Obituary taken from a Febrary 1883, Jennings County newspaper. File # 0732 Jennings County Library.
Died - At his residence in Vernon, Jennings county, Indiana, January 29th, 1883 at 10:30 o'clock a.m.
Mr. Hiram Twadell; aged 73 years, 8 mos. and 29 days.
He was born in Genesee County, New York, April 30, 1809. About the year 1818 his father with his family came to Indiana and settled at, or near, Hanover, Jefferson County.
At what time the deceased came to Jennings county is not now certainly know, but he became a citizen of this county in youth or early manhood. During his sojourn with us he was engaged in inportant trusts, until failing health compelled him to retire from active duty. He was for about thirty years in the employ of the M.&I. and J.M. & I. RR Companies; and for 20 or 25 years, lie, with marked faithfulness, discharged the responsible trust of Ticket and Freight Agent for said companies at their office in Vernon, and this trust only terminated when declining hearth compelled him to resign. Mr. Twadell has been the subject of many sorrows. Death has many times enterd his dwelling and taken away loved ones from his embrace.
He was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Thompson, October 3rd, 1832. The fruit of this union was three children, of whom Henry and Josephine are now living; little Charley and the mother having passed away. In December 1842, Mr. Twadell and Mrs. Philena A. Cook were united in marriage. To them were given four children; of these, Viola and Wilberforce are the only survivors. Their little sisters, Alice and Almeda and then the mother having died. On the 4th day of March, 1856, Mr. Twadell and Miss Julia Bullock were joined in marriage. This union was crowned with three children. Death again and again entered this family - calling first for little Sarah, and then for Joseph, and now for the husband and father; leaving the sorrow-stricken widow and her only surviving child, Mary, to complete the list of mourners.
No, these are not all who mourn. Other relatives mourn. Society has lost one of its brightest examples of morality and uprightness. Citizena mourn, ail mourn - but not as those who have no hope. He died in peace. He was loved by all, and loved most by those who knew him best.
Funeral services were held at the Baptist church, conducted by Rev. Harry Smith of the Baptist Church assisted by Revs. Barr of the Presbyterian and Mellender of the M.E. churches. The XI Chapter of the Gospel of John was read and the 5th verse used as text. The audience was large and solemn and impressive. The remains were then laid to rest in the Vernon Cemetery.
Have you ordered a marriage certificate or a death certificate for Henry? Did he serve in the civil war? What county did he get married in? Any or all of those documents might offer more clues to his parents. He certainly falls into the right time frame to be the son of Hiram and Charlotte. I won't be going to the research library until April but I will definately put him on my list to look for. I am very interested in this family! Please contact me at
sjmernst@earthlink.net if you discover any additional information.
Stephanie