Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 631. WILLIAM TWILLEY has had an adventurous and busy career. He was born in Florida, in 1869, and now lives on the farm three miles east from Ajax. His father was William Twilley. He died when our subject was very small, and the mother married again. When twelve, William left his native place and came west to Kansas. After herding sheep for a while he began the life of a cowboy and became exceptionally expert in breaking horses. After following that business there for four years, he went to Arizona and thence a year later to Walla Walla. In this latter place he hired to a farmer to work through the harvest and was sent one morning to hitch the horses to the header. Having always lived in a country where no small grain was raised, he had never seen the machinery for its harvesting and the result was that he hitched the horses to the header backwards, which caused no small merriment among the wheat farmers. After that harvest, Mr. Twilley went to Lewiston and again rode on the range around that point, Mt. Idaho and the Snake river. Next we see him around Pendleton in the same business. He also bought and sold horses and took contracts for breaking them and gained the name of being the most skillful and expert horseman in this part of the country. Large shippers from the east employed him in breaking the horses and he handled hundreds of them. Later he sold tins business and went to North Yakima. A short time thereafter he journeyed to the Willamette valley and farmed there for three years. Next we see him in Alaska, and six months later he went back to the Willamette valley. Shortly after that he moved to Shaniko and opened a butcher shop, feed yard and dairy. His was the second tent to be pitched in that town. He handled large freighting outfits to various parts of the country, then sold out and came to Ferry canyon, where he leased four hundred and forty acres of land. The last year he threshed eleven thousand bushels of wheat, feeding portions of it to his hogs, and hauled the rest sixty miles to market. He has recently taken a homestead where he dwells at the present time. Mr. Twilley now owns twenty head of horses, nine head of cattle and some hogs. Last year his hogs brought him over eight hundred dollars. On May 30, 1894, Mr. Twilley married Miss Virtue Chandler, who was born in Minnesota, on June 10, 1878. Her father, John Chandler, was born in Maine, in 1840, and is now living in Pendleton, Oregon. To our subject and his wife five children have been born. Ola, Ora and Stella, deceased, Grade and Archie. Mr. Twilley carries a policy in the New York Mutual for five thousand dollars. He is a thorough business man and a good citizen, takes an active part in politics, being a Republican, and is one of the substantial men in this county. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.