Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-04-12
Died,

AT his home In this city this mOFn...'
ing at 9 q. m. Robert p McrwtG20T
after lingering illness from cancer;
Deceased has been proprietor of az
extensive harness business at Missouri
Valley, and resident Of western Iowa
{, thirty years He was born near
Providence, X. L., June 3. 1845. and was
the son of James and Mary (McGil)
McTwigan, both of whom we're natives
OF Scotland. and we're married in that
country. In 1910 they came to Amer
lea, The father was dress-tender in
y cotton factory, and followed the
same until 1856, when he lmmigrated
To Pottawattam,e County, Iowa. His
family coming the next spring remain
I'D until July and then went back east.
In 1861, he and the family went west
again and renamed one year, but re-
turned, except Robt. Z. and his
brother William II. The father died
in December, 1887, tho mother having
died in 1850. Their family consisted
of ii7e children, Robt. r., being the
youngest.
In 1862 Mr. McTwiggan worked for
George McGavren ut old st. Johns
and afterwards engaged with John
Hentborn to do freighting across the
Plains, under management of Ephriam
Rrandriff, who died in Mo. Valley.
Mr. McTwigan made two round trips
to Denver in the summer and winter
of 1923, and in the spring engaged
with VIM Pesbeler IN the same line
and went to Denver and from there to
Atchison, Kan, returning to Denver
with another outfit. and there remain
ed until the next season, when he en-
gagged with the government to do
freighting from Denver to New Mex.
leo, during which time much trouble
was experienced by reason Of their
stock being stampeded by the Indians.
After this he continued in the employ
Of the government under the manage
ment of Thomas Pollock, into Kansas,
and down the Arkansas River. AT
this time the Indians we're very hos
tile, and many thrilling incident has
been narrated by him concerning these
early day experiences beyond the
bounds of civilization. The first
trouble they experienced was water
spout, which caused rush of water as
high rs their wagon bed one morning
while they we're camped on the Foun
tain IA. boyer, which flood raised the
stream hey ond its banks. Part of the
train had crossed over, while the re-
mainder halted the night before on the
opposite side, and the only way the
last part of the train could cross the
stream, was by making the wagon
box water tight and swimming the
mules When they saw the food COM
ing the wagon master ordered the
mules turned loose, and the men that
we're the least thoughtful turned ali
the mules loose, without saving one to
ride on themselves, and had it not been
for the foresight of Mr.. McTwigan
two or three of the men would have
been drowned. On proceeding down
to TT LRrned from Lyons distance
of about 200 miles, they we're followed
by the Indians, and it has been inter-
esting to him relate in his own peculiar
way how he intended to have the first
Indians scalp. Upon arriving at Ft.
Lsrned and seeing about 10000 Indians
one third of whom we're warriors, he
said to himself: "Mr Injun, you let me
alone and will you"
In the winter of l664-65 he started
for Rhode Island but stopped at Coun
Gil Bluffs and farmed the following
season, and made trip to TT Collins
80 miles north of Denver, and farmed
the following season in Pottawattamie
county.
Mr. McTwigan was married In 1885
to Miss Drucilla Jones, of Indiana
and Mr. McTwigan's wife and two
sons, Robert Alexander and William
Arthur, survive him.
| The funeral Will take place from the
late residence of the deceased al 9
m. tomorrow under the auspices of
the X = lodge Of this city, and the re-
mains will he buried in Rose Hill CEN
etery
L