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William Henry Twine (December 10, 1864 – October 8, 1933) was an African-American lawyer and newspaper publisher who settled in Oklahoma. Twine is noted for having published the Muskogee Cimeter in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was among the earliest African-American attorneys to practice in modern-day Oklahoma.

Biography

Twine was born in Richmond, Kentucky on December 10, 1864. He was born a freeman. His father, Thomas J. Twine, was a wheelwright and former slave believed to be of mixed Black and Native American ancestry; his mother, Lizzie Twine, was described as a "straight born African".

Twine moved to Texas, where he was admitted to the bar. Twine went on to settle a homestead in Oklahoma, first arriving in the Oklahoma Territory in September 1891.

As an attorney, he defended African American clients, and reportedly slept at the jail on occasion to help deter lynchings. He was the first American-American permitted to practice law in the Indian Territory.

Publishing career

From 1898 to 1904, he edited the Pioneer Paper in Texas. He published the Muskogee Cimeter from 1904 to 1921. The publication was aligned with the Republican Party and reported on political matters pertaining to the Black community.

Twine retired from the publishing industry in 1921, but continued his law practice.

Personal life and legacy

He died on October 8, 1933 in Muskogee. Henry Twine and Pliny Twine were his sons. The modern town of Taft, Oklahoma was originally named Twine in his honor.

References

1. "Twine, William Henry | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". www.okhistory.org.
2. ^ Browning, John G. (2021-05-04). "Blazing the Trail: Oklahoma Pioneer African American Attorneys - Oklahoma Bar Association". Oklahoma Bar Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
3. "Twine, William H." Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020.
4. ^ Jimmie L. White, Jr. "Twine, William Henry (1864-1933)". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015.
5. "The Muskogee Cimeter (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
6. John G. Browning (May 2021). "Blazing the Trail: Oklahoma Pioneer African American Attorneys". Oklahoma Bar Journal.
7. Mullins, Jonita (February 13, 2017). "Three Forks History: Twine was influential in early Muskogee". Muskogee Phoenix.
8. "Twine, William Henry | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Retrieved 2024-08-19. Taft, Oklahoma, 1914, formerly known as Twine

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