Return to main Aikens file
Return to main Barnes file
STELLA CRAMER AIKENS (1860–1907), daughter of ANDREW JACKSON AIKENS and AMANDA LOVINA BARNES
Stella Cramer Aikens was born on 7 May 1860 in Milwaukee, Jefferson county, Wisconsin. [1] She died on 10 November 1907 in Seattle, King county, Washington. [2] She is interred in the Queen Anne Columbarium in Seattle. [3] She married first Leopold Eidlitz, Jr. She married second Arthur W. Johnson—the son of Sumner Johnson and Lucretia Walker and an accountant of Milwaukee—on 22 October 1889 in Milwaukee. [4]
Stella grew up in wealth. A newspaper clipping describes her debut:
IT IS A SOCIAL SEASON AND SOCIETY PEOPLE SEEM TO FULLY APPRECIATE THIS FACT THE NEW YEAR’S RECEPTION BY THE MISSES AIKEN, AT THEIR HOME ON CASS STREET – THE GUESTS PRESENT – A DISPLAY OF ELEGANT TOILETS A BRILLIANT RECEPTION For some time past the fashionables of Milwaukee have talked of, and looked forward to the grand reception given last evening at the residence of A. J. Aikens, Esq., on the corner of Cass and Martin streets, in honor of the introduction of his two daughters, Miss Alice and Stella to society. The young ladies have finished their education, Miss Alice having graduated at Mrs. Wheelock’s, and Miss Stella at Madame Annecke’s. The large and elegant house was fairly crowded with guests, in answer to the 400 invitations sent. There were about 250 present, and formed one of the most stylish parties of the season. The music was by the Milwaukee Sextette Club, with Mr. Hutchin’s cornet. The rooms were very nicely adapted for dancing purposes, four of them being in line so that every set was plainly visible to the other, and just off the hall, at the end of which was the music room, opening into all of the others. The programme include all the choicest dances in the twenty numbers. The rooms were elaborately decorated with the most valuable works of art, gathered by Mr. and Mrs. Aikens while abroad with the thorough knowledge they have of those things. The supper was by Conroy. THE TOILETTES: Among the most notable toilets were: Mrs. B.K. Miller, handsome blue silk; diamonds There follows a long list (newspaper clipping)
While on a trip to Europe she married Leopold Eidlitz. The marriage was short-lived and apparently she did not later speak of it.
MARRIED ... July 30, 1885, at the American Embassy, Berne, Switzerland ... Mr. Leopold Eidlitz, Jr. of New York to Miss Stella Cramer Aikens of Milwaukee, second daughter of Mr. Andrew J. Aikens, proprietor of the Evening Wisconsin. ... Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Eidlitz sailed for New York on the steamer Gal[l]ia the 1st of August. The young man who has secured one of our brightest, most talented and accomplished young ladies, is the son of Mr. Leopold Eidlitz, one of the first architects of New York and the architect of the State House at Albany. [Milwaukee Sentinel, 4 August 1885, p. 5]
clipping fro The Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL, 2 August 1885, p. 9, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com).
Shortly after her second marriage, Stella and her husband went to Tacoma. Stella apparently rather quickly found married life difficult and complained to her mother, who wrote to her: (letter, author's copy)
Hotel Windsor Sunday Evening Nov.14,1889 My darling daughter:- It has been another lonely (lovely) day. Again I found a letter from you as I went through the office to go to church. Alice and I talked it all over. You must be very courageous and be a true helpmate. Papa came up to Alice's to dinner and she had one of the best dinners she ever had. Raw oysters, soup. smothered grouse and vegetables & curry, a dish for the first time seen this side of N.Y. and potatoes in milk au gratin. A fig puddmg, little frosted cakes, fruit and coffee. The grouse, fig pudding, vegetables with curry she was taught in the cooking school the other day. I have no doubt you will some how get yourself arranged more satisfactorily soon. It will be much better for your husband to be making a little name for industry and application there, it will not hurt him. You must expect things a little awkward at first. I have written you two letters before this. You must have gotten them at the General Delivery at the Post Office. Your dress and shoes sent by Express. (Paid) I can almost see your grand mountain and bay. If you wish anymore recollections of my girlhood to which you refer (who would have thought you were remembering) I can tell you that Papa and I had only one large room when we went to Boston. The first winter some of the people who have become the most distinguished in Amenca called upon us there. The Lieutenant Gov, and Henry Wilson since Vice President of the U.S, Gen. Banks-Swift, etc. Papa had fiftenn dollars per week when he first came to Mil. Oh you are not ground down yet into poverty by any means. Take heart - but look out certainly for the main chance, be honest, live uprightly and be gracious to all and above all be economical. If you go to church it is not necessary that you permit yourself to be taxed at present. Plainly say you can not afford it. I do not seem to find your letter from Plymouth If I were you and Arthur I should join(?) ____ confession of faith it is just the same. You have only to see the minister - both call on him you will not have to be baptized. Do it as early as possible. Then if you move from that city you can ask for letters together. Start right in your married life and pull together. And don't have the first hard words. Papa and I rode home on the Brady Street line. Oh - no it seems much longer to me than you. My evenings are long - my days are lonesome. I have no one to run in and see. Alice comes down to lunch tomorrow. Your goods ought to be there by this time, so Papa says, with love to you both and many kisses to you darling. From Mama
Stella's poetry seems sentimental now, but in her time she was considered an accomplished poet. [5]
When Something Happens
I saw the fisher folk trail out
In the dawn still pinched and gray
The ache of a vigil was in my sight
I loathed the unknown day.
The ragged mesh of a dull brown net,
In the core of each craft there lay
Mergin, melting they seemed to grow
A patch in the west. I sigh'd "I know
When nothing happens, those hours are best,
Of all our lives, the are happiest."I saw the fisher folk come in
With the smile of a sea sublime;
There was gold on the boys and gold astern
The gay crew chanted a gayer rhyme,
In the heart of me was hope a guest
With the fisher's luck my luck kept time.
Living, loving, I turned to you
Of all the world. I cried, "Tis true
When something happens those hours are blest,
Of all our lives they are happiest."
Stella's obituary: [6]
DIED AT SEATTLE
Mrs Stella Cramer Aikens Johnson Passes Away at Her Home in the West
Mrs. Stella Cramer Aikens Johnson, eldest daughter of A. J. Aikens, general manager of the Evening Wisconsin died at her home in Seattle, Wash., at 10:30 o'clock Sunday night., after an illness of several months that was primarily due to an affection of the heart of long standing. Mrs. Johnson leaves a husband and four children - two boys and two girls - ranging in age from 12 to 17 years. They were all present at her bedside when she passed away.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Milwaukee, and received her early education in this city. She was one of the "Wheelock girls," and afterwards a pupil of Mme. Anneke, but her education was completed in Paris, where she resided with her mother and sisters for several years.
Early in live Mrs. Johnson evinced the possession of poetic genius, and when only a little girl she indulged in metrical composition, some of which attracted immediate attention. She became a frequent contributor of to the Evening Wisconsin and other newspapers, and many of her writings were widely copied as literary gems. Several years ago a collection of her verse was published in a beautiful little book for private circulation.
Mrs. Johnson went to Tacoma, Wash., shortly after her marriage twenty years ago, and resided in that city until several years ago, when the family removed to Seattle.
Stella was sent to Paris to learn French. She describes the experience:
|
|
|
References:
1. "Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Births, 1839–1911," database of images, 2018, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), > 1871 > K–L, image 471, citing Milwaukee Vital Records, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, WI. Stella Cramer Aikens, daughter of Andrew J. Aikens, editor, and Amanda L. Barnes, of Milwaukee.
2. "Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907–1960," database, 2014, Ancestry, entry for Mrs. Stella Aikens Johnson, citing "Washington, Death Crtificates, 1907–1960," name index of Washington death certificates, 2013, FamilySearch. The index calls Stella the daughter of Andrew J. Aikens.
3. "Stella A. Johnson," Findagrave (https:findagrave.com), no. 5248700, photograph with her name and year of death.
4. "Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Marriages, 1838–19111," database with images, 2018, Ancestry " 1889–1890 > 55–57 , image 248, citing Milwaukee Vital Records, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, WI. Stella Aikens Eidlitz, daughter of Andrew J. Aikens and Amanda L. Barnes and Arthur W. Johnson, son of Sumner Johnson and Lucretia Walker.
5. Poem printed in The Virginia Enterprise, Virginia, Minnesota, 30 August 1901, p. 2, Newspapers.com.
6. "Died at Seattle: Mrs. Cramer Passes Away at Her Home in the West," Watertown News, Watertown, Wisconsin, 15 November 1907, p. 6, Newspapaers.com.
Last revised: 06-Dec-2023