My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS TWINING, farmer and stock-raiser, deceased; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Berks Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1808; he attended the common schools, and completed his education by a collegiate course of five years, the last two years of which were devoted to medicine; in the fall of 1836, he emigrated to Illinois, and located upon Sec. 32, Old Town Township, and entered some 300 acres of land, and engaged in farming and stock-raising; he took an active interest in politics, being an Old-Line Whig, until the organization of the Republican party, after which he became an active and prominent member of the same; he had no aspirations for office, but held some township and school offices, and was Justice of the Peace for many years; he took a deep interest in the affairs of his township, and his influence with the County Court was of good effect; by his influence and labor the township saved $10,000 in the matter of voting assistance to the L., B. & M. Railroad; upon his locating here, his capital consisted of less than $200; he borrowed money to enter his first land, and at the time of his death owned upward of 500 acres of land, besides his personal property. His marriage with Sarah A. Beam was celebrated March 8, 1832; she died July 17, 1845, leaving four children. He married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Randolph Jan. 28, 1849; she was a daughter of Benjamin Cundiff; she was born in Virginia Oct. 15, 1816; three children were the fruit of this union, of whom two are deceased. Mr. Twining died upon the old homestead Dec. 6, 1872. C. H. Twining, the only surviving child by the last marriage, was born upon the old farm Nov. 12, 1852, and has always lived upon the old place and in the same house in which he was born, a part of which is the original house erected by his father forty-two years ago. He owns upon his home farm 280 acres, and aside from farming is extensively engaged in stock-raising. Upon Jan. 6, 1878, he was united in marriage with Mary Savidge; she was born in McLean Co. Jan. 26, 1854; they have three children now living by this union — Musetta, T. J. and Earl.