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From the National Cyclopaedia of American Biography by James Terry White, 1910 I copy the following:
"Mr. Aikin received his preliminary education at the Benedict & Satterlee Institute at Rochester, N. Y. He began his business career in New York city in 1859 in a clerical capacity. Two years later he engaged in a trading business between Porto Rico and South American ports, with headquarters at San Juan, but he did not remain long at San Juan because of the outbreak of the civil war in the United States. He enlisted as a member of the 7th regiment, N. G. N. Y., and saw service when that regiment was called for the defence of Washington, D. C., when Gen. Leе made his move on that city. He is now a member of the Seventh Regiment Veterans' Association, and of the Lafayette Post, 140, of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Returning to New York city in 1862, Mr. Aikin formed a partnership with Edward D. Valentine for the manufacture of gold pens and jewelry, with headquarters at 148 William street. In 1864 he founded the jewelry firm of J. C. Aikin & Co., and in May, 1889, it was incorporated under its present title, Aikin-Lambert & Co. Established on a firm financial foundation, the business has steadily grown until now it is one of the foremost firms in the line in the United States."
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