On the 10th of June, 1895, watchmaker and jeweller, John Aitken died in Dalry. John was born about 1820 in Johnstone, the third of six known children born to parents Hugh Aitken, a Master Cotton Spinner and Agnes Steele. His birth was not registered. His siblings were Margaret, born about 1816; Susan, born about 1818; Matthew, born 13 July 1821 Eaglesham; Agnes, born 29 August 1823 Eaglesham and Thomas, born about 1830 in Eaglesham. Hugh Aitkin and Agnes Stiel were married 12 November 1814 in Abbey (Paisley), Renfrewshire. It is quite common to find surnames being spelt in a variety of ways in the Old Parish Registers.
The 1841 census reveals that John’s family were living in High Street, Johnstone. His siblings Margaret, Susan and Matthew were employed as Cotton Workers, while John was employed as a Clock Maker apprentice.
On 16 January 1849 John married Elizabeth Mackie Harvie in Dalry and in 1850 he opened his own business in New Street, Dalry. John and Elizabeth had seven children: Hugh, born 23 February 1850; Agnes Hamilton born 22 May 1851; Elizabeth, born 11 August 1853; Margaret Martin born 26 September 1855; Helen Lindsay, born 03 November 1857; John Harvie, born 01 November 1860 and Robert Harvie born 08 March 1863. All their children were born in Dalry.
In 1860 John Aitken moved into newly built premises next to the Dalry Townhouse at The Cross. He was one of several Dalry merchants who were responsible for the introduction of gravitational water and the building of the Bowling Green. He built and freely gifted the clock which he erected in the Bowling Green pavilion. John Aitken also designed and built the gallery clock in the Courthill United Presbyterian Church (now the Trinity Church) as well as the double dial clock which resides in the Biggart Memorial Hall, made to order for Thomas Biggart and the clock for the tower of St. Andrew’s Church, Dalry (now demolished), made to order for James Stirrat.
In his personal life John enjoyed curling and bowling and helped his clubs win numerous trophies. In politics he was a life-long Liberal. He attended the Courthill United Presbyterian Church of which he was a member and office bearer. John Aitken died on Monday 10 June 1895 at the Cross, Dalry aged 75 of cardiac failure. He was buried in Dalry cemetery on Thursday 13 June 1895. Following John Aitken’s death his business was bought and continued by John MacNicol. In the late 20th century John’s business premises were occupied by the Clydesdale Bank.