David D. Aitken
Encyclopedia
David Demerest Aitken was a U.S. Representative
from the state
of Michigan
.
in Genesee County
. His father, Robert P. Aitken
, served in the Michigan House of Representatives 1865-1868. Aitken attended the district schools and the local high school in Flint
. He taught in a district school of Genesee County in 1871-1872 and moved to New Jersey
in 1872, where he was employed as a bookkeeper. He studied law in New York City
, was admitted to the bar
in 1878, and commenced practice in Flint.
to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th District of Michigan for the 53rd
and 54th Congresses
, serving from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1897. He was chairman of the House Committee on Mines and Mining
in the 54th Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination, running instead for Governor of Michigan
in 1896. After losing that election to Hazen S. Pingree
, Aitken resumed the practice of law and also engaged in banking. He served as Mayor
of City of Flint
in 1905 and 1906. He died in Flint on May 26, 1930, and is interred in his family's plot at Glenwood Cemetery.
His boyhood home at 1110 N. Linden Rd. in Flint Township, Michigan
is listed on The National Register of Historic Places
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
Aitken was born on a farm in Flint Township, MichiganFlint Township, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 33,691 people, 13,972 households, and 9,025 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,425.5 per square mile . There were 14,864 housing units at an average density of 628.9 per square mile...
in Genesee County
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
. His father, Robert P. Aitken
Robert P. Aitken
Robert P. Aitken was a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Michigan from 1865–1868, as well as a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War, a township supervisor, a fire insurance company secretary, and a farmer.-Early life:...
, served in the Michigan House of Representatives 1865-1868. Aitken attended the district schools and the local high school in Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. He taught in a district school of Genesee County in 1871-1872 and moved to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1872, where he was employed as a bookkeeper. He studied law in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1878, and commenced practice in Flint.
Political life
He was Flint city clerk 1883-1886 and city attorney 1886-1890. Aitken was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th District of Michigan for the 53rd
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
and 54th Congresses
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
, serving from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1897. He was chairman of the House Committee on Mines and Mining
United States House Committee on Mines and Mining
The United States House Committee on Mines and Mining is a defunct a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.The Committee on Mines and Mining was created on December 19, 1865, for consideration of subjects relating to mining interests...
in the 54th Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination, running instead for Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in 1896. After losing that election to Hazen S. Pingree
Hazen S. Pingree
Hazen Stuart Pingree was a four-term Republican mayor of Detroit and the 24th Governor of the US state of Michigan .-Early life in Maine and Massachusetts:...
, Aitken resumed the practice of law and also engaged in banking. He served as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of City of Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
in 1905 and 1906. He died in Flint on May 26, 1930, and is interred in his family's plot at Glenwood Cemetery.
His boyhood home at 1110 N. Linden Rd. in Flint Township, Michigan
Flint Township, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 33,691 people, 13,972 households, and 9,025 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,425.5 per square mile . There were 14,864 housing units at an average density of 628.9 per square mile...
is listed on The National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.