Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Twining, Watson F 1848 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2007, 6:53 pm

Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890

WATSON F. TWINING. 

Of honorable ancestry, from whom he inherited sterling qualities of mind and 
character, which have been developed under the care and training of worthy 
parents, this young gentleman is bearing his part in the battles of life in a 
manner which wins the regard of those about him and causes him to be numbered 
among the most enterprising of the younger farmers of Green Garden Township. 
He, with his brother Dana, owns and occupies an excellent farm, comprising two 
hundred and forty acres on section 17, the same being the estate which his 
father secured in 1851, and which father and son developed from the raw 
prairies into cultivated fields, which produced abundantly. The original owner 
of this fine farm was Hiram Twining, who was born in Townsend Township, Essex 
County, Mass., in 1819. He was reared principally in New Hampshire and 
Vermont, and followed farming and dairying in the latter State during his 
early manhood. There he was married to Miss Betsey Needham, a native of 
Rutland County and daughter of Isaac Needham, a farmer and dairyman. In 1851 
Hiram Twining and his family, which at that time comprised his wife and two 
children, located on one hundred and sixty acres which he had secured with a 
Government land warrant. He first put up a board shanty, hauling the material 
from Joliet. The breaking of his ground was done with a Lockport steel plow 
made by "Jim" Lane, the motive power being oxen. Mr. Twining began the dairy 
business, but it did not prove a success, as he had the misfortune to lose his 
hay and meet with other catastrophies. He, therefore, turned his attention to 
general farming, and this venture proved a successful one. He added one 
hundred and sixty acres of land to that which he already possessed, forming 
two farms, on each of which he had a good set of buildings. He improved his 
herd of cattle, those of a high grade or full-blood taking the place of the 
animals he had. Mr. Twining was an Abolitionist and Republican. He belonged to 
the Christian Church, but when the congregation in the neighborhood was 
disorganized he united with the Free-Will Baptists. He served as Justice of 
the Peace one term. His death, which was caused by heart disease, took place 
December 14, 1889. His widow is still living, making her home with her son, 
our subject. She is now three-score and ten years old and in somewhat delicate 
health. In addition to our subject, her family includes Dana E., Leonora L. 
and Irena E., who also live on the homestead, and Jasper E., who occupies a 
farm of eighty acres south of his old home. The Rev. Jonathan Twining, 
grandfather of our subject, was born in the village of Orleans, on Cape Cod, 
and was the son of a Revolutionary soldier. In early life he went with his 
parents to Essex County, Mass., where he married Eliza Fesenden, of the old 
Bay State. His trade was that of a cooper and he owned a shop in Essex County. 
After a time he removed to New Hampshire, where he sojourned but a short 
period ere going into Vermont. In Rutland County he worked at his trade and at 
teaming until his death. He was an active member of the Christian Church and 
for some years labored as a minister. His widow came to Illinois and died at 
the home of her son, Hiram, at the age of seventy-five years. The gentleman 
whose name stands at the head of this sketch first opened his eyes to the 
light in Shrewsbury Township, Rutland County, Vt., April 8, 1848. He was only 
a babe when his parents removed to this State, which is the scene of his 
earliest recollections. The broad prairie over which herds of deer roamed at 
will, wolves and other wild animals were frequently to be seen and the 
appearances of civilization were but rare, is that to which he looks back. He 
was carefully reared by his parents, who gave him every advantage of which 
their surroundings would admit. He attended the first schoolhouse which was 
built in the neighborhood, it being District No. 1. In study he spent his time 
during the summer until he was fourteen years old, and from that time until he 
was eighteen enjoyed similar privileges in the winter. In the meantime he had 
been assisting, as his strength would permit, in the home duties, having begun 
to drive a team when nine years old. Young Twining assisted his father until 
he had reached man's estate, after which he began a more personal career, 
although he continued to reside on the homestead, in the payment for which he 
bore a part. He carried on the farm for his father until the death of the 
latter, and then he took entire charge of it. The land is all fenced and is 
well supplied with substantial buildings of various kinds, among them being a 
commodious barn, 40x80 feet, which was built in 1878, a corncrib, granary, 
windmill and tank, creamery, etc. Orchards and groves adorn the land, which is 
fertilized by Mud Creek, at the head of which it is located. General farming 
is the work to which Mr. Twining gives his attention, and he secures excellent 
crops of good grain by an intelligent use of fertilizing agents and modern 
means of cultivation. He raises high-grade Short-horn cattle, graded Poland-
China hogs, and good draft horses, seven head of the latter being kept and 
three teams constantly used upon the farm. Mr. Twining was Township Supervisor 
in 1886, and succeeded H. H. Stassen, the present County Clerk. His father 
acted as School Director, School Trustee, and delegate to county conventions, 
and the son is following in his father's footsteps as a useful public servant. 
He is a Republican of the stanchest kind and has served his party as a member 
of the Central Committee. During two terms of court he has sat upon the petit 
jury. His religious belief is that expressed in the creed of the Baptist 
Church. He and the other members of the family circle are numbered among the 
best citizens of the section, having an unusual degree of intelligence, good 
breeding and honorable principle. 

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/twining1282nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 6.8 Kb