Born: October 9, 1874
Died: August 12, 1924
Married:
Children: yes
David Cushman Twichell was a doctor in Saranac Lake from about 1907 to 1913. He was a founding member of the Medical Board of the Saranac Lake General Hospital. Harmony Twichell was one of his sisters; he had seven siblings. According to the Essex County Republican, he won a closely contested seat on the Saranac Lake School Board in 1909.
David was the son of the Reverend Joseph Twichell, a close friend of Mark Twain. On July 21, 1903, Twain wrote to Joseph Twichell about David's appointment to work at the Saranac Laboratory: "By George it's fine about Dave! It's a handsome promotion; & he is in choice hands, too, for Trudeau is a good man, an able man, & a great physician."
On January 23, 1904, Joseph Twichell gave Twain an update on his doctor son and nurse daughter at Saranac Lake: "From what we hear we judge that Dave is greatly commending himself to Dr. Trudeau's approval. Anyway he is fascinated with his work---bacillus culture---rabbit and guinea pig inoculations and all that sort of thing---and is confident that tuberculosis is doomed. Harmony has always wanted him [i.e. Dave] to be a family doctor---here in Hartford---but begins now to fear that the Tuberculosis War will claim his service. We mean to run up to Saranac Lake by and by, to pay him and Young Harmony a visit." Twichell included in a letter to Twain a couple of pamphlets written by David to show the kind of work he was doing at the laboratory.
(From The Letters of Mark Twain and Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Bush, Courtney, Messent, editors.)
Tupper Lake Herald, November 1, 1912
The Progressive rally in Black's Hall Tuesday night drew an immense crowd, the hall being crowded to its fullest capacity by men, women and children. After several campaign selections, the speakers of the evening were introduced. Dr. Twichell, of Saranac Lake, of the Progressive Campaign Committee, spoke for several moments in regard to the movement from a medical standpoint. Mr. Dickert also of Saranac Lake, spoke on conservation...
Plattsburgh Daily Press, April 5, 1913
Dr. D. C. Twichell of Saranac Lake has gone to California to recuperate as he is suffering from a nervous break down caused by over work. Mrs. Twichell accompanied him West.
Malone Farmer, April 9, 1913
Dr. Twitchell, of Saranac Lake, one of the foremost of the county’s Bull Moose organizers last fall, has been forced to seek a change of climate on account of nervous prostration from overwork, and has gone with his wife to the Pacific Coast to remain indefinitely. He has been a member of the board of education and board of health of Saranac Lake which is pronounced a success in the annual report of Saranac Lake’s school nurse, who finds improvement of the condition of the children in practically every case. The children in this school are weighed every Wednesday. The nurse visits the other schools every week, and any child needing special attention is examined at the dispensary, advice is given the parents, and such children as need the treatment are transferred to the open-air school. Dr. Twitchell has been located at Saranac Lake for about six years and has done his utmost for the community. He will be deeply missed for his charm of personality and his devotion to humanitarian interests.
Plattsburgh Sentinel, August 22, 1924
Dr. David Twitchell, who was formerly a physician at Trudeau Sanatorium, Saranac. Lake, died recently at Keene , N.H., where he had been 1iving the past few years. His wife died over a year ago.
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