I always wanted to meet Uncle Gus. Actually Gus was not my uncle at all. He was my great grandfather on my mother's side of the family. But all his friends referred to him as Uncle Gus. In addition, I could not really meet him because he passed away in 1947, the year I was born. He live to the ripe old age of 90 years old.

His proper name was Edwin Augustus Aiken and he was born in Transylvania County. He served there as a member of the legislature of North Carolina for three terms and was very known in the political circles. He moved to Greenville, SC in 1907 and served as a Revenue Officer (Deputy US Marshal for the district of Western NC) traveling in North and South Carolina searching out those making their own brew and robbing the revenue coffers of the state. As anyone might imagine, he was not popular with regular folks but he could handle a gun and knew how to take care of himself. I have a picture of "Uncle Gus" holding a rifle after busting a still. I admit it looks like the picture may be staged because everyone looks like they are wearing their "Sunday Go to Meeting" clothes. At any rate, from the stories passed down in our family, it was clear he could handle himself in any kind of clothes.

Later, he owned the Aiken stock yard in West Greenville. He bought and sold cattle and maintained rental property on his land. Today you can still find the boundary of his land by a street named after him; Aiken Street. He owned that block of land adjacent to this street in West Greenville, SC.

His wife's name was Olivia Lankford Aiken. Unfortunately, she died in November, 1920. He loved her very much. He traveled a lot as a Revenue Agent, but wrote to her often. Many of those letters show his concern for his family by giving advice on how to spend money for family matters or dresses that he planned to purchase for the summer months, but in addition, he always expressed his love and admiration for his wife and children. Other times, he seemed to apologize to his family for his life style.

In a letter dated Dec. 31, 1910, he wrote:

"This will be the last letter I write in 1910. How many more I may write, I have no idea. But this will close out my business for this year. There will come a time, and we don't know when we must and will write the last date and finish our active life on this earth. The time will surly come, and is not far in the future. It's sad to think when we look around and see those who had equal chances has passed on and we are left. And no one knows who comes next, but a little while and the call will come. Papa would like to start a different life this New Year and try to see if he can live so when he is called those behind will be comforted by believing he was ready. I have no fears for those gone, and do hope we all can live so that those left can live with the holy expectation of once more joining a united family where there is no trouble on parting. Papa intends to get up tomorrow, and try and see if he can live better life. The old devil has had Papa long enough. I have not meant to serve him but have been weak, and I want to cut loose and I do hope and pray I may be able to keep this resolution. So good by Darling. When you say your prayers, ask for help for Papa."

His Darling and my great grandmother died ten years later and God gave Uncle Gus another 37 years to make good on his resolution of 1910.

Learn more about this author, Marc Blumer.
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