Reverend Thomas Aikeman, Custer County, Nebraska

summary: Alternatively identified as Thomas Aikens, one mile south of Mason City, Nebraska. See additional information.<p>RG2608-1427 [Transcription of a letter from Ray H. Parrish to Ann Reinert]:<p>Rulo, Nebr.,<p>Nov. 24, 1976<p>Mrs. Ann Reinert, Librarian, State Historical Society, <p>Lincoln, Nebr.<p>Dear Madam:<p>Re: the Butcher pictures<p>The correct spelling of the names of the two families is MULVANY and AIKMAN. The Aikmans trace their lineage to Scotland and supposedly to the army of McDuff. An enterprising lieutenant in this army suggested that before the assault on Dunsdane, each man should camouflage himself with oak boughs from Burnham Wood. This created an illusion to the guilt crazed Macbeth that, Indeed Burnham Wood was coming to Dunsdane. In reward for this stratagem the lieutenant was named "Aikman" (Oakman). The Aikman coat of arms Is an oak tree with the motto, Sub Robore Virtus. It was long, long after, that the two Aikman brothers, Barton and Sam, and their young families moved to Vermillion County, Ind. in 1821, where they obtained title to 1600 acres of land, each. Sam's wife was Eliza Eads (1894-1908) a first cousin of James B. Eads of the St. Louis bridge and the jetties at the mouth of the Miss. River.<p>Barton's wife was Jane Rhoads and after bearing eight children, she died in 1845. But the next year, Barton found the 22 yr. old Jane Ammerman willing to marry him and stepmother the brood and subsequently bear by him eight of her own, the second born being Thos. McKnight Aikman (1849-1909), the Gentleman who in the picture, site with his wife and children in front of the Custer Co. soddy. Barton died in 1861 and the widow married the Rev. John Vast and they had a daughter in 1863. The Rev. Mast had much Influence on its stepsons, lives an& encouragement them in their schooling. Tom went to DePauw (sic) Uni. which isn't very far from his boyhood home near Bono which is close to Dana, Ind. All the brothers went into lines of work other than farming and the land holdings were disposed of.<p>Some of Sam's progeny stayed with farming and his great-grandson Herbert owns some of the original farm and- considerable other land which at $2000 an acre, todays inflated prices, is worth a fortune. Herb has a brother, Leo, who didn't stay with farming-- be became a newspaper man. he is with the Atlanta Constitution and writes a syndicated column. James and Maria Pyle farmed in the Aikman neighborhood during the first quarter of the present century. Their son, Ernie went to the neighboring Helt Township school as did Leo Aikman Ernie became a very famous newsman.<p>Thos. Aikman's half-sister Mariah, had married and move! to Hastings, Nebr. and it may be because of her that he left Ind. and went to central Nebr. to be a circuit rider preacher.<p>John Mulvany was from an Irish hill-billy family In Tenn. He said he had no shoes until he was twelve or more years old. As a young man he crossed the Ohio River into Harrison Co., Ind.<p>Elizabeth Dobson was born in Ky. in 1932. The family moved to Harrison Co., Ind. She married Preston Taylor and they had a dauter (sic), Henrietta. Preston went to the Calif. Told fields He wrote a letter saying he had been successful and would soon start home. They never heard from him again, so presumed 'lie had died, probably from foul means. in 1859 the young widow married John Mulvany. The next year their first child Darthula, was born. It Is she that sits holding her baby, beside her husband and children in front of their sod home near Mason City.<p>John Mulvany enlisted with Ind. Volunteers and served through the Civil War. A bullet went through the top of his hat and another through the sleeve of his blouse, but he received not so much as a scratch. He was with Sherman through Ga. and it was somewhat of a lark. He came back to his little clay Ind. farm and his feet were itchy. In spite of his urging to seek greener pastures, 'him wife stayed put. In 1874 her niece, Minerva (Dobson) Lang and new husband Howard, went to Nebr. and homesteaded near Litchfield. Good reports were sent back by her and another relative at Grand Island, so Elizabeth began to feel more favorably toward migration. But it was not until her daughter, Darthula, was safely married in the summer of 1878 to Thos. Rusk., a young neighborhood farmer, that she consented to have her possessions loaded Into wagons and with husband and children make the long trek to Grand Island.<p>The next spring tragedy -came to the young couple. Thos. Rusk was out with the hounds after a fox. He ran until exhausts,' and dropped to rest on the cold damp ground. A sever cold resulted and bronchial infection. They called it "quick consumption". Their mother) was born May 17th and he died June 30th. In October Darthula and her Infant daughter took the long train rile to her family in Grand Island. The next spring her father staked a claim on Mud Creek just east of what would soon become the of Mason Cy (sic).<p>The circuit rider came to the area to preach. He met the young widow. He was 31 and had never married. She was 20 and a widow with an infant. He proposed marriage and she accepted. He wag pastor at Cozad for a year or more and then returned to his home area in Ind. where he held two different charges. Early in 11336 they returned to Mason City where he was able to obtain a relinquished timber claim a -mile south of town. There they were living when the picture was taken.<p>The Emerald Isle of Ireland; Burnham Wood in Scotland; a fox spoor in Indiana; a father and mother and children in front of a soddy in Nebr. Fate? Chance? Devine (sic) guidance? What brings such to pass?<p>I am. enclosing the John Mulvany residence picture. It is faded, but perhaps your equipment will be able to -ive more contrast and pick out dim images. I will be delights! to receive copies of the two pictures to put back in their antique walnut frames. Either finish will be OK, which ever reproduces the best. I could not find the price list you said you were enclosing. Whatever the service, postage, etc amounts to, please bill me.<p>Sincerely yours,<p>Ray H. Parrish<br>Route 1,<br>Rulo, Nebr. 68431
original size: 6x8