Eunice Levilla Peck Aikens was born 4 April 1837 in the state of New York, the daughter of Joseph Kelley Peck (1803) and Martha Hawkins Peck (1805). In her early life she moved to Sparta, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Levilla married Austin E. Aikens 31 December 1853 in Pennsylvania.
Levilla’s siblings were Louisa, Jane, Emily, Celestia, Mary Ann, Morgan, and Joseph Edwin Peck.
Austin E. Aikens was born 16 December 1832 in the state of New York and later moved to Sparta, Crawford County, New York. He was the son of Marshall Aikens (1802-1888) and Lydia Packard Aikens (1808-1885). Austin was a carpenter by trade.
Austin’s siblings were Henry, Catharine, Caroline, George, Sarah Ann, Harriett, and James Aikens.
In about 1860 in Pennsylvania, Austin and Levilla’s daughter Lelia May Aikens was born.
Some time around 1868 the little family moved to Hamilton, Caldwell County, Missouri. About 1874, at the age of 14, Lelia died and was buried in the Rorhbaugh Cemetery on the west side of Hamilton.
Levilla’s husband Austin E. Aikens died 7 October 1880 in Caldwell County, Missouri. He had been in a business partnership “Hines & Aikens” with Thomas Wesley Hines. She received Austin’s tool chest and tools when his estate was finalized.
In interviews 1922-4, Miss Emma Brown and Mrs. H. Eldredge said that “They were in humble circumstances, and the mother after the death of Aiken, a carpenter, took in washings to support herself. Lelia was quite a popular girl.”1
In THE HIGGINS AND THE HINES FAMILIES IN HAMILTON IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES, “The latter [Thomas Wesley Hines] married Ella Dunn, a teacher here, who was reared by Mrs. Lavilla Aiken.”2
“In 1893 she united with the Hamilton Baptist church and was baptized by Rev. J. N. Bowling. She lived in the fear of God and was kind and helpful to those in sickness and suffering. Before her death she was a great sufferer from what was believed to be an incurable disease. In pain she was patient; in death she was confident. She has departed to be with Christ which is far better. ‘Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people, saith the Lord’.” - W. Bilbro.3
“Levilla died 12 August 1895 after a lingering illness with cancer of the stomach. The funeral took place yesterday at 10:00 a.m. from the Baptist church and was largely attended. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. Bilbro. Interment was at the old cemetery [Rorhbaugh Cemetery].
Page 15
DIED-In this city, August 12, 1895, Mrs. Levilla Aikens, after a lingering illness with cancer of the stomach. The funeral took place yesterday at 10:00 a.m. from the Baptist church and was largely attended. Funerals services were conducted by Rev. W. Bilbro. Interment at the old cemetery.
Page 209
OBITUARY-Mrs. Levilla Aikens was born in New York State about April, 1840 [1837], and died in Hamilton, Aug. 12, 1894 [1895]. In early life she moved to Pennsylvania, in which state she was married about 1860 to Mr. A. E. Aikens, and about 1868 they came to Hamilton, Mo. They had one daughter who died in 1874 at the age of 14 years. In 1893 she united with the Hamilton Baptist church and was baptized by Rev. J. N. Bowling. She lived in the fear of God and was kind and helpful to those in sickness and suffering. Before her death she was a great sufferer from what was believed to be an incurable disease. In pain she was patient; in death she was confident. She has departed to be with Christ which is far better. “Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people, saith the Lord.” W. Bilbro.
Newspaper Obituaries from Caldwell County, Missouri, Obituary Book IV, Period of Time 1875-1947, Major Molly Chapter, DAR, 2006, pp. 15, 209.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
1http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/caldwell/caldwell.htm, Caldwell County, MO GenWeb, CALDWELL COUNTY INTERVIEWS, 181 Interviews, complied by Major Molly chapter, D.A.R., 1935, Vol. II (Index only). “Aiken – Austin, p. 3, Lavilla, pp. 3, 176; Lelia, p. 3. Page 3 refers to the Rohrbaugh Cemetery entires.
2 http://usgenweb.org/ US Gen Web, CALDWELL COUNTY INTERVIEWS - 181 Interviews, compiled by Major Molly Chapter, D.A,R., 1935, Vol. II (index only), Aiken - Austin, p. 3; Lavilla, pp. 3, 176; Leila, p.3. Page 3 refers to the Rohrbaugh Cemetery entries. Page 176 - THE HIGGINS AND THE HINES FAMILIES IN HAMILTON IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.
3 Newspaper Obituaries from Caldwell County, Missouri, Obituary Book IV, Period of Time 1875-1947, Major Molly Chapter, DAR, 2006, p. 209.
4 Newspaper Obituaries from Caldwell County, Missouri, Obituary Book IV, Period of Time 1875-1947, Major Molly Chapter, DAR, 2006, p. 15.