John Wesley Aker1

b. 1850, d. 1927
FatherEdward Aker1 b. 1816, d. 1888
MotherNancy (?)1
Birth1850 John Wesley Aker was born in 1850.2 
Marriage26 Oct 1871 He married Nancy Katherine Williams, daughter of William Wesley Williams and Mariah Elizabeth Hagy, on 26 Oct 1871. They were first cousins.1 
Cens-188026 Jun 1880  John and Kate made their home in the vicinity of Glade Spring where they were recorded on the 1880 census. They shared their home with Kate's brother Joseph Williams and his infant daughter Maggie. [Joseph had been widowed the previous year]. Both men worked as wagon makers.3 
Cens-19005 Jun 1900  John and Kate Aker continued to make their home with Joseph following Joseph's second marriage [in 1881]. By the turn of the century John and Joseph had entered into a new line of work and were employed as undertakers. The combined household had expanded and included Joseph's daughter Maggie from his first marriage and 4 children from his second marriage. John and Kate Aker did not have children, but the census enumerated a Frank (69) Williams and a Bettie (b. 1822) Williams living in the household.4 
Cens-191018 Apr 1910  Ten years later the Aker and Williams families were enumerated as adjacent households but with the same dwelling number. John's occupation on this census was recorded as "farmer", whereas Joseph was listed as a furniture merchant. Also part of John and Kate's household was 14 year old Elizabeth Sevier, listed as an orphan.5 
Death1927 John died in 1927.2 
Burial He was buried at Old Baptist Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 
  John Aker appears to have had a close relationship with his brother-in-law Joseph Williams. The two men were partners in "William and Akers" a company doing business as a furniture dealer and undertaker. In addition, Joseph named a son John Aker Williams. He also named a daughter Katherine, no doubt for his sister Kate.6 

Related Links and Images:

A bill dated 1896 from Williams & Aker Co. for three coffins
Other interments in Old Baptist Cemetery
Last Edited23 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S1637] King Albert Hagey and William Anderson Hagey, Hagy Families in America, p. 173.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 166. Stone reported to read: J.W. Aker, 1850-1927.
  3. [S165] John N. Aker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 52 (78B stamped), dwelling 444, family 447, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 52 of 54. John W. Aker, 30, wagon maker; Kate W. 34, wife; Joseph Williams 32, bros-in-law, widowed, wagon maker; Maggie D. Williams 2, niece; M__ Pugh, black, 23, blacksmith; all born Virginia.
  4. [S574] Joseph Williams household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 5A (65 stamped), dwelling 77, family 80, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 9 of 70. Recorded data includes: Joseph Williams, 52, b. Feb. 1848, occupation not clear; married 18 yrs; Mary, wife, b. Sept 1861, marr 18 yrs, mother 4 children, all living; Maggie, dau, 22, b. March 1878, music teacher; S___, son, 17, b. Aug. 1882; Annie, dau, 15, b. Sept. 1884; Aker, son, 11, b. Aug. 1888; Kate, dau, 9, b. Dec. 1890; John W. Aker, bros-in-law, 50, b. Apr. 1850, marr 23 yrs, undertaker; Katie, sister, 43, b. Dec. 1846, marr 23 yrs, no children; Frank Williams, step___, 69, (F), wid, no children; Bettie Williams, aunt, age: __, b. __ 1822; all persons and all parents b. VA.
  5. [S237] John W. Aker household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 116, sheet 6A (6 stamped), dwelling 88, family 98, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 10 of 35 [formerly 11 of 36]. Household includes: John W. Aker, 61, marr #1, marr 37 yrs, farmer; Nancy K., wife, 64, marr #1, marr 37 yrs; both b. VA; Elizabeth Sevier, orphan, 14, b. TN, parents b. TN.
  6. [S35] Nanci C. King, Places In Time Vol. II, p. 143.