Notes From My Grandmother | Twining Lineage and Genealogy, Part Eight

Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light!

The Twining Papers

The Twinings held a special fascination for my Grandmother. Her middle name was Twining. Her mother was a Twining. She drank Twining's tea, as did the rest of our family. I'm unclear as to the link between our family and the Twining's Tea Company, however. Our Twining ancestor came to the 'New World' c.1640 and has been recorded in the small book Genealogy of the Twining family : descendants of William Twining, Sr, who came from Wales or England.

Of all the research I inherited, the Twining collection is by far the most expansive. My grandmother wrote 'stories' and typed up other little sketches on them. I will present them to you here, as written by her.


Twining Story, cont.

Edward Wolcott Twining, son of Lewis and Jennett, b. 1814 Tolland, MA, d. 1897 Corning, IA. Edward's second wife, Priscilla B Ashby was the mother of  Jessie Lewis. The family was living in Washington, IA (1850). Edward took a literary course at Ohio University and a theological course at Lane Seminary. The later during Lyman Beecher's time. Edward's sister Mrs. Rose raised him after the death of his parents. He entered [the] Methodist ministry in 1840 in Iowa where [he] continued for forty years. He came west in a covered wagon; by boat up the Ohio river. 

More about EDWARD WOLCOTT TWINING:

He was an itinerant Methodist minister. His people came from Cape Cod, MA. They came to the state of Ohio. His sister Almira and husband Rev. Rose raised him after his parents' deaths. Edward married Adeline Weed and while he was in Tipton (now Iowa City) IA she died. A year and a half [later] he married again (Priscilla B Ashby) he and second wife moved to Des Moines, IA before it was the county seat. Fort Des Moines was (is) at the fork of the rivers, Des Moines and Mississippi. There were soldiers stationed there to protect the people from the Indians. The town was along the river. In later years Bess and Nett [granddaughters] used to visit their grandparents from their home in Corning, IA. They used to see covered wagons coming across the prairie while they were at play. The single seated buggies in those days had seats underneath for children.

Edward Wolcott, at the 'express' age of 84 died in his home in Corning, IA. He was born in Tolland, MA October 5, 1814 and in 1815 came to Granville, OH, where he lived until he was 12 years old. After boyhood education he attended Ohio University and theological courses at Lane Seminary during Lyman Beecher's connection with that institution. In spring of 1847 he came to Muscatine, IA where he engaged in teaching. He commenced his career as Methodist itinerant (Richmond Circuit) January 3, 1848; ordination as Deacon at hands of Bishop Morris at the Iowa conference. Edward was married in 1849 was sent to Washington, IA. He was ordained 1850 elder by Bishop Hamiline (August). His lists of appointments included - 1850-53 Marion and Cedar Rapids - 1853-54 Iowa City - 1854-56 Des Moines - 1856-57, supernumerary; 1857-61 presiding elder of Muscatine district - 1861-63 Lexington circuit, 1863-65 Muscatine circuit. He then retired [and] moved to Corning, IA where he lived the rest of his life. He was associated with the location and founding of Corning College at Mt Vernon and personally secured the 'first noble teacher'. He was a great and inspirational leader and a friend of all. His interest in the missions never lagged. 

[As] a wedding fee Rev. E. W. Twining was given a portrait - written in longhand the 'Emancipation Proclamation' forming the head and shoulders of Abraham Lincoln. This was executed by an instructor of penmanship.

Two weddings were documented in a account book:

 Married 1869:

Anthony A Geoss to Martha I Talbot
March 28, 1869

Calvin Folier to Lucinda DeLeonce
March 24, 1869


GENEALOGY

Edward Wolcott Twining b. 10/5/1814
                                         d. 5/24/1897
                                         m. 2/3/1840 to Adeline Weed (1st)
                                                                  b. UNK d. 1/3/1848
                                         m. 8/28/1849 to Priscilla B Ashby (2nd)
                                                       daughter of Jesse Ashby and Elizabeth Hays Wilson
                                                                  b. 7/18/1817
                                                                  d. 9/2/1911


children:

(with Adeline)

Jennett died in infancy
Almira died in infancy
Fenimore died in infancy
Edward T (M.D.) b. 8/5/1844 d. 1/17/1929 m. to Florence Conger (1) S L (2) Drucilla Merrill (3)
Lauriston b. 6/7/1845 d. 5/31/1895 m. to Laura Botkin


(with Priscilla)

Jesse Lewis b. 8/5/1850 d. 4/7/1933 m. 10/25/1876 to Flora Dell Rowley

.................to be continued......................

***editor's note: this is a transcript of research completed in 1982 based on information available at that time. I have not yet researched this family further, but suspect there is more information/clarification available to us today. I will follow up at a future date with fresh data. ***

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