Last Rites for William Aitken
Funeral Services for "Uncle Billy" Held Sunday - Came Here from Scotland
William Aitken, one of Hillsboro's oldest and best known residents, died at his home on North High Street, Friday at 7:45 A.M. Mr. Aitken was 97 years of age.
"Uncle Billy", as he was known among his many friends, was born in Vicerland, Strathblane, Scotland, May 28, 1845. Save for the first five years of his life Mr. Aitken spent the remainder of his life in Highland County.
Always active and having a wide circle of friends, Mr. Aitken used to delight in telling of the days almost a century past and of his trip across the ocean on his way to Highland County. Once he told a reporter for this paper: "I can just remember our home in Scotland, built of native stone, and the spring nearby of clear abundant water. My father did not like the law of Scotland which made the eldest son the sole heir to his father's estate, for there were six of us. When my Uncle David, who had already immigrated to Highland County, wrote of a new better 'highlands' over here, my father decided to come over, too.
"We embarked with 40 other passengers at Glasgow in a small sailing vessel. We had to turn back at the end of the first three weeks when the captain was drowned during a storm. We started all over again and the trip over here took 16 weeks. I brought my dog Bonus with me and he lived a happy life in Highland County."
From New York the Aitken family came by way of canal to Chillicothe where they were met at the landing by local relatives and neighbors in wagons. "Uncle Billy" was the last survivor of all that party.
The family went to live with their relative, David Aitken, at his home on Fall Creek, now the John Adams' farm. Later they moved to the Brock farm east of Hillsboro, and when William was 11 years old, moved to a farm of their own on Fall Creek. William's father died after a few short years in the new country.
Mr. Aitken was a farmer at heart and started to work by the month for Alexander Wright when he was 16. Nine years later he married Sally Belle Morrow, sister of the late Judge Hugh Morrow. Their daughter Mrs. Lang Conard, lives in Washington C.H. Mrs. Aitken died when her daughter was four years old.
In 1885 Mr. Aitken married Sarah Margaret Johnson. To them was born a daughter, Mrs. Lyman Turner, with whom Mr. Aitken made his home. Deceased had two grandchildren, Mrs. Thomas Simkins, Newark, and Billy Turner, city.
"Uncle Billy" owned two large farms and when actively engaged in farming was especially interested in horsed, showing his stock at fairs in this section for many years.
He was the owner of one of the first automobiles in Highland County. He was air-minded too, and six years ago took his first airplane ride. He was an ardent radio fan and liked Scotch music, stories and plays.
"My Heart's in the Highlands" may mean Scotland to most Scotch people but to "Uncle Billy" the "Highlands" meant the highlands of Highland County, where he spent a long and venerable life, well earning the love and respect of all who knew him.
Funeral services were held Sunday at 2:30 P.M. at the Stockwell Funeral Home, in charge of Rev. F. J. Malzard. Interment was made in the Fall Creek cemetery.
==========
Obit from FG contributor Jim Priestaf
Funeral Services for "Uncle Billy" Held Sunday - Came Here from Scotland
William Aitken, one of Hillsboro's oldest and best known residents, died at his home on North High Street, Friday at 7:45 A.M. Mr. Aitken was 97 years of age.
"Uncle Billy", as he was known among his many friends, was born in Vicerland, Strathblane, Scotland, May 28, 1845. Save for the first five years of his life Mr. Aitken spent the remainder of his life in Highland County.
Always active and having a wide circle of friends, Mr. Aitken used to delight in telling of the days almost a century past and of his trip across the ocean on his way to Highland County. Once he told a reporter for this paper: "I can just remember our home in Scotland, built of native stone, and the spring nearby of clear abundant water. My father did not like the law of Scotland which made the eldest son the sole heir to his father's estate, for there were six of us. When my Uncle David, who had already immigrated to Highland County, wrote of a new better 'highlands' over here, my father decided to come over, too.
"We embarked with 40 other passengers at Glasgow in a small sailing vessel. We had to turn back at the end of the first three weeks when the captain was drowned during a storm. We started all over again and the trip over here took 16 weeks. I brought my dog Bonus with me and he lived a happy life in Highland County."
From New York the Aitken family came by way of canal to Chillicothe where they were met at the landing by local relatives and neighbors in wagons. "Uncle Billy" was the last survivor of all that party.
The family went to live with their relative, David Aitken, at his home on Fall Creek, now the John Adams' farm. Later they moved to the Brock farm east of Hillsboro, and when William was 11 years old, moved to a farm of their own on Fall Creek. William's father died after a few short years in the new country.
Mr. Aitken was a farmer at heart and started to work by the month for Alexander Wright when he was 16. Nine years later he married Sally Belle Morrow, sister of the late Judge Hugh Morrow. Their daughter Mrs. Lang Conard, lives in Washington C.H. Mrs. Aitken died when her daughter was four years old.
In 1885 Mr. Aitken married Sarah Margaret Johnson. To them was born a daughter, Mrs. Lyman Turner, with whom Mr. Aitken made his home. Deceased had two grandchildren, Mrs. Thomas Simkins, Newark, and Billy Turner, city.
"Uncle Billy" owned two large farms and when actively engaged in farming was especially interested in horsed, showing his stock at fairs in this section for many years.
He was the owner of one of the first automobiles in Highland County. He was air-minded too, and six years ago took his first airplane ride. He was an ardent radio fan and liked Scotch music, stories and plays.
"My Heart's in the Highlands" may mean Scotland to most Scotch people but to "Uncle Billy" the "Highlands" meant the highlands of Highland County, where he spent a long and venerable life, well earning the love and respect of all who knew him.
Funeral services were held Sunday at 2:30 P.M. at the Stockwell Funeral Home, in charge of Rev. F. J. Malzard. Interment was made in the Fall Creek cemetery.
==========
Obit from FG contributor Jim Priestaf
Last Rites for William Aitken
Funeral Services for "Uncle Billy" Held Sunday - Came Here from Scotland
William Aitken, one of Hillsboro's oldest and best known residents, died at his home on North High Street, Friday at 7:45 A.M. Mr. Aitken was 97 years of age.
"Uncle Billy", as he was known among his many friends, was born in Vicerland, Strathblane, Scotland, May 28, 1845. Save for the first five years of his life Mr. Aitken spent the remainder of his life in Highland County.
Always active and having a wide circle of friends, Mr. Aitken used to delight in telling of the days almost a century past and of his trip across the ocean on his way to Highland County. Once he told a reporter for this paper: "I can just remember our home in Scotland, built of native stone, and the spring nearby of clear abundant water. My father did not like the law of Scotland which made the eldest son the sole heir to his father's estate, for there were six of us. When my Uncle David, who had already immigrated to Highland County, wrote of a new better 'highlands' over here, my father decided to come over, too.
"We embarked with 40 other passengers at Glasgow in a small sailing vessel. We had to turn back at the end of the first three weeks when the captain was drowned during a storm. We started all over again and the trip over here took 16 weeks. I brought my dog Bonus with me and he lived a happy life in Highland County."
From New York the Aitken family came by way of canal to Chillicothe where they were met at the landing by local relatives and neighbors in wagons. "Uncle Billy" was the last survivor of all that party.
The family went to live with their relative, David Aitken, at his home on Fall Creek, now the John Adams' farm. Later they moved to the Brock farm east of Hillsboro, and when William was 11 years old, moved to a farm of their own on Fall Creek. William's father died after a few short years in the new country.
Mr. Aitken was a farmer at heart and started to work by the month for Alexander Wright when he was 16. Nine years later he married Sally Belle Morrow, sister of the late Judge Hugh Morrow. Their daughter Mrs. Lang Conard, lives in Washington C.H. Mrs. Aitken died when her daughter was four years old.
In 1885 Mr. Aitken married Sarah Margaret Johnson. To them was born a daughter, Mrs. Lyman Turner, with whom Mr. Aitken made his home. Deceased had two grandchildren, Mrs. Thomas Simkins, Newark, and Billy Turner, city.
"Uncle Billy" owned two large farms and when actively engaged in farming was especially interested in horsed, showing his stock at fairs in this section for many years.
He was the owner of one of the first automobiles in Highland County. He was air-minded too, and six years ago took his first airplane ride. He was an ardent radio fan and liked Scotch music, stories and plays.
"My Heart's in the Highlands" may mean Scotland to most Scotch people but to "Uncle Billy" the "Highlands" meant the highlands of Highland County, where he spent a long and venerable life, well earning the love and respect of all who knew him.
Funeral services were held Sunday at 2:30 P.M. at the Stockwell Funeral Home, in charge of Rev. F. J. Malzard. Interment was made in the Fall Creek cemetery.
==========
Obit from FG contributor Jim Priestaf
Funeral Services for "Uncle Billy" Held Sunday - Came Here from Scotland
William Aitken, one of Hillsboro's oldest and best known residents, died at his home on North High Street, Friday at 7:45 A.M. Mr. Aitken was 97 years of age.
"Uncle Billy", as he was known among his many friends, was born in Vicerland, Strathblane, Scotland, May 28, 1845. Save for the first five years of his life Mr. Aitken spent the remainder of his life in Highland County.
Always active and having a wide circle of friends, Mr. Aitken used to delight in telling of the days almost a century past and of his trip across the ocean on his way to Highland County. Once he told a reporter for this paper: "I can just remember our home in Scotland, built of native stone, and the spring nearby of clear abundant water. My father did not like the law of Scotland which made the eldest son the sole heir to his father's estate, for there were six of us. When my Uncle David, who had already immigrated to Highland County, wrote of a new better 'highlands' over here, my father decided to come over, too.
"We embarked with 40 other passengers at Glasgow in a small sailing vessel. We had to turn back at the end of the first three weeks when the captain was drowned during a storm. We started all over again and the trip over here took 16 weeks. I brought my dog Bonus with me and he lived a happy life in Highland County."
From New York the Aitken family came by way of canal to Chillicothe where they were met at the landing by local relatives and neighbors in wagons. "Uncle Billy" was the last survivor of all that party.
The family went to live with their relative, David Aitken, at his home on Fall Creek, now the John Adams' farm. Later they moved to the Brock farm east of Hillsboro, and when William was 11 years old, moved to a farm of their own on Fall Creek. William's father died after a few short years in the new country.
Mr. Aitken was a farmer at heart and started to work by the month for Alexander Wright when he was 16. Nine years later he married Sally Belle Morrow, sister of the late Judge Hugh Morrow. Their daughter Mrs. Lang Conard, lives in Washington C.H. Mrs. Aitken died when her daughter was four years old.
In 1885 Mr. Aitken married Sarah Margaret Johnson. To them was born a daughter, Mrs. Lyman Turner, with whom Mr. Aitken made his home. Deceased had two grandchildren, Mrs. Thomas Simkins, Newark, and Billy Turner, city.
"Uncle Billy" owned two large farms and when actively engaged in farming was especially interested in horsed, showing his stock at fairs in this section for many years.
He was the owner of one of the first automobiles in Highland County. He was air-minded too, and six years ago took his first airplane ride. He was an ardent radio fan and liked Scotch music, stories and plays.
"My Heart's in the Highlands" may mean Scotland to most Scotch people but to "Uncle Billy" the "Highlands" meant the highlands of Highland County, where he spent a long and venerable life, well earning the love and respect of all who knew him.
Funeral services were held Sunday at 2:30 P.M. at the Stockwell Funeral Home, in charge of Rev. F. J. Malzard. Interment was made in the Fall Creek cemetery.
==========
Obit from FG contributor Jim Priestaf
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