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!
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| 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.
Jesse Louis Twining, son of E W Twining, a Presbyterian minister, and his second wife Priscilla B Ashby. He spent the early years of childhood in many Iowa towns (the father was a pioneer minister who came to Iowa in 1840).
Jesse studied medicine and practical anatomy at Chicago's Northwestern University. He was in Chicago at the time of the historical Chicago Fire. Jesse's internship was Mercy Hospital, Chicago IL.
His bride (Flora Dell Rowley) met him while she was shopping for draperies in Brooks, Iowa with her father, Rev. Rossiter Clark Rowley.
Jesse was a railroad surgeon at Creston, IA before his marriage.
He was married in 1876 in the home of the bride. His father Rev E W Twining as well as the father of the bride officiated at the wedding.
Jesse was a pharmacist at the drug store in Corning, IA. Later he traveled for Arbuckle Coffee (which became Yuban). He was a loving, kind, friendly person. He adored his wife and children (there were four), his grandchildren and great grandchildren. (He died in 1933) He was a wonderful man and a good story teller. He had many fascinating experiences, had a fine sense of humor; a tease.
At one home, when a child near old Fort Des Moines, the regular army was billeted. As a young man he practiced medicine; so much illness and could not bear to see little children suffer; he ended and operated a drug store, he was the pharmacist.
He and wife lived in Corning for fifty years.
Jesse was past master of the Masonic Lodge; he was a Knight Templar and a Shriner. He belonged to the Blue Lodge and Eureka Chapter No. 77 in Corning, the Bethany Commendery at Creston, IA and Kaaba Temple of the Shriner at Davenport, IA.
Jesse L Twining was the doctor for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad before he went into the drug (apothacary) business. His half-brother Ed continued in medical practice. In the store one of the products was 'JESS' Tea.
Grandpa Twining had an interesting 'sample room' that his grandchildren enjoyed getting into. This was in the old homestead, called the 'little room'. ~ETPT
Mr and Mrs Jesse Twining spent their last seven years with their daughter, Carrie Elizabeth and her husband Irving A Potwin. Mrs Twining died December 13th 1932. Jesse and Flora Dell were married in 1876. They were a devoted couple fifty-six years. He pined for her and was very lonely after her death. He rejoined her the following year in life eternal.
GENEALOGY
Jesse Louis Twining b. 8/5/1850
d. 4/7/1933
m. 10/25/1876 to Flora Dell Rowley
daughter of R C Rowley and Rhoda Ann Vredenburg
b. 11/12/1857
d. 12/13/1932
children: (all born Corning, IA)
Carrie Elizabeth b. 3/29/1881 d. 10/19/1969 m. 1/3/1899 to Irving A Potwin
Anna Jeanette b. 8/21/1883 d. 1918 m. 11/16/1912 to E Earl Williams
Jessie Lois b. 8/22/1885 d. 1/23/1977 m. 10/19/1910 to Jacob Earl Hydeman
Merrick Carlyle b. 6/26/1888 d. 5/27/1970 m. 7/21/1914 to Edna Mae Peterson
............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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©1980-82 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection
