Draft:Frank R. Aikens

Frank R. Aikens (December 14, 1855 – YEAR) was a justice of the Dakota Territorial Supreme Court from March 19, 1889 to January 2, 1894.

Born in New York City, Aikens was the adopted son of Nelson and Serepta (Roscbrook) Aikens.

In the public schools of Rome, New York, he pursued his early education and afterward read law there. On the 5th of January, 1877, he was admitted to the bar in Syracuse, New York, and engaged in practice in Rome until August, 1880, at which time he removed to Canton, Dakota territory. For nine years he was engaged in active practice in that city and in March, 1889, he was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of the territory and was afterward elected judge of the second judicial circuit, retiring January 2, 1894. He resumed practice in Canton and in July, 1895, came to Sioux Falls, where he formed a partnership with Charles O. Bailey, John H. Voorhecs and Harold E. Judge. The relation was maintained until October, 1897, when Judge Aikens and Mr. Judge withdrew and entered into the partnership that still continues. Their clientage is extensive and of a most important character, connecting them with the leading litigation of the district. Judge Aikens is well informed in all departments of the law and with a. mind naturally logical and analytical he has made continuous advancement and is today one of the strong members of the legal profession in South Dakota.

Judge Aikens’ political service has largely been along professional lines in judicial and legislative service. He was elected senator from the fifth district of the provisional state of South Dakota legislature on the 14th of December, 1885, and served for one term. He was also a member of the territorial legislature from 1887 until 1889 inclusive and gave earnest and thoughtful consideration to the important questions which affected the history of the state in its formative period, directing its policy with a view to meeting not only the exigencies of the moment but the conditions of the future. On the 19th of March, 1889, as before stated, Judge Aikens was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of the territory and was elected judge of the circuit court of the second judicial circuit in September of the same year. He qualified on the 15th of October, and entered upon active duties on the bench on the 2d of November, 1889, filling the position continually until the 2d of January, 1894. He was elected on the republican ticket, having always been a stanch supporter of the party. At Canton, South Dakota, on the 29th of January, 1883, Judge Aikens was united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret B. Bailey, the widow of Mark W. Bailey and a daughter of Major William H. Miller, who was a brevet colonel of the Wisconsin cavalry, having actively served in the Civil war.

Throughout the long period of his residence in South Dakota none has called into question the public spirited citizenship of Judge Aikens and although they might differ from him in policy, they have ever recognized the fact that he holds to high standards in attempting to further the general good, while the profession finds him an able and conscientious minister in the temple of justice.

References

Category:Justices of the Dakota Territorial Supreme Court

This open draft remains in progress as of July 5, 2023.