PETER THEODORE TWINTING P. T. Twinting, deceased, was for about twenty-five years a factor in business circles in Mount Pleasant, and public opinion was undivided concerning his ability and also his right to the high esteem which was uniformly accorded him. He was born in Xanten Rhenish, Prussia, December 14. 1825, and was the oldest son of well-to-do parents. His education was acquired in the land of his nativity, and he came to America in 1848, when a young man of twenty-three years, but after his father's death he returned to Germany in order to settle up the estate. In 1850 he came again to the new world, making his way to Cincinnati, where he accepted a clerkship in a dry goods store. In the fall of the same year, however, he removed to Madison, Indiana, where he embarked in the dry goods business on his own account. He afterward came to Iowa, settling about two and a half miles from Mount Pleasant, in Henry county, where he purchased a farm, and there he lived for seven years as a successful agriculturist. Removing from the farm to Mount Pleasant, he opened a grocery store on the south side of the square, which he conducted for about two years, part of which time he was in partnership with George B. Okell, and then removed to North Main street, where he carried on the same business for twenty-one years in one building, which he purchased and remodeled in 1 87 1, and which is still known as the Twinting store. Prosperity attended his labors, and he had a large patronage, his extensive sales bringing him a gratifying annual income. On account of failing health, however, he sold out to the firm of Hackney & Speer, of Fairfield. After a time, Mr. Speer withdrew and later Mr. Hackney sold the store to Mr. Duncan, who is now proprietor, while Theodore Twinting, son of our subject, yet owns the building. Mr. Twinting was one of the stockholders of the First National Bank, and was a quiet, retired business man, whose influence, however, was a potent factor for the maintenance of a high standard of commercial ethics. In 1846 Mr. Twinting was married to Miss Catherine Thompson, of Madison, Indiana, who died in i860, leaving one son, Theodore F. Twinting, who is engaged in the grocery business in Pasadena, California. He married Regina Bird, third daughter of Dr. Wellington Bird, whose history appears on another page of this work. They have three daughters and one son, Catherine, Bertha, Sarah and George. In September. 1861, Mr. Twintine was aarain married, his second union being with Mrs. Jane Schwenker, the widow of William Schwenker, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Twinting had one child, Ida May, still at home. Mrs. Jane Twinting was born near Bremen. Hanover, Germany, November 5, 1825. a daughter of John F. and Anna Bruning. Her parents were agriculturists, he being one of the literary men of his neighborhood. In 1837 Mr. and Mrs. Bruning, with their family of five children, came to the United States. They located in Cincinnati, Ohio. There Mr. Bruning died in 1849, and the mother made her home with her daughter, now Mrs. Twinting. Jane Bruning received her education in Cincinnati, and there married William Schwenker, who at that time was in business with J. M. Bradstreet. the founder of the well known Bradstreet commercial agency. There they made their home till the death of Mr. Schwenker July 9. 1850, leaving two children, Emma L. and William, who died a few years later. Soon after the death of her husband Mrs. Schwenker removed with her family to Madison, Indiana, where she continued to reside till her marriage. The family have occupied their present residence at the corner of East Washington and Harrison streets since 1870. They have a beautifully located old homestead, which was remodeled by Mr. Twinting soon after its purchase. Mr. Twinting voted with the Republican party, and was an ardent advocate of its principles, but not an active politician. He held membership in the Episcopal church, in which he was deeply interested, serving as senior warden at the time of his death. He passed away September 10. 1893, and was buried in Forest Home cemetery. There was no resident of Mount Pleasant who more fully enjoyed the confidence of the people or more richly deserved the esteem in which he was held. Honorable in business life and in citizenship, charitable in. thought, kindly. in action, given to generous hospitality, true to every trust confided to his care, his life was a high type of Christian manhood. ©2009 Genealogy Trails