Portrait and Biographical Record, Pgs. 281, 282

GEORGE W. AIKEN, a long-time resident and prosperous horticulturist ofOttawa County, owns a beautiful home upon the banks of the Grand River, a littlesoutheast of Grand Haven, and the homestead contains one hundred andtwenty-three acres of fine land, twenty-five of which are devoted mainly togardening and fruit-raising. William Aiken, the father of our subject, was anative of New England, and was born amid the hills of New Hampshire, where hereceived his education and grew to adult age. After his marriage, he and hiswife commenced housekeeping near the scenes of his childhood days.

George W., also a native of New Hampshire, from the date of his birth, in1846, spent the days of boyhood in his birthplace, and gained his education inthe common schools of the district. When about twenty years old, inspired with adesire to see something of the world beyond the quiet village of his nativity,he embarked on a whaling voyage, and from 1866 until 1870 was sailing on theSouthern Pacific Ocean, all the time below the equator. Cruising along theshores of Juan Fernandez and out in mid ocean, he made some successful catchesand returned again to his home on the 5^th of July, 1870.

Upon the vessel "Sappho," commanded by Capt. James Handy and ownedby a Mr. Seabury, Mr. Aiken first caught a glimpse of the life of a sailor, andexperienced the excitements and privations of a whaling voyage. He had scarcelyreturned to the old New Hampshire home before he decided to try his fortunes inthe farther West, and from 1870 to 1874 sailed on the great chain of lakesconnecting Buffalo and Chicago. Between these two ports he voyaged upon the bark"Chicago Board of Trade," in charge of Capt. Fountain, and owned byCharles Bradley. Not long after the close of the season of 1874, Mr. Aikenbought his valuable homestead, and settled down to the tilling of the soil andhorticultural employments.