KAY LASH'S COLLECTION, CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, ANGOLA, INDIANA WILLIAM HOMER TWICHELL, 03 Sep 1834 - 18 Aug 1909 W. HOMER TWICHELL Was born in Chenango county, New York, Sept. 3d, 1834; died at his home in Angola Aug. 18, 1909, aged 74 years, 11 months and 15 days. He came with his parents to Steuben county in 1836, arriving here on June 9. He always afterward lived in Steuben county, except for a short residence in Butler, where he was engaged in the hardware business. After his marriage to Elnora Hicks in 1858, he lived successively at Jackson Prairie, Orland, Butler and Angola. To this marriage were born two sons, both of whom died in childhood, and the mother followed some years later. On August 28, 1886, he was married to Mrs. Josephine Farver who still survives him. Mr. Twichell has always been held in the highest esteem by the citizens of this county, who four times elected him to county office, twice to the office of sheriff and twice to the office of county recorder. Faithful to every trust, and always kindly in voice and manner, he left his work at the close of his terms with probably as many friends as any incumbent who ever occupied a county office. His retirement to private life however did not prevent him from doing good about him and lending a helping hand in a quiet way to those in need, and many there are who can cite the beginning of their successes to his word of encouragement and pecuniary assistance. He leaves behind no acquaintance who will not speak of their friendship with him with reverence. His kindly sympathy for all in distress and his many sterling qualities shone out from a most worthy soul through much severe trial, making one feel it were well to have known him. Homer Twichell always took a very active interest in the affairs of his city, and all public benefits received nothing but encouragement from him and of the most substantial kind. With his demise there has passed from our midst an early pioneer who had been identified with many public interests since the founding of the county. His was a character as free from petty vices as from greater ones, and whose native refinement was an inherent soul quality that impressed itself on the breadth of his world. Funeral services were held at his late home Friday, conducted by Elder Paul Preston: burial at Circle Hill. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: William Homer Twichell, 03 Sep 1834 - 18 Aug 1909, on 17 Nov 1850 in Angola, Steuben County, IN, married his 1st wife, Elnora A. Hicks, born 28 Oct 1839 in Mechoopany, Whoming County, PA, and died 18 Sep 1882 in Indianapolis, Marion County, OH. They were buried at Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola, Steuben County, IN. William Homer Twichell was the son of Benjamin Smith Twichell, born 04 Jul 1806 in Chenango County, N.Y. and died 05 Aug 1868 in Orland, Steuben County, IN, and Sabra C. (Rodgers/Rogers) Twichell, born 08 May 1806 in Massachusetts and died 05 May 1874 in Steuben County, IN. They were buried at Memorial Grove Cemetery, Steuben County, IN. CHILDREN OF THE MARRIAGE: Cortez Jennings Twichell, 13 Aug 1860 - 30 Aug 1862. Robert/Robbie Benjamin Twichell, 05 Jan 1866 - 11 Nov 1871. They were buried at Circle Hill Cemetery. SECOND MARRIAGE: On 28 Aug 1886 in Reading, Hillsdale County, MI, he married Josephine Margaret (Purdy) Farver Twichell, born 28 Sep 1857 in Paulding County, OH, and died 14 Jul 1911 in Angola, Steuben County, IN. She was buried at the Old Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, Defiance County, OH. SIBLINGS OF WILLIAM HOMER TWICHELL: Milton Robert Twichell, born and died in Coventry, Chenango County, N.Y. on 20 Nov 1827. Burial place unknown. Mary Jane (Twichell) Heath, 19 Feb 1830 - 25 Apr 1892, on 12 Aug 1852 in Orland, Steuben County, IN, she married Joseph Lyman Heath, born 28 Mar 1827, in Ira, Cayuga County, N.Y; died 10 Feb 1913 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN. The cemetery book says date of death not cut on tombstone. Rootsweb.com said he is buried at Conesville, Muscatine County, Idaho. Henry J. Twichell, born 18 May 1832 in Coventry, Chenango County, N.Y, and died 12 Dec 1881 in Millgrove Township, Steuben County, IN. On 14 Feb 1858 in Steuben County, IN, he married his 1st wife, Juliette (Jefford) Twichell, born in 1830 in N.Y. This marriage ended in divorce. In 1879 in Steuben County, IN, he married his 2nd wife, Ida M. (Caspares) Twichell, Oct 1852 - 04 Jan 1904. Henry and Ida were buried at Circle Hill Cemetery. Betsey Ann (Twichell) Sperry, born 31 Mar 1837; died 25 Dec 1914 in Rochester, Oakland County, MI. On 07 Feb 1860 in Steuben County, IN, she married Jackson E. Speery, born Apr 1834 in PA; died 06 Sep 1901 in Orland, Steuben County, IN. Jackson Sperry mustered in 15 Aug 1862 and served with Co. B, Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. They were buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Orland, Steuben County, IN. George Warren Twichell, 21 Apr 1840 - 04 Jul 1911, on 21 Dec 1865 in Steuben County, IN, married Laura Ann (Scoville) Twichell, 03 May 1843 - 23 Nov 1899. They were buried at Jackson Prairie Cemetery, Steuben County, IN. Julia Viola (Twichell) VanEtta, born 05 Dec 1848 in Jackson Township, Steuben County, IN; and died 13 Dec 1928 in Coldwater, Branch County, MI. On 08 Aug 1846 in Steuben County, IN, married Smith VanEtta, born 01 Jan 1842 in Mount Gilead, Marrow County, OH, and died 26 Oct in Orland, Steuben County, IN. They were buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. SOURCES: www.rootsweb.com/worldconnect: "Jean's Family" Entries: 5635, contact: Jeannie Sain, jeansain@bright.net : William Homer Twichell, ID: I4621; Elnora A. Hicks, ID: I4635; Cortez Jennings Twichell, ID: I4636; Robert Benjamin Twichell, ID: I4637; Josephine Margaret Purdy Farver, ID: I4638; Benjamin Smith Twichell, ID: I0848; Sabra C. Rodgers, ID: I0842; Milton Robert Twichell, ID: I4618; Mary Jane Twichell, ID: I4619; Joseph Lyman Heath, ID: I4625; Henry J. Twichell, ID: I4620; Juliette Jefford, ID: I4630; Ida M. Caspares, ID: I4631; Betsey Ann Twichell, ID: I4622; Jackson E. Sperry, ID: I4639; George Warren Twichell: ID: I4623; Laura Ann Scoville, ID: I4650; Julia Viola (Twichell) VanEtta, ID: I4624; Smith VanEtta, ID: I4657. STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, September 27, 1881, p.8, c.3, obituary of wife, Elnora A. Hicks Twichell. 1880 Atlas of Steuben County, IN, p. 14, c.3, biography of W. H. Twichell, Recorder. "Cemeteries of Steuben County, IN, 1990," by Audree Seibel Lewis, Vol. 1, page 866; Vol.2, pages 1728, 1729, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1864. Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net