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→Migration to Texas
In November 1885, Twichell migrated to West Texas. The next year he met William S. Mabry (1851-1941), a surveyor originally from Selma [[Alabama]], then with the Capitol Syndicate, which owned the huge XIT Ranch, which was then constructing the Texas State Capitol in Austin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fma03|title=Mabry, William S.|author=H. Allen Anderson|publisher=''The Handbook of Texas'' on-line|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref>Mabry also had built the former T&P Hotel in Big Spring.<ref name=handbook/> Twichell surveyed the Yellow Houses Division of the XIT, which the syndicate had established on lands that it procured in exchange for the building of the state capitol. After finishing this work, Twichell surveyed the Spring Lake Division of the XIT. He also surveyed Littlefield in Lamb County, named for the cattleman George Washington Littlefield (1842-1920), a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] officer and a large donor to the [[University of Texas]].<ref name=ttu>{{cite web|url=http://swco.ttu.edu/abstracts/2614.htm|title=Oral History Collection|publisher=swco.ttu.edu|accessdate=May 3, 2011}}</ref>
In November 1885, Twichell migrated to West Texas. The next year he met William S. Mabry (1851-1941), a surveyor originally from Selma [[Alabama]], then with the Capitol Syndicate, which owned the huge XIT Ranch, which was then constructing the Texas State Capitol in Austin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fma03|title=Mabry, William S.|author=H. Allen Anderson|publisher=''The Handbook of Texas'' on-line|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref>Mabry also had built the former T&P Hotel in Big Spring.<ref name=handbook/> Twichell surveyed the Yellow Houses Division of the XIT, which the syndicate had established on lands that it procured in exchange for the building of the state capitol. After finishing this work, Twichell surveyed the Spring Lake Division of the XIT. He also surveyed Littlefield in Lamb County, named for the cattleman George Washington Littlefield (1842-1920), a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] officer and a large donor to the [[University of Texas]].<ref name=ttu>{{cite web|url=http://swco.ttu.edu/abstracts/2614.htm|title=Oral History Collection|publisher=swco.ttu.edu|accessdate=May 3, 2011}}</ref>
According to ''The Handbook of Texas,'' Twichell's surveying was enhanced by his knowledge of [[physics]], [[mathematics]], and [[astronomy]], all of which enabled him to use more precise methods of surveying than had been previously depended on the magnetic compass. Twichell's east-west survey lines corrected for the spherical curvature of the surface of the earth.<ref name=handbook/>
According to ''The Handbook of Texas,'' Twichell's surveying was enhanced by his knowledge of [[physics]], [[mathematics]], and [[astronomy]], all of which enabled him to use more precise methods of surveying than had been previously depended on the magnetic compass. Twichell's east-west survey lines corrected for the spherical curvature of the surface of the earth.<ref name=handbook/>
Throughout the late 1880s Twichell and Mabry conducted right-of-way surveys for the Fort Worth and Denver City and the Southern Pacific railroads in West Texas. The two maintained an office in Tascosa, since a [[ghost town]] in Oldham County west of Amarillo (not to be confused with Atascosa County near [[San Antonio]]).<ref name=handbook/> Surveyors were frequently prime targets of earlier [[Native American]] raiding parties, but Twichell avoided even carrying a gun.<ref name=ttu/><ref name=wtha>Mark Lambert of the Texas General Land Office in Austin, "How to Survey 20 Miles a Day and Other Tips for a Long Life by W. D. Twichell," West Texas Historical Association annual meeting, [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]], April 2, 2011.</ref>
Throughout the late 1880s Twichell and Mabry conducted right-of-way surveys for the Fort Worth and Denver City and the Southern Pacific railroads in West Texas. The two maintained an office in Tascosa, since a [[ghost town]] in Oldham County west of Amarillo (not to be confused with Atascosa County near [[San Antonio]]).<ref name=handbook/> Surveyors were frequently prime targets of earlier [[Native American]] raiding parties, but Twichell avoided even carrying a gun.<ref name=ttu/><ref name=wtha>Mark Lambert of the Texas General Land Office in Austin, "How to Survey 20 Miles a Day and Other Tips for a Long Life by W. D. Twichell," West Texas Historical Association annual meeting, [[Lubbock]], [[Texas]], April 2, 2011.</ref>
In 1890, Twichell moved his office to Amarillo, where he continued to conduct railway surveys. In 1893, he platted the city of Enid in Garfield County in northern [[Oklahoma]].<ref name=handbook/>
In 1890, Twichell moved his office to Amarillo, where he continued to conduct railway surveys. In 1893, he platted the city of Enid in Garfield County in northern [[Oklahoma]].<ref name=handbook/>
From 1900 to 1916, Twichell was the Texas state surveyor, a position in the General Land Office in Austin, though he retained his own office in Amarillo until he relocated to Austin in 1918. He retired from active business on January 1, 1934, to become a consultant and moved to [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] in Tom Green County in west Texas, where he resided until his death at the age of ninety-five. He is interred there at Lawnhaven Cemetery.<ref name=handbook/>
From 1900 to 1916, Twichell was the Texas state surveyor, a position in the General Land Office in Austin, though he retained his own office in Amarillo until he relocated to Austin in 1918. He retired from active business on January 1, 1934, to become a consultant and moved to [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] in Tom Green County in west Texas, where he resided until his death at the age of ninety-five. He is interred there at Lawnhaven Cemetery.<ref name=handbook/>
==Legacy==
==Legacy==