Fred W. Twyman

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Fred W. Twyman
1919-02-15 F. W. Twyman.JPG
Twyman in 1919
Photograph by Rufus W. Holsinger

Electoral District At-large
Term Start 1928
Term End 1940 (died in office on September 15, 1938)
Preceded by new city government
Succeeded by F. Bradley Peyton Jr

Member of the
Common Council
Charlottesville City Council (1916-1922)
Electoral District Fourth Ward
Term Start 1919
(Appointed to fill vacant seat)
Term End 1922
Preceded by Lacy L. Irvine
Succeeded by new city government

Member of the
Common Council
Charlottesville City Council (1916-1922)
Electoral District Fourth Ward
Term Start 1916
Term End 1918
Preceded by new city government
Succeeded by Lacy L. Irvine

Member of the
Charlottesville City Council (1900-1916)
Electoral District Fourth Ward
Term Start 1916
Term End 1916
Preceded by M. V. Pence
Succeeded by new city government

Member of the
Charlottesville City Council (1900-1916)
Electoral District Second Ward
Term Start 1906
Term End 1910
Preceded by Dr. H. T. Nelson
Succeeded by Henry D. Jarman

Biographical Information

Date of birth July 10, 1872
Madison County, Virginia
Date of death September 15, 1938 (aged 66)
Charlottesville (City)
Riverview Cemetery
Spouse Sallie Whitlock Baker Twyman
Children James Baker Twyman
Residence Rugby Road
Alma mater Locust Dale Academy
University of Virginia
Profession People's National Bank, director
Charlottesville Ice Company, director
Albemarle Telephone Company, president
Jackson Park Hotel Company, organizer
Monticello Hotel, president
Woolen Mills, director

Frederick William Twyman (July 10, 1872 – September 15, 1938) was a significant commercial developer and businessman whose career spanned more than three decades. At the time of his passing in 1938, he served as the head of the Jefferson-Lafayette Corporation and was a member of the Charlottesville City Council. In 1932, he was unanimously elected Mayor by the City Council, making him the last council member to die in office during a time when he had served under three different forms of city government.

Twyman was a key player in local financial and commercial circles, contributing to the establishment of the Jefferson Theater (1912) and the Lafayette Theater (1921). At 66, he was leading the Jefferson-Lafayette Corporation.

Twyman's council career began in 1904 when he was elected from the Second Ward. He served as President of the Council from 1906 until 1910 and later represented the Fourth Ward until the new government structure was established in 1922. In 1928, he became chair of the city Democratic Committee and served as a delegate to the national convention in Houston that same year. He was elected council president and subsequently mayor in 1932, holding that office until 1934. Throughout his career, he adapted to the changing city governance structures, which included a twelve-member common council, a bicameral council, and a five-member commission.

Twyman was involved in various ventures, including the formation of the National Bank and Trust Company, the Charlottesville Ice Company, the Michie Grocery Company, and the Monticello Hotel. He was also a member of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, and actively participated in the Chamber of Commerce and the Red Cross.

Obituary

Twyman's tenure saw the city charter evolve, and he continued to serve as a commissioner and council president until his death in 1938. After Twyman's death, Francis Bradley Peyton Jr. was appointed to fill his council seat. [1]

Fred W. Twyman was born to Horace Davis Twyman and Sallie Warner Nichol Twyman. Horace Davis Twyman serviced as captain of Company A, 1st Battalion, Georgia Sharpshooters. Fred received his education in Madison County and later attended the University of Virginia. At 18, he began his career at the Peoples National Bank, eventually becoming president of the Albemarle Telephone Company. He married Sallie Whitlock Baker in 1910, and they had one son, James Baker Twyman.

Fred W. Twyman passed away at his home on Rugby Road after a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of civic and commercial contributions.

Charlottesville City Council (1904-1916)

In 1904, Twyman was elected to the city council representing the Second Ward. He was elected President of the Council in 1906 and held office until 1910. In 1916 served on the council representing the Fourth Ward, an office he held until the commission form of government was instituted in 1922 under the city’s new charter.

1904 election

The 1904 election for mayor and city councilmen held was held on Tuesday, June 14th. Fred Twyman was elected member of the city council representing the Second Ward.

Charlottesville City Council (1916-1922)

From September 26, 1916 to August 31, 1922, Charlottesville's legislative body consisted of a twelve-member Board of Aldermen and a Common Council made up of three representatives from each of the four wards in the city. The Mayor was elected at-large.

After the adoption of an amended city charter in 1916, Twyman was elected by the voters of the Fourth Ward to served as member of the Common Council, a seat he held until 1922 when a new form of city government took over. In 1918 Twyman served on council. [2]

After the city's 1916 annexation of Albemarle county territory and suburbs surrounding the city, Charlottesville's population exceeded 10,000. State law required a bicameral form of city government, similar to the federal level, in cities of over ten thousand inhabitants. The smallest representation allowed in a city of four wards was a council consisted of four aldermen, one from each ward, and an eight member common council, two from each ward.

Charlottesville City Council (1928-1938)

With eight candidates competing in the 1928 election, Tywman won one of the five open “at-large” city council seats. Twyman emphasized the need for zoning regulations, improvements to Main Street, and an expanded sewer system. He took office on September 1, 1928. In 1932, he was elected by the city council to the office of mayor, a position he held until 1934.

1928 election

Twyman was one of eight candidates competing for all five Council seats in the 1928 election, the first election under a new form of government authorized by an amendment of the city charter by the General Assembly. He was one of the five nominated by a composite body representing several civic organizations.

Twyman wrote to the Daily Progress in June 1928 to outline his platform, though he said he was running because the city had a great many needs to address. He said the city needed to tackle the question of zoning "because the business and residential districts are constantly meeting other" destroying property values. Twyman also said Main Street needed to be improved and the sewer system needed to be expanded.

On June 12, 1928, voters in Charlottesville went to the polls to elect official to the City Council. Eight candidates competed for all five Council seats. Twyman receiving the fourth highest number of votes. In accordance with the city charter, at this first election of the new form of government, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes held office for four years and the two receiving the next highest number of votes held office for two years; with the next election held in 1930, the term of office of the councilmen would be four years. Twyman and the other four new "commissioners" took office on September 1, 1928.[3]

When the Charlottesville city charter was rewritten in 1928, the Board of Aldermen and the Common Council were replaced by a five-member City Council under Commission Form of government. All five councilors were elected at-large for terms lasting four years. The new charter also gave the City Council the power to hire a city manger. The first council meeting as a unicameral body occurred on September 1, 1928.

The two-year term of the Charlottesville City Council (1928-1930) ran from September 1, 1928 to August 31, 1930. Members of the council (referred to as "Commissioners") were: Jury Y. Brown, mayor; Fred L. Watson, vice-president; E. A. Joachim, John R. Morris and F. W. Twyman. City Manager was H. A. Yancey and Secretary H. A. Haden.

Twyman was elected council president by his city council colleagues to the office of mayor, a position he held from 1932 to 1934

Treasury race

Twyman ran for treasurer in 1909.[4] When he ran for treasurer in 1909, he was also President of the City Council.

Business interests

Twyman was president of the Albemarle Telephone Company in 1909. Fred was also the chair of a committee that raised funds for a new hotel that would become the Monticello Hotel. [5]

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Personal life and death

Fred W. Twyman was born to Horace Davis Twyman and Sallie Warner Nichol Twyman. He received his education in Madison County and later attended the University of Virginia. At 18, he began his career at the Peoples National Bank, eventually becoming president of the Albemarle Telephone Company. He married Sallie Whitlock Baker in 1910, and they had one son, James Baker Twyman.

Fred W. Twyman passed away at his home on Rugby Road after a prolonged illness, leaving behind a legacy of civic and commercial contributions.

Frederick William Twyman, known as Fred W. Tyman, was born on July 10, 1872, the eldest son of Horace Davis Twyman (1840–1897) and Sallie Warner Nichol Twyman, prominent resident of Madison County. Fred's grandfather, Robert Davis Twyman, had been an Associate Justice Civil Court (1853 to 1856) and presiding Justice (1856 to 1861). In 1861, Fred's father, Horace Davis Twyman was among the many cadets who resigned from West Point as their home states withdrew from the Union. Out of a total Corps of 278, there were 86 Southerners, of whom 65 resigned and withdrew in 1861 to fight for Confederacy. Horace commanded Company A 1st Georgia Battalion of Sharpshooters. Fred's brothers were David N. Twyman and Horace W. Twyman; sister Nannie Twyman (Mrs. Walter S. Ferguson). Fred received his preliminary education at private schools in Madison County and at Locust Dale Academy, after which he pursued a graduate course at the University of Virginia.

At the age of eighteen Fred began his business career with the Peoples National Bank, with which he remained until 1907 when he purchased an interest in the Albemarle Telephone Company, of which he became president and which he was connected with until 1928. Before 1912, he opened the Twyman's Main Street Entertainment Palace. In 1912, the competing Levy Opera House closed.

On July 6, 1910, Twyman was joined in marriage to Miss Sallie Whitlock Baker (March 31, 1880–January 4, 1945, aged 64), daughter of James Biscoe Baker (1834–1902), University Librarian from 1886 to 1891, and Sallie Claiborne Barksdale Baker (1840–1916). Frederick and Sallie had one son, James Baker Twyman (1914–1994).

Fredrick W. Twyman, former mayor, a member of the present city commission, and long a leader in civic and commercial development, died at 10:35 o’clock the morning of September 15, 1938 at his home on Rugby Road, after an extended illness.

References

  1. Web. Peyton is Named to Fill Vacancy on City Council, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, October 4, 1938, retrieved October 4, 2022. Print. October 4, 1938 page 1.
  2. Web. To Resurface Macadam Roads, Common Council Votes Sum of $5,000, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, July 12, 1918, retrieved July 12, 2016 from University of Virginia Library.
  3. Web. Candidates Give Their Platforms, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, June 1, 1928, retrieved June 1, 2016 from University of Virginia Library.
  4. Web. Out In The Open for Treasurership, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, January 26, 1909, retrieved January 22, 2017 from University of Virginia Library.
  5. Web. Hotel Victory, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, June 1, 1924, retrieved June 2, 2016 from University of Virginia Library. Print. June 1, 1924 page 3.

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