Oxford Reminiscences
By B. H. Davis
No. 20
Published in Seymour Record, 1913

Twitchell - Rowland Homestead

The next place well worthy of notice on our journey is the old Jeremy Twitchel homestead, located opposite the terminus of the Towner Lane Road. This house was built ... about the year of 1755. The timber for its construction or a portion of it was cut and hewed in the virgin forest surrounding the place.

The outside of the house was covered with shingles which were rended and shaved by tedious hand labor. The flooring is of oak 1x10 or 12 inches and most of it is as sound as when it was first laid.

Many improvements have been made from time to time and the house is in a good state of preservation, notwithstanding the passage of 162 years.

The farm, consisting of about 80 acres, is one of the most productive in the town. Jeremy Twitchel was born March 14, 1784 and was married to Anna Candee, daughter of Osrah Candee, June 10th, 1809.  Seven children were born to them: Harry, Esther, Jane, Martha, Henry, Anson and Julia. [Editor's Note: Recent research reveals that Davis was mistaken about the Candee Family History given in this paragraph.  He was also mistaken in identifying the builder as Josiah Twitchell.  The builder's name was actually Joseph Twitchell.  In many of the old hand-written records, the penmanship is such that it would have been understandable for Davis to mistake Joseph for Josiah.  The question of the builder's name is settled, however, by the clear block lettering on his tombstone in St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetery on Governor's Hill Road.  Although the homestead is still commonly referred to as the Josiah Twitchell Homestead, that name is in error.  Hopefully the name Twitchell-Rowland Homestead will replace it in popular usage in the coming years as that will be the name of the museum which the Homestead will house.  For a summary of the Twitchell and Candee generations see:  Candee-brothers in pdf format    and   p3 generations of Twitchells in pdf format .]

Mr. Twitchel spent  his whole life on the farm, devoting his whole time and energy to its improvement. He was closely identified with the Congregational Church of Oxford and was liberal in his donations for its support. He never aspired to political honors, being too much engaged with his home duties.  He died Feb. 26, 1867, aged 83 years. Anna,  his wife, was a hard working woman, prudent in her management and zealous for all work connected with the home and the church. She died. Jan. 13, 1848, aged 62.

Harry, the son, was one of the characters that Oxford has been noted for ever since it was first settled. For many years he lived alone in a little shack on the bank of Little River near the old saw mill known as the Twitchel mill. Here he was engaged in sawing logs into lumber for the farmers in that section of the town. He was a very powerful man and could handle a railroad tie as an ordinary man would a fish pole.

He was once offered a barrel of cider on Chestnut Tree Hill if he would carry it home on his shoulder. He replied he could do it but he did not drink cider and refused the offer.
  In stature he stood six feet two and was never known to smoke or chew.
  His nose was long, his eyes were black and his long red hair hung down his back.
  In winters snows or summers dew he sported neither boot or shoe.
  He was an inoffensive person and always had a kind word for the school children.

Eunice, the daughter marrried David Riggs, son of Gall Riggs, soon after the death of her father and came into possession of the place. He built a new barn and made many other improvements. Mr. Riggs occupied the place for several years, when it was sold to Owen Buckingham., then engaged in the butchering business, his route being mostly in Seymour. He continued  his residence here for about fifteen years, then sold the place to Jordon Crofut, who owned and occupied the place until 1902, when it passed into the possession of Phillip Rowland who still occupies it.
  Mr. Rowland is one of the most thirfty and up-to-date farmers in the town. He is largely engaged in the dairy business, keeping a number of cows of superior breed. When the creamery was first started in Southford he was one of the first to furnish millk for the creamery. The production of his dairy now goes to Ansonia.  Mr. Rowland was for many years engaged with Chas. A. and David Meiggs of Quakers Farms where he gained the knowledge of up-to-date farming. His frist adventure after leaving the Meiggs farm was to marry Elysabeth Bronson also of Quaker Farms. Mr. Rowland then purchased the Treat farm at the foot of Great Hill, and after making extensive repairs he sold that farm and purchaed the farm where he still resides.  They are identified with the Congregational Church of Oxford.