My Genealogy Hound

JAMES TWINING is a man of fine character and excellent business habits, and for many years has been regarded as an active factor in extending the interests of his community. He is at present living in the town of Seneca Falls, this county, where he owns fifty acres of splendid farming land.

A native of this state, our subject was born in Broome County, August 10, 1818. His parents were John and Dorcas (Fonner) Twining, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Grandfather John Twining hailed from England, and on coming to America settled in New Jersey, and from him many of this name are descended. He was a clothier by occupation, and although he trained his son, the father of our subject, to this business, he abandoned it after a time and gave his attention to farming.

John and Dorcas Twining were married in the above state, but left soon after that event, and made their future home in the Empire State. The husband was poor in this world’s goods, but not being afraid of work, improved his time, and it was not long before he was able to provide his family with the comforts of life. He was well read, possessed broad views of life, and was highly regarded by all who knew him. He first voted for John Quincy Adams, but he later changed his views, and became a stanch Democrat. In the town of Union, Broome County, he was called upon to fill various positions of trust, and in every instance gave satisfaction to those who had reposed trust in him. The parental family numbered twelve children, all of whom, with one exception, grew to mature years. John Twining became identified with the Christian Church during his later years, and died in Broome County, about 1865, aged eighty-four years.

The boyhood days of our subject were passed in much the same manner as were those of other lads we have described so often in this book — attending school and working on the farm. He remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when, having bought the twelve months’ time due his father, he began to do for himself.

In the spring of 1840 he was married to Miss Rebecca Howard, who was also a native of Broome County, and that year they came to the town of Seneca Falls, where Mr. Twining rented property for a few years. After this he abandoned farm work and gave his attention to carpentering, which business he had learned, and as he was a good workman found plenty of building to do. After pursuing it successfully for a number of years, he refused to take any more contracts, and established a meat-market in Seneca Falls. He conducted this for five years, and during that time had the patronage of the best people of the village.

In 1855 Mr. Twining went to Iowa, and invested money in farming lands and also in town property. He spent two or three months of each year looking after his interests in the Hawkeye State, leaving his family in the mean time in Seneca Falls. His investments turned out well, and later, selling his real estate, he went to Union, nine miles from Binghamton, where he was in the dry-goods business for a period of five years. After this Mr. Twining settled down to farm life, and purchased the land on which he now resides. He has improved the place and is comfortably established in life.

Mrs. Rebecca Twining departed this life about 1863, and our subject chose for his second companion Mrs. Frances (Carsaw) Benedict, by whom he had two children, one of whom died in infancy. His second wife died in 1868, and in 1874 Mr. Twining married Mrs. Alice (Choate) Crocker, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., and who was a distant relative of Rufus and Joseph Choate. Of the third marriage there were also born two children. Howard died in infancy, and Frederick B. is now a lad of twelve years. Mr. Twining has always been a strong supporter of Republican principles, and cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and also voted for John C. Fremont.