The Portland daily press., 1886-02-01
Thomas Z. TwitcheII.

The many friends of Mr.. Thomas E.
Twitchell learned with sorrow yesterday of
his decease the sad event occurring at his
late residence, No. 1869 High street, yesterday
morning. Mr.. Twitchell had been sufferer
for many years with rheumatism, and was
seized with last attack about two weeks
ago. The disease resulted in congestion of
the brain. terminating fatally.
Mr.. Twitchell was born May IS, 1924, at
Bethel, and was employed on farm until
the age of 15 when he went into the store of
Robert A. Chapman, at Bethel Hill, as clerk.
About 1852 he was appointed postmaster for
that town. He was afterwards the first mail
agent carrying the mails between Portland
and Island Pond, over the Grand Trunk road.
In july 1858, Mr.. Twitchell moved to
Portland and with Elbridge Chapman went
into the wholesale grocery business on At
lantic wharf, the firm being Twitchell &
Chapman. In 1854 the firm name was
changed to Davis, Twitchell & Chapman,
and still later Twitchell Bros. & Champlin.
He remained in the wholesale grocery bust
ness until 1868, when he retired and soon
after became one of the proprietors of the
Portland Star Match Co.
In 1870 Mr. Twitchell went into the whole
sale dry goods business on Middle street,
the firm known as Locke Meserye & Co.,
being changed to Locke, Twitchell & Co.
This firm continued until 1878 when Mr..
Twitchell joined partnership under the
name of Twitchell, Chapman & Co., the new
firm occupying the block opposite Deering,
Milliken & Co.'S After the fire which oc-
Cured there the firm dissolved and for the past
few years Mr.. Twitchell has been connected
with the wholesale grocery firm of Twitchell,
Champlin & Co., of which his brother, John
O., is the senior member.
Mr.. Twitchell was one of the founders of
the Mercantile Library Association, a di-
rector, and its president for two years. He
was for many years vice president and di-
rector of the Board of Trade. At the time OF
the great fire in 1866 he was member of the
relief committee, and was unremitting in
his efforts to aid the sufferers in that great
calamity. He represented Portland in the
Legislature in 1868 and 1869; the president OF
the Common Council in 1868, and member
of that body during 1862 and 1868. He was
also member of High Street Church.
For his first wife Mr.. Twitchell married
Miss Barker of Bethel, by whom he had two
Children son, Fritz H., who is in the
treasurer's Office of the Worumbo Wooden
Mills at Bath, and a daughter.
For his second wife he married Miss
Frances S. Chapman, daughter of Robert A.
Chapman of Bethel, by whom he had two
daughters, Alice and Emma, now at school
at Abbott Academy, Andover, Mass. He
also leaves his mother, aged So years, resi-
dent with sister, Miss Salome Twitchell, at
Bethel, and another sister, Mrs. French of
Hayerhill, Mass. He had but one brother,
Mr.. John @. Twitchell, mentioned above,
who also survives him.
By his death our city loses not only one Of
its most widely-known and highly-respected
business men, but, also, a warm-hearted and
public-spirited citizen. During his long bus
mess career he always retained the fullest
confidence and esteem of his business ac-
quaintances, who will deeply feel his DEATH
The funeral will tax place from his late
residence tomorrow at p. m.