Horace Dean Aikins --Attorney

 

Horace Dean Aikin was born on May 12, 1909 in Saluda, North Carolina, the son of Grant and Maude Chase Aikin.  At an early age, he and his family moved to St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County, Florida. It was there that his father, Grant became the first city attorney of St. Petersburg. Growing up in Florida, he graduated from the University of Florida where he was the editor in chief of the college yearbook.  He continued his studies at the university and in 1929; he graduated from the University of Florida Law School.

Dean began his career as an attorney in St. Petersburg and in the early 1930’s; he was elected for a term as the mayor of Sunshine Beach, now Treasure Island, Florida. Returning to his law career, he became a partner in the law firm of Thompson and Aikin with Dean specializing in title law.

On June 18, 1939, Dean married Martha Buckner Trice.  Martha was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on February 13, 1907 and was the daughter of Frank Dagg and Katherine Quick Trice. Her mother was the daughter of John Carr and Martha Jane Thomas Quick.  Her family had moved to Florida in the mid 1930’s and Martha had graduated from the Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee.

Dean became a partner in the Aikin Open Air School, which was founded in 1912 by his mother, Maude Chase Aikin and was the oldest private school in Florida.  Martha became a teacher at the institution and in 1936 she became the principal of the school and Maude served as the superintendent.  The school had a system of teaching based on the tutor idea.  All classes were held in the open except in inclement weather when the class rooms were used.  A second Aikin open-air school was opened in 1924 in Coral Gables, Florida and was the largest institution of its kind in the Miami area.

Dean served as a City Judge for St. Petersburg for a number of years and in 1946 Dean went exclusively into the title business when he joined Guarantee Abstract Co. as title officer.  He later became vice president of the company where in 1953 he was named Boss of the Year.  Dean became the attorney for the draft board and In 1948, he was appointed to serve on the Civil Service Commission for St. Petersburg.  He left Guarantee Abstract Co. and joined Fidelity Title Company where he remained until his retirement in 1984 when he was in his mid 70’s.

Maitland Knapp, president of Fidelity Title Co. said, "Dean was a true Southern gentleman. He was a compassionate man and always tried to find the good in everyone rather than looking at their faults."

Dean died on August 3, 1984 in St. Petersburg and was buried in the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Columbarium. Martha died on December 21, 1998 in St. Petersburg and was buried in the Columbarium with Dean.  Dean and Martha had no children.

 

Tombs of Dean and Martha Aikin

LINEAGE (Horace Dean Aikin was the husband of Martha Buckner Trice. Martha was the daughter of Francis Dagg and Katherine Quick Trice, granddaughter of John Carr and Martha Jane Thomas Quick and great-granddaughter of Allison William and Catherine Elizabeth Carloss Thomas.  Allison was the third child of Perry and Elizabeth Bridges Thomas.  Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.  Elizabeth was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)