Smith Sidney Twichell

As printed in 1908

SMITH SIDNEY TWICHELL, formerly a leading citizen of Clark County, lived a long and useful life, passing away December 13, 1907, at the age of seventy-one years, seven months and sixteen days. He was born in Oswego County, New. York, May 27, 1836. In early manhood, Mr. Twichell went to Minnesota, in which state he resided for fourteen years, removing thence to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in 1870.

It was during the period of his residence in Minneiota that he enlisted for service in the Civil War, to which he gave three years of his life, passing through innumerable dangers and surviving them all. His position was that of a non-commissioned officer of Company K, Eighth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers, which at that time was known as a part of the Army of the Frontier. Two of the hardest fights with the Indians occurred during the first year of his enlistment. After the transfer of his regiment to the South, he participated in the battles of Murfreesboro and the Piaes, under command of General Sully. Subsequently he marched with Sherman's forces to the sea, and was in the closing campaign of the war, witnessing the surrender of General Johnston to General Sherman. On more than one occasion he was proffered the captaincy of a company, but he declined to assume the superior rank. He was a courageous and patriotic soldier and always took pride in the fact that he had helped his beloved country in her time of need, although no doubt his death was due in some measure to the hardships he suffered while in the army.

On November 27, 1868, Mr. Twichell was united in marriage with Jennie Hedges. Two sons were born to them, namely: Clayton and Foster. In 1875, Mr. Twichell removed from Upper Sandusky to his farm in Moorefield Township, on which he resided for thirty-two years, with the exception of six years, during which period he served as superintendent of the Champaign County Infirmary, to which office he was elected in 1879. He was a man well qualified for public position. His many sterling traits of character were so generally recognized by his fellow-citizens that his frequent election to public ofsce was a natural consequence. He was for thirteen years a justice of the peace, and he twice served as decennial appraiser of Moorefield Township. In 1900 he was elected a county commissioner of Clark County, and was re-elected to that office in 1903. During a part of his second term as commissioner his health prevented his personal attendance at some of the meetings of his colleagTies. but he exert his usual beneficial influence in favor of the general welfare. He was greatly interested in securing the new county bmlding and this fine structure stands as a monument to the efforts of Mr. Twichell and his associates.

In early life, Mr. Twichell united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and throughout his long life he was a consistent exemplar of the faith. He was generous in his support of the church's Christian activities and benevolences, and he served in its various offices. Personally he was a man of great self-control, and this was especially manifested during the closing days of his life, when his bodily afflictions were borne without a murmur. He was a devoted husband, a kind and loving father, a true friend, and an honest, upright man. It can be truly said of him that his life was a blessing and that his memory will ever be kept green. During his long continued illness he was attended by his family with an untiring devotion.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.