Role Politician Spouse Sarah Aitken | Religion Episcopalian Name Robert Aitken | |
Profession Farmer, Township Supervisor, Insurance company secretary Died 1873, Flint Township, Michigan, United States | ||
Robert P. Aitken (1819–1873) 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.
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Early life
He was born in what is now Perth, New York to William Aitken and Helen Aitken (née Chalmers) and raised as an Episcopalian and remained a devout follower for his entire life. He was the fifth of six children. As a teenager he worked in his uncle William Hinton's office.
In 1842, he moved to Flint Township, Michigan.
Military career
Aitken served in the American Civil War in the Eighth Michigan Infantry.
Political career
In 1865 he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives for Genesee County's 2nd District, and was re-elected in 1867.
He held the office of Supervisor of Flint Township for twenty nine years. He also acted as secretary of the Genesee County Fire Insurance Company.
Family
On March 12, 1843 he married Sarah J. Johnstone. They had ten children. One of his sons was David D. Aitken, also a politician.
Death
He died in 1873 of unknown causes. He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Flint, next to his wife and children.
Legacy
Aitken's 1843 Greek Revival/Italianate style farmhouse at 1110 N. Linden Rd. in Flint Township, Michigan was added to The National Register of Historic Places as an example of high-quality 19th century architecture on November 26, 1982. It remains a private residence.