My Genealogy Hound

Charles R. Aikin, a retired merchant of Calico Rock, Ark., was born in Colorado, in 1854, and is a son of William M. and Catherine W. (Rudolph) Aikin, who were born in South Carolina and Maryland, respectively. William Aikin removed to Arkansas in 1843 or 1844, and located in what was then Izard County (now Stone County), and these counties have since been his home, with the exception of from 1852 to 1855, when he was a resident of Colorado. From 1861 to 1872 he resided in Batesville, but upon the death of his wife, in the latter year, he removed from Batesville, and has made his home in Izard and Stone Counties since. He was a farmer during his early life, but afterward gave his attention to merchandising, and was associated with Cox & Byers, at Sylamore. He was married in 1850 or 1851, and he and wife became the parents of four children, Charles R., the subject of this memoir, being the only one living; Maggie L. (deceased) was the wife of Joseph Case, of Batesville, and died in 1881, leaving two children, Maggie being the only one now living; the two other children died in infancy. Mr. Aikin has filled the office of notary public, and was postmaster of Calico Rock for a number of years. He resides in Sylamore, is sixty-six years of age, and is in the enjoyment of excellent health. Charles R. Aikin attended school in Batesville until he attained his sixteenth year, and then engaged in farming for himself on his father’s farm, continuing thus occupied for three years; then entered college at Batesville, which institution he attended one year. He then entered the dry goods store of W. E. Maxwell, at Sylamore, but at the end of one year accepted a position in a store at Batesville, and after remaining in the employ of H. C. Smith for some time he returned to Sylamore and entered the employ of McMurtry & Whitfield. His next enterprise was to engage in merchandising in partnership with W. E. Maxfield, but in 1879 he came to Calico Rock, and began working for that gentleman for a portion of the profits, and since 1888 has been out settling up the outstanding accounts of the business. He was married on the 22d of January, 1888, to Miss Mary E. Grimmett. He has been postmaster of this place for four or five years, is a Democrat politically, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. M. He owns a good farm of eighty acres close to the town, well improved, besides other valuable property.