Windsor County

AITKEN, George

Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical 
Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other 
States. Dodge. Burlington: Ullery, 1912, pp 96-97

George AITKEN, farmer, late of Woodstock [Windsor County, Vermont], was born 
05 January 1852 in Stirlingshire, Scotland, son of Thomas and Margaret 
(DRUMMOND) AITKEN. He received his early education in his native place. Mr. 
AITKEN came to this country when twenty-one years of age. He lived on Long 
Island for a few years, and was also on an estate near Philadelphia for a 
short time. In 1883 he was engaged as manager by the late Frederick 
BILLINGS. Mr. AITKEN had a thorough knowledge of agriculture, and was an 
authority on the breeding of Jersey cattle. He made the BILLINGS herd famous 
throughout the country. At the World's exposition in Chicago in 1893 they 
won more prizes than any other of the many herds entered in the contest.

Mr. AITKEN was an alert taskmaster, and always had the respect of those under 
him, and he was widely known for his successful efforts to better the 
agricultural conditions of Vermont. He was a member of the state board of 
agriculture for many years, and for three years served as its secretary. He 
was president of the Vermont Agricultural Society in 1897; member of the 
Vermont Dairymen's Association, President from 1902-1904; member of the state 
agricultural commission by the appointment of Governor PROUTY; member of the 
American Jersey Cattle Club; trustee of the University of Vermont; one of the 
trustees of the Sanatorium of Pittsford; and he represented Woodstock in the 
Legislature in 1904.

Of late years Mr. AITKEN had given much attention to forestry, setting out 
several plantations on the Billings farm, and had done much to develop 
general interest in the subject in Vermont. Perhaps no man in Vermont 
represented to a higher degree all that was progressive in the three 
branches, animal husbandry, agriculture, and forestry. He was recognized as 
one of the best informed writers and speakers in these branches in Vermont. 
Mr. AITKEN was vice president of the Vermont Forestry Association; a delegate 
to the national conservation congress held at St. Paul in 1910; an active 
member of the Woodstock Improvement Society; and had been interested in the 
Windsor County Y. M. C. A. from its organization. 

Mr. AITKEN was a member of the Congregational Church at Woodstock. Past 
master of Woodstock Lodge No. 31, Free & Accepted Masons; member of 
Ottauquechee Chapter No. 21, Royal Arch Masons; Windsor Council No. 8, Royal 
& Select Masons; Vermont Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar; Mt. Sinai Temple, 
A. A. O. N. Mystic Shrine; and Woodstock Lodge, O. E. S. He had traveled 
extensively, his last trip in 1908 into the heart of Africa, and a previous 
one through the Pacific states, the Canadian Rockies, and Alaska, being his 
two most noteworthy journeys. He was a clear-headed, warm-hearted Scotchman, 
possessed of courage, ambition, and marked ability; a valuable and patriotic 
citizen. 

In 1875 George AITKEN was married to Margaret Smith ANDERSON of Stirling, 
Scotland. They had five children: Margaret Fleming; Elizabeth Mary 
Anderson; Marion Allan; Agnes Anderson; and Dorothy, deceased. George AITKEN 
died 19 September 1910 at Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly