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Leland Aiton, minister of the Church of Christ, is one of Hamilton’s
younger citizens, both in years and in point of residence.
He was born in Travis County in 1902 and when he was two years old his
parents moved to Brown County and engaged in farming. He is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. John M. Aiton, who now live at Hico. He is one of eight brothers
and in 1911 his father decided to bring the boys into town where they
might have better educational opportunities and a chance to plan their own
careers. He sold his farm and bought the Bangs Enterprise, a small
country newspaper. One by one as the boys learned the art of inking the
"G-Wash" (an ancient hand printing press) they entered the field
of journalism.
Leland, who is the fourth of the boys was educated in the Bangs schools
and during the world war [WWI] while his three older brothers were in the
service, he combined his high school days with assisting his father in the
publication of the paper.
In 1920 he was married to Miss Lucille Medcalf of Bangs. She is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Medcalf, pioneers of Brown County. Mr.
Medcalf came to the county in 1876. He served on the commissioners court
of that county 22 years, retiring January 1, 1933.
Mr. Aiton did not educate himself for the ministry but rather took to
the advertising branch of journalism. He was employed in the mechanical
department of the Brownwood Bulletin in 1920 where served as
make-up man and later foreman of the mechanical department. During the
time he took up the study of Advertising through the International
Correspondence Schools and the American Newspaper Institute. Before he
completed his course in 1926, he was made advertising manager of the Bulletin
and held that position until his resignation in 1932.
He has always been a close student of the Bible and his active interest
in church work began soon after coming to Brownwood, where he taught a
Sunday School class and took active part in mid-week services. In 1924
while a new building was under construction, he preached his first sermon
in the Carnegie Library in Brownwood. He filled the Brownwood pulpit
during the absence of the regular minister in evangelistic work. He began
receiving calls from surrounding congregations, and in 1925 was ordained
by the Brownwood church. He did regular work at Union Grove, Sidney,
Zephyr, and Comanche. He was called to the Hamilton Church on May 1, 1933,
this being his first full-time work.
He is of the reserved type, goes about his work with the fullest
confidence, and has the happy faculty of never becoming discouraged. He is
not afraid of hard work and along with his ministerial duties "makes
a few tents" by holding down a regular situation on the County News.
Mr. and Mrs. Aiton have two daughters, Jeanetha Lucille and Peggy Lee.
The Hamilton County News, Vol. IV, Number 11--Section
Three
Historical and Trading Expansion Issue
W. F. Billingslea, Editor-Publisher
Subscription Price ONE YEAR ..$1.00
June 29, 1934
