John Twohig was born in Ireland and ran away to sea at the age of fifteen. After coming to the U.S. he engaged in coastal trade between Boston and New Orleans before moving to San Antonio, Texas, where he participated in the Texas Revolution and later was captured by the Mexicans and taken to Perote Prison because of his actions in the Mexican invasion of 1842. Twohig escaped by tunneling out of the prison and, evading his pursuers, returned home where he built up a thriving banking business and became known for his charitable deeds.
Papers relate to the mercantile and banking business of John Twohig (1806-1891) of San Antonio, especially for the two decades after the Civil War. Included are records of his dealings with the major banks and commercial houses of the day as well as with members of the U.S. Army and with some well-known Southern expatriates. In addition the collection contains some items not related to Twohig personally such as quartermaster records for Camp Hudson (1860) and a series of letters in German, mostly from Germany, dealing with the personal affairs of several immigrants.
Papers consist of business and personal correspondence, financial and legal documents, letterpress books, military records, bank books, plat maps, and photographs and drawings arranged chronologically within series.
Miscellaneous business correspondence in Spanish. Series of personal letters in German.
John Twohig Papers, 1835-1944, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.