Ingham County Biographical Sketches



A. C. Titus



A. C. Titus is one of the representative farmers in White Oak township, the tract of land which he operates being located in sections 21 and 16. He is a native of the Wolverine State, his birth having occurred in Sharon township, Washtenaw county, August 20, 1855. He is the son of M. J. and Martha (Hopkins) Titus, the former having been born February 9, 1825, in New York, and the latter in 1833, in Canada. From earliest boyhood our subject has been engaged in farming, so that in later years, when he was thrown on his own resources he had but to strike out for himself, the experience being already his. He received the educational advantages common to boys of his time, in the rural districts of White Oak, and at the age of twenty was ready to enter upon a life of activity for himself.

Our subject's father came to Livingston county, Michigan, with his parents, in 1836. From 1840 until 1854 they lived in Washtenaw county and from '54 to '60 they lived in Unadila, Livingston county, and finally in 1860, bought a farm in Stockbridge township and moved onto it. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died on December 2, 1859. The father was again married in 1860 to Mrs. Samantha Hopkins, widow of his first wife's brother. To this second marriage four children were born: Lina, january 24, 1868, is a dressmaker in Mason; Winnie, a teacher in the Mason City schools; Clyde M., married Ada Clark and lives on a farm in White Oake; Manley, married May Taylor, and lives in Mason. M. J. Titus was a Republican, and both he and his wife belonged to the M. E. church.

April 21, 1886, Mr. A. C. Titus was married to Miss Kate, daughter of William and Sarah (Squires) Lake, both natives of England, born December 24, 1826, and April 3, 1828, respectively. Mrs. Titus was one of four children, living, one being deceased, her birth having occurred June 24, 1859. The other members of the family are Elinor, born April 17, 1855, married William Bird, a resident of Ann Arbor; Mary E., born March 24, 1857, died at the age of six years; our subject's wife, and William G., were twins, and William lives in Henrietta, Jackson county.

To Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Titus were born three children: Ethel, Jan. 21, 1888; Ernest, February 27, 1892, and Robert, December 16, 1894. After marriage, our subject and wife lived on his father's place in Stockbridge for four years, and while living here bought eighty acres of wild, marshy land, which he partly cleared. Later he bought eighty acres, partly improved, being a part of the farm upon which he now lives. The buildings were on the place when he came into possession of it, but he greatly improved them, and as he prospered added another eighty, and today has a fine piece of property.

Mr. Titus engages in general farming and makes a speciality of high grade Merino sheep and grade Durham cattle. He has met with success in his chosen vocation, and is in a position to enjoy all of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life, and he and his good wife dwell at peace with all the world.






Taken from:
"Past and Present of the City of Lansing and Ingham County, Michigan", by Albert E. Cowles.
Published by The Michigan Historical Publishing Association Lansing, MICH., 1905.
Pages 364 - 365.




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