Frank R. Aikens Biography


	This biography appears on pages 894-895 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	FRANK R. AIKENS was born in the city of New York, on the 14th of 
December, 1855, and in the public schools of Rome secured his 
preliminary educational discipline, though he became a student in a law 
office at so early an age that he may practically be said to have been 
educated under the benign panoply of the great profession of which he 
is a devotee. After five years of careful and discriminating study he 
was admitted to the bar of the Empire state, on the 5th of January, 
1877, and he initiated the practice of his profession in Rome, that 
state, where he remained until August, 1880, when he came to Sioux 
Falls, South Dakota, whence he proceeded to Canton, Lincoln county, 
where he opened an office on the 1st of the following September. Of his 
subsequent career the following succinct outline has been given in a 
previous publication: "From the first he had a good practice, took an 
active part in politics, and in 1885 was elected to the provisional 
state senate. He was also elected to and served in the territorial 
assemblies of 1887 and 1889, being chairman of the judiciary committee 
in the former year, and serving as a member of the same committee, and 
as practically its chairman, in 1889. He was a prominent and 
influential member of the legislature during both sessions, and was 
recognized as one of its ablest debaters. He is always clear, concise 
and forcible in presenting his views, and has enough of the attributes 
of the orator in his composition to command the attention of any 
audience he may address. On the 19th of March, 1889 he was appointed 
associate justice of the territorial supreme court, and the following 
October was elected to the bench of the second judicial circuit for the 
first term thereof. At the expiration of his term of office he resumed 
the practice of law at Canton, where he remained until July, 1895, at 
which time he removed to Sioux Falls and entered into a co-partnership 
with the established firm of Bailey & Voorhees, under the new title of 
Aikens, Bailey & Voorhees, being the trial lawyer of the firm during 
the period of its existence, which terminated in October, 1897. On the 
22d of that month he entered into partnership with Harold E. Judge, 
under the firm name of Aikens & Judge, and this effective alliance has 
since continued. the firm controlling a large and important business."  

	Judge Aikens is a man of high attainments, of profound erudition 
and practical ability as a lawyer and has won prestige because he has 
worked for it. He is endowed with a keen analytical mind, and his 
powers as a trial lawyer are admirable, while his course on the bench 
shows that he is not lacking in those qualities which make for the best 
exercise of the judicial functions.  

	He stands high in professional, business and social circles and 
his whole-soured, generous nature has won to him a host of friends in 
South Dakota.