Caroline Skinner Twing

Caroline Skinner Twing of Westfield, NY represented the State Grange at the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1894 to speak for suffrage: "The women of the farm wish to be equal, nothing more. They wish to respect their husbands enough to feel they would not do so foolish a thing as to marry their inferior."

Her dedication to freedom influenced untold numbers of people beyond the boundaries of home. A teacher, writer and popular lecturer, she traveled extensively over a large portion of the United States. She was active in temperance, grange and suffrage affairs. 

She was also a Spiritualism medium, a teacher at the Cassadaga Spiritualist Assembly grounds and historian of the Cassadaga Lake Free Association. This was natural ground for Twing, since from its beginning, Spiritualism had recognized the equality of the sexes. When the lakefront property was purchased in 1880, the Cassadaga Lake Free Association grounds were dedicated to fee thoought, free speech and free investigation. Suffragists were invited to meet there, and "Woman's Day" became the Free Association's annual "day of day."

• Women Helped to Put Chautauqua County on the Map in the 19th Century, adapted  from "Chautauqua County Women, 1802-1920" by Daune Palmer and Bonnie Star.

CARRIE E. S. TWING

A Well Known Writer and Able Lecturer Died at Her Home Near Here on August 25th.

In the death of Mrs. Carrie E. S. Twing at her home, near here in the Town of Portland, on August 25, 1910, after a brief illness, Chautauqua County has lost one of its best known residents, the Spiritualistic Association one of its most active and influential members, and the Patrons of Husbandry one of its most enthusiastic and efficient workers.

Mrs. Twing has for years been prominent as a writer and on the lecture platform, and was a most interesting and effective speaker. She has frequently spoken at Chautauqua Grange Day. She has been president of the New York State Spiritualistic Association, and for years a state lecturer for the grange, having filled engagements all over the United States. She was an authority on spiritualistic matters and a medium of acknowledged ability. Her death came as the result of a three weeks' illness following a stroke of apoplexy, sustained while at Boston on a lecturing tour and she was brought home on August 5th.

Caroline Edna Skinner Twing was born at Sherman on December 8, 1844, and after only a common school education prepared herself to teach, an ambition she seemed to have been born with. She began teaching in the district schools when only seventeen years old. Afterward she attended the Westfield Academy and taught during the summers.

She was married to Herbert S. Twing, a well known vineyardist, in 1871. Early in life she became identified with the spiritualistic movement and has been one of the leading speakers at gatherings of those of that belief.

The funeral was held from her late home on Saturday afternoon and was largely attended. Mrs. Watson of Jamestown, conducted the services, assisted by Messrs. Richardson of East Aurora and Ward of Chicago, all of whom paid a fitting tribute to the life and character of the deceased.

The interment was in Westfield cemetery. Crown Chapter. O.E. S., had charge of the services at the grave. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mark Lyon of Stockton, and one brother Spencer Skinner of this place. Source: Westfield Republican (Westfield, New York), Wednesday 31 August 1910, page 8.