eleven months; his w ife in 1869, aped seventy. They arc burietl in Rosemont ceme­ tery, Bloomsburg. Mr.s. John Ohl w*as born in Hemlock township, this county; her parents came hither from New Jersey. M rs. Aikman died on the home farm Feb. I* 19 1^ . almost twenty years after the death o f her husband. They are buried in the ceme­ tery of the H idlay Church. They were mem­ bers of the l*resbyterian Church* and Mr. Aikman w as particularly active in church work, serving as elder, teacher in the Sunday school and superintendent of the latter for a period of twcnw-fivc years. F ou r children were born to M r. and M rs. Aikm an: John Hcr*ey is mentione<l I k Io w; I.Kna Margaret*

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bom Aug. 29, 1853* died Ju ly 17, 19 13. m ar­ ried A rthur C. Creasy* o f Centre township; Clara Elizabeth* born Jan. 3, 1856, married H. V*. White, an attorney and business man of Bloomsburg: and M ary .Alvcrnon, torn May 3 1, 18C0, resides with ftcr brother John. John H ervey Aikman w as torn Ju n e 5* J850* on the paternal homestead in Centre township* obtained his early education in the public schools of the home locality, and later attended the State Normal school at BloomsbuTg. from which he w as graduated. He taught public school In Centre, Mifflin and Scott townships, this county, and subsequently remained at home assisting his father until Jan uary, 1888, w hat he took a position as bookkeeper with the School Furniture Com­ pany of Bloomsbui^, with which concern he was associated until 1900. CKirinp most of the time he was secretary* of the company and also acted as manager. Returning to the homestead he re su m ^ farming, and has con­ tinued in that line ever since* carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock rais­ ing. H e owns a tract o f 105 acres in Centre township* ninety acres o f which he has under cultivation. He has been very successful* and has demonstrated his business ability in other enterprises as well, being treasurer and one o f (he directors of the W hite M illing Com^n y o f Bloomsburg, and director and memicr of the executive committee of the B riar Jrcck Farm ers’ Mutual F ire Insurance Commny* which his father helped to oiganize. Politically he is a strong Republican, and he has scr*ed three years as assessor o f Centre township. He was elected justice of the peace three limes, filling the oflice in all some thir­ teen years. J a m e s E m m e t t A i k m a k, brother o f Levi Aikman, J r .. was to m A pril 28* 1S 19, in what is now Centre township, Columbia county, and remained on the home farm until his par­ ents (lied* following fanning. H e worked for his father until he reached his m ajority, after which they operated the place on shares, and after the father’s death he ami his brother Levi purchased the homestead, Jam es buying atom one hundred acres. A ^ocnI part of this he kq>t under first<lass cultivation, the bal­ ance being limber. He and his brother farmed in partnership for iwenly years. Mr. Aikman was a strong Union sympathizer, and during the Civil war contributed liberally of his means in support of the cause. H e was a Republican in politics, belonged to the Pa­ trons o f Husbandr)** and in religious connec­ tion was a Presbyterian. H e was brought