My Genealogy Hound

SMITH S. TWICHELL, one of the Trustees of Moorefield Township, owns and occupies a well-regulated homestead on section 11, and is numbered among the stirring and successful men of this part of Clark County. He was born in Oswego County, N. Y., May 27, 1836, to Luther and Susan (Wilson) Twichell who were natives respectively of New Hampshire and Vermont. The Twichell family was originally from Scotland and was first represented in America during the last century, the first settlement being made in New England.

The father of our subject was born in 1801 and lived in his native State until a young man of twenty years, when he was married. He emigrated to Minnesota in 1854, and died there two years later. The wife and mother survived her husband for a period of twenty-seven years, remaining a widow and dying in Ohio in 1883. The parental family consisted of nine children of whom the following survive, viz: Minerva, Mrs. Sawyer of Des Moines, Iowa; Polly A., Mrs. Twichell of Hastings, Minn.; Daniel W. of Champaign County, this State, and Smith S., our subject. The deceased are Allen A.; Susan S.; Louisa, Luther L. and Lyman.

Mr. Twichell of whom we write remained a resident of his native county until a young man of twenty years, then going to Minnesota, occupied himself there at farming until 1869. He had received a very good education, completing his studies at Falley Seminary, in Fulton, N. Y., and subsequently taught school one year. With this exception he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits his entire life. After the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the Union Army, enlisting August 22, 1862, in Company K, Eighth Minnesota Infantry, which was first assigned to the Army of the West and was sent out after belligerent Indians. Later they were made a part of the Army of the Cumberland and Mr. Twichell participated in the battle of “the Pines” in the South and was in one battle, with the Indians, besides numerous skirmishes. He escaped unharmed and at the expiration of his term of enlistment received his honorable discharge July 11, 1865.

Upon leaving the army Mr. Twichell returned to Minnesota and thence in 1869 came to Wyandot County, this State, where he sojourned several years. He removed thence, in 1875, to Clark County, of which, with the exception of six years spent in Champaign County, he has since been a resident. He was married November 25, 1868, to Miss Virginia, daughter of Seaton and Harriet (Miller) Hedges. She was born in Clark County, October 19, 1839, of parents who were natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Hedges left the Old Dominion in 1819, settling near Urbana, Champaign County, this State, in the pioneer days. He lived there a number of years then removed to Clark County, settling in Moorefield Township on the farm now occupied by his son-in-law, Mr. Twichell. He built a log cabin in the woods and this after considerable remodeling and enlargement, is still standing, a valued relic of the past and constitutes one of the oldest landmarks in the township.

In making the journey hither first, Mr. Hedges rode on horseback over the mountains from Virginia to Ohio accompanied by his eldest brother Jonas. The wife and mother died in 1853, when comparatively a young woman. Mr. Hedges departed hence September 13, 1877. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the following survive: Eliza, the wife of T. D. Crow of Urbana, this State; Tabitha, Mrs. Alexander Wills of Harrisburg, Ill.; Samuel, of Pittsburg, Pa.; Mary who is living in Moorefield Township; Mrs. Twichell, and Fletcher are residents of Pittsburg, Pa. The deceased are, Lizzie, Lucretia, Emma, Robert, William, Anna and Wesley. Mr. and Mrs. Twichell are the parents of two children only — Clayton H. born July 18, 1871, and Allen Foster, July 11, 1875.

For six years during his residence in Champaign County, Mr. Twichell served as Superintendent of the County Infirmary and he is now serving his third term as Township Trustee. Politically he is a sound Republican and he uniformly gives his encouragement and support to the enterprises calculated for the general good of the community. Both he and his estimable wife are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, attending services at Moorefield Chapel. Mr. Twichell officiates as Class Leader, Steward and Trustee. His property embraces one hundred and fifty-three acres of choice land under a good state of cultivation and supplied with substantial modern buildings. In his labors of securing a competence Mr. Twichell has been materially assisted by his estimable wife, who has shared with him the heat and burden of the day and deserves equal credit for the fact that they are now in a position to rest upon their oars and enjoy the fruits of their toil. In addition to his other duties, Mr. Twichell is serving as Land Appraiser of Moorefield Township. Socially, he belongs to William A. Brand Post, No. 96, at Urbana.