Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 27.

	HILARY J. TWISS.  Unfaltering industry has been the basis of the success won
by Hilary J. Twiss, who is now a hardware merchant of Baker where he has made
his home since 1877.  Outside of business connections there are other
interesting chapters in his life record, for he is numbered among the veterans
of the Civil war and has always stood for progressive citizenship.  He was born
in Baltimore, Maryland, April 21, 1843, and his father Hilary Twiss, Sr., was
also a native of that city.  In the meantime he wedded Martha Ann Burk, who was
born and reared in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  They began their domestic life
in Pennsylvania but after a few years removed to Jefferson county Ohio, where
their remaining days were passed.  The father was a wagon maker, carpenter and
woodworker before the days when most of the work of that character was done by
machinery.
	Hilary J. Twiss was the eighth in order of birth in a family of ten
children.  He and his younger brother, Samuel, served as soldiers of the Civil
war and an elder brother, John, enlisted but was taken ill and died.  Hilary J.
Twiss was a youth of eighteen years when he offered his services to the
government, joining Company F, of the Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in
August, 1861.  He served for two years and was then honorably discharged but
reenlisted in the twenty-sixth Ohio Independent Battery with which he served
until September 15, 1865.  He took part in the engagements at Alleghany,
Virginia, McDowell, Cross Keyes, Fort Gibson, Mississippi, Raymond, Champion's
Hill and the siege of Vicksburg, beside many minor engagements.  He served as
corporal and sergeant and at the close of the war was in command of a gun.  He
was with his regiment all of the time, never being absent from duty and his
bravery and fidelity were never questioned.
	When the war was over Mr. Twiss returned to Ohio and in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, he learned the carpenter's trade which he followed until a few
years ago when he established his hardware business.  In 1877 he came to Baker
where he has since resided and in 1905 he opened his present store.  He carries
a good line of shelf and heavy hardware and the business is growing I a most
satisfactory manner.  He is also the owner of thirteen acres on the east side of
the city within the corporation limits and in addition he owns his place of
business at No. 2015 Center street, and his home at No. 2205 Second street.
	In 1872 Mr. Twiss was married to Miss Maria C. Merrill, who was born in
Missouri, December 17, 1849, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Taylor) Merrill,
who were natives of Kentucky in which state the father was accidently shot.  The
mother survived him for many years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
Twiss, in 1910.
	In his political views Mr. Twiss has always been a republican, standing
loyally by the party which was the defense of the union during the dark days of
the Civil war and has always been the party of reform and progress.  He
maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership
in Joe Hooker Post, No. 20, G.A.R., of Baker, and he belongs also to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  In all matters of citizenship he is a true
and loyal to his country today as when he followed the old flag upon the
battlefields of the south.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2015 by Dale Givens, odg -at-
hiwaay.net.

More information can be found at:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bakerco&id=I30953