William Albert Aiken was born in Franklin County Illinois in 1884 of Irish ancestors. who came to America by way of Pennsylvania and Chester Counties, South Carolina. His par­ents, Emanuel and Susan Summers Aiken, passed away leav­ing three small boys. Each were given different homes by close relatives until manhood.

In June 1908, he married Louise A. Smith, daughter of Amos and Ranson Rosanne Jenkins Smith, at her home, the present Royal Story farm. Albert and Louise had six children born to them. Five girls and one son. Four died in infancy, buried at Arnold Cemetery. Opdyke. Two grew to womanhood and married: Dorothy and Billie. Albert worked at Car Manufacturing Company. They lived for years at Belle Rive, Opdyke, Bonnie and Mt. Vernon.

Dorothy and Billie attended such schools as Tony Point, Mt. Pleasant, Bonnie. Edison, and Mt. Vernon High School. There were cold winters with deep snow and they were happy to have faithful horses they could ride to school when they lived on the Clark Smith place. They lived on the Dr. Mar­teeny farm when Dorothy was tiny. and Rose Ham found her by her house, she had crawled and partially walked half a mile as she had begun to know how to get through a hole in the fence while living at Opdyke. Mrs. Aiken and children were home alone about midnight, coal-oil lamps turned down low, and a car drove up. Mrs. Aiken awakened. asked "who is there". A man said they were lost and asked for directions to town of Ina, which she gave. The next day, Orville E. Wallace, who was a policeman. and lived across the street from the Aikens, said Ina Bank was robbed last night. The robbers were apprehended later.

In the late 20's, they moved to Mt. Vernon and lived on Her­bert Street and Perkins Avenue. The girls, Dorothy and Billie, attended Edison, School. also high school. Billie graduated from Burnham City Hospital in 1930, making her career as an R.N. She also attended S.I.U. Dorothy married Charles O'Bryant in 1930, later moving to Washington State, and California. After his death she married Walter Jensen and recently lives in Monterey Park. California. She has two sons, James and Charles. Army career men. They now reside in Arizona. Also seven grand children and two great grandchildren. One daughter, Jessie Lou is deceased.

Billie married Wm. Love Smith in 1940. They reside in Urbana since their married life. They have two children. Clyde Smith married Donna Schrag from South Dakota. They ha\e two sons, Mike and Nick, and they live in Lexington. South Carolina. Camille married Dan Harmon of Urbana, IlIinois They have two sons, Collin Jay. six and Justin Tyler. one wed.

Albert passed away in 1948 and Louise in 1949. Both are buried at Bethel Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon.

Dorothy and Billie belong to D.A.R.

Source: Facts and Folks of Jefferson County, Illinois Page 77 & 78

Submitted by Sandy Whalen Bauer