Walter Aiken Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire
From: Jody Goodson - kestrell@prodigy.net

Surname: AIKEN
Source:  History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
          by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915

Page 990

     WALTER AIKEN, in former years a well-known manufacturer and
inventor, was born at Dracut, Mass., October 5, 1831, and died in 1893.
He was in early life a machinist, and built and operated a large shop in
Franklin, N. H., where he invented a machine to knit hosiery; subse-
quently erecting a mill, he engaged successfully in that line of manu-
facture. He also invented a machine to manufacture screws, and in all
took out some seventy-five patents for various useful inventions, becom-
ing quite noted in this line of enterprise. His hosiery mill he conducted
until the time of his death. He also built the Mt. Washington Railroad, 
designed the engines that were used on the road, and was president of
the company until his death. In addition to this, he built the Summit
House on Mt. Washington. Mr. Aiken was a patriotic American and
at the time of the Civil War offered his services as a soldier, but was
rejected on account of lameness. In spite of this, he marched with the
company for three months and was granted honorary mention by the
state. Among his benefactions he built the Baptist church at Franklin,
N. H., and gave it to the society. He numbered among his ancestors
the famous Hannah Dustin, whose exploit in freeing herself and com-
panions from Indian captivity may be found in every comprehensive
American history. By his first marriage to Susan Colby, he had two
children, James and Fred. Subsequently he married, for his second wife,
Mary Dodge, daughter of John W. and Harriett (Dunklee) Dodge.
John W. Dodge, Mrs. Aiken's father, was a graduate of Brown Uni-

Pages 991 and 992 contained a portrait for a different biography

Page 993

versity at Providence, R. I. He spent a number of years at Labrador
in the fisheries and in carrying passengers. He was the first cashier of
the Weare Bank. For several years he was a manager on the Mt. Wash-
ington Railroad, and was afterwards landlord of the Tiptop House. His
wife, Harriett Dunklee, was from Concord, N. H. In 1846 and 1847 he
served his town as representative.

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