Voltaire P. Twombly

Voltaire Paine Twombly (February 21, 1842 – February 24, 1918) was a Union veteran of the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Fort Donelson on February 15, 1862, when he picked up and carried his regiment's national colors after three other members of his regiment were killed or incapacitated by Confederate fire while attempting to secure the flag. Twombly also participated in a number of other engagements in the Civil War, including the Siege of Corinth and Sherman's March to the Sea.

After being mustered out of service in 1865, Twombly attended business school and entered into a number of business ventures. In 1880, he entered politics upon being selected to be the treasurer of Van Buren County, Iowa. He served as the mayor of Keosauqua, Iowa from 1884 to early 1885, and as the treasurer of Iowa from 1885 to 1891.

Early life Twombly was born to Samuel Twombly and Dorothy Twombly (nee Wilder) on February 21, 1842, near Farmington, Van Buren County, Iowa Territory. While growing up, Twombly was educated at several common schools and at the Lane Academy of Keosauqua.

Civil War Twombly enlisted in the Union Army on April 24, 1861, after President Abraham Lincoln had called for soldiers to counter the secessionist Confederate States. On May 27, 1861, he was mustered into Company F of the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a private in Keokuk, Iowa. In October, Twombly was promoted to the rank of corporal and assigned to the color guard.

On February 15, 1862, the Army of the Tennessee attacked Fort Donelson in Tennessee. after the color sergeant and two other corporals had been killed or injured by the enemy. His citation reads:

Twombly carried his regiment's colors during the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh and participated in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi as an acting second lieutenant. In October 1862, Twombly received a knee injury during the Second Battle of Corinth. He was hospitalized and placed on leave for six weeks to help him recover from the injury. In 1863, Twombly's regiment was formally stationed in Corinth, and engaged in numerous actions against the cavalry forces of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. From August to December 1865, Twombly attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College, a commercial school in Burlington, Iowa. After completing his education, he entered into a number of business ventures. From his graduation until December 1867, Twombly worked as a flour merchant in Ottumwa, Iowa. He opened a milling company in Pittsburg, Van Buren County in January 1868, which he ran until April 1876. He later moved to Keosauqua, Iowa where he worked as a merchant until 1880.

Twombly, who had consistently supported the Republican Party since reaching voting age, accepted the position of treasurer of Van Buren County in 1880. He served in that position until 1884, when Twombly became the Mayor of Keosauqua. In January 1885, Twombly was elected the Treasurer of Iowa. He served three terms in the position before stepping down in January 1891. He died in his home in Des Moines, Iowa on February 24, 1918, after having suffered from an illness for several months.

Personal life Twombly married Chloe Funk on May 1, 1866. Their oldest son, William Tuttle Twombly, was born in 1870 and died shortly before his seventeenth birthday on December 28, 1887. Their youngest daughter, Eva Twombly, was born on November 10, 1878. She survived into adulthood, married Clyde Jeffries, and had a child, Marion Louise Jeffries, on January 29, 1910.

Twombly had joined the Free Masons in 1866, and remained a member for much of his life. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had served as the commander of his post.

Twombly worshipped in the Congregationalist Church.

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